Course Description:

In this course we will investigate cultural and social differences in attitudes toward the preparation and consumption of food. Which foods are used negatively to designate behaviors, ethnic groups, nationalities (for example, English speakers derogatorily refer to Germans as "Krauts")? Is food gendered? Are there masculine and feminine foods? Are mashed potatoes feminine? Is a pork chop masculine? What role does food play in rituals, ceremonies, and religious rites (for example, Christians drink red wine and eat wafers in communion)?

How is food (and eating) related to other physical functions such as sex and elimination? What relationship does the consumption of food have to emotional states, for example, to love or sadness? Can the eating or non-eating of food have political significance? What are typical food taboos and what are their sources? What foods might seem inedible, even disgusting, to Western (European and North American) eaters? Why is cannibalism almost universally taboo? What might constitute "disorderly eating"?

Working toward answers to some of these questions, we will read various texts by authors from European countries, Latin America, and the United States (Dinesen, Esquivel, Kafka, Thomas Mann, Günter Grass, Durrell, Maugham) and view a variety of films about food and eating (Chinese, French, American, German). Specific films will include Babette's Feast, Like Water for Chocolate, and Eat, Drink, Man, Woman. In several instances, notably Dinesen and Esquivel, we will also consider the problems of film adaptations from literature, and what happens to the representations of food in the transition.

Requirements:

1. All primary materials should be read with care and secondary materials as time and interest dictate (or when specifically assigned).
2. Each student will lead a discussion or two (depending on class size). This involves preparing questions for discussion. Everyone is expected to participate actively.
3. An integral part of this course is the keeping of a weekly journal--a record of personal and intellectual responses to the films and readings throughout the semester.
   (see below).
4. There will be three short essay assignments (c. 3 pages) on various topics.
5. The final examination will consist of both short answer and essay questions.

Grading:

Journal:

Record your process of reading the texts as you read or immediately upon completing them. You may wish to react to, comment upon, question, or disagree with the texts. You may also wish to respond to and (dis)agree with classroom discussions: my statements and interpretations, those of other students, or even your own. Your journal may be handwritten or written on a word processor; if handwritten, please use a spiral notebook so that individual pages can be turned in and then later reinserted.

You will give me notebook pages, a photocopy or a printout of your latest journal entries each week in class. On occasion I may read aloud or hand out excerpts of your writing for discussion. If you do not wish something you write to be used in this way, simply note this in the margin. You will want to write approximately 2-4 typed pages per week. This may sound like a lot now, but the ease with which you will find yourself writing in your journal may surprise you, especially if you have never kept a journal before.

• Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate
• Franz Kafka, "The Hunger Artist" (photocopy)
• Thomas Mann, Buddenbrooks (photocopied selections)
• Günter Grass, The Tin Drum; The Flounder (photocopied selections)
• Golden, Lilly, editor. A Literary Feast: An Anthology
• Telfer, Elizabeth. Food for Thought: Philosophy and Food

• Babette's Feast
• Like Water for Chocolate
• Eat, Drink, Man,Woman
• Sugarbaby (Zuckerbaby)
• Eating
• Big Night
• La grande bouffe ("The pig out")

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Elaine Martin, emartin@bama.ua.edu.