sharp_as_knives (
sharp_as_knives) wrote in
fandomhigh2014-08-01 01:27 pm
Entry tags:
Philosophy of Food, Friday period 3
There was no food on the table today.
"Before we begin," Hannibal started, "as we are now halfway through this session, I encourage you to discuss your class project with me now or during office hours, so that we can schedule time." He nodded to them.
"So." He sat on the edge of the desk. "To this point, we've mostly discussed how we approach food due to other influences, such as culture. Now, we turn that around. How is food itself an influence on other parts of life?" he asked.
"The types and amounts of food available to a culture, the sorts of foods that are valued as delicacies and the sorts that are discarded - these all can help to dictate the development of society, not to mention arts and leisure activities. We still evaluate earlier cultures on the basis of whether they were hunter-gatherers or agricultural," he pointed out.
"In each of your cultures, what foods are common or valued, and what expectations or industries or cultures have grown up around them? Beyond that, how much a part of your routine revolves around food? Do you cook, eat in the cafeteria, order food - and how does that change your day? The picnic to welcome us here - what would you have thought if it didn't include food? What about the fact that I've set out no food today - have you come to expect it? How has that expectation altered your behavior and thinking?"
He sat back and waited.
"Before we begin," Hannibal started, "as we are now halfway through this session, I encourage you to discuss your class project with me now or during office hours, so that we can schedule time." He nodded to them.
"So." He sat on the edge of the desk. "To this point, we've mostly discussed how we approach food due to other influences, such as culture. Now, we turn that around. How is food itself an influence on other parts of life?" he asked.
"The types and amounts of food available to a culture, the sorts of foods that are valued as delicacies and the sorts that are discarded - these all can help to dictate the development of society, not to mention arts and leisure activities. We still evaluate earlier cultures on the basis of whether they were hunter-gatherers or agricultural," he pointed out.
"In each of your cultures, what foods are common or valued, and what expectations or industries or cultures have grown up around them? Beyond that, how much a part of your routine revolves around food? Do you cook, eat in the cafeteria, order food - and how does that change your day? The picnic to welcome us here - what would you have thought if it didn't include food? What about the fact that I've set out no food today - have you come to expect it? How has that expectation altered your behavior and thinking?"
He sat back and waited.

Re: Discuss!
He nodded. "What makes baking special for you?"