WEEK 2: FOOD CONSUMPTION

Question 1

What is food studies?

Answer 1

studies of complex relationships among food, culture, and society and the human experience

Question 2

Why do we study food?

Answer 2

• tells us about relationships with food (tell a group someone belongs to, beliefs, passions)
• concept of food voice (what one chooses to eat/not eat communicates parts of their identity/emotion)
• help us understand ourselves/others better and promote acceptance across groups

Question 3

Why do those similar in social positions have similar tastes and lifestyles?

Answer 3

• Bourdieu: Habitus
• does not determine behaviour but the individual acts with social structures that have shaped them
• dispositions become second nature once learned by social world

Question 4

Key parts of psychology and food choices

Answer 4

• children tend to choose foods eaten by admired adults, characters, peers, siblings but not parents
• social conscience/peer pressure impacts food choices

Question 5

Why do we eat the way we do?

Answer 5

• represent ourselves
• culture and identity
• helps us remember memories/experiences
• symbolism = religion, rituals, ceremonies

Question 6

Key parts of food and cultural identity

Answer 6

• culture = beliefs/values practiced and accepted by group/community
• food choices are connected to ethnic/religious beliefs
• food ties us to identity and family

Question 7

Key parts of food authenticity

Answer 7

• authenticity = believed to be accepted or genuine/true
• restaurants want to be authentic when cooking ethnic food
• much of what is served at ethnic restaurants is adapted to meet needs/taste of consumers

Question 8

Key parts of culinary tourism and national branding

Answer 8

• food is focus of entertainment and tourism
• national branding is technique used by government agencies to showcase the country’s identity and “iconic” dishes
• globalization of food recipes

Question 9

Why do families eat the way they do?

Answer 9

• health
• ethics
• symbolism
• class/income
• ethnicity/culture
• gender
• location

Question 10

Key parts of distinction

Answer 10

• our choices are conditioned by social position especially class
• we make choices that distinguish us from other groups
• 2 main categories of taste:
• taste of necessity
• taste of luxury