JAN 118-01 - Something to Chew On: Writing about Food

Level:  100-level

Course Times:  12:00pm - 2:40pm. Remote sessions will be on January 9, 12, and 16.

Course Materials Fee:  $50

Instructor(s):  Patrick Newson  

Email:  pjn2@stmarys-ca.edu

We are what we eat, and our various and shared cultures are reflected in the way that we communicate about it. In this class, we will explore a broad range of food cultures and interrogate our positionality and histories in relation to the ingredients and preparations of things that we consume. Humans have been writing about how to grow, produce, cook, and enjoy their foods for millennia, and we will engage with both ancient and contemporary texts that celebrate and critique these cuisines and our societal relationship to food. From Pliny and Virgil to Bon Appétit and Tampopo, we will read and watch examples of writing in many forms, including philosophy, poetry, fiction, television, internet media, and magazine journalism, all of it related to food. And we will also eat! Students should expect to explore new foods as a group and as individuals and be ready to reflect and create based on those experiences, personal histories, and key ingredients.
 

Prerequisites & Notes
None

Credits: 3