Food and Politics: A Food Citizens Methodology Workshop

Course Description

Summary

This class will investigate various pedagogical approaches to food studies by examining curriculums, topics and discourses being taught at some academic institutions. More importantly, we will put focus on researching art collectives, contemporary civic engagement practices, and other non-institutional models developed by creative practitioners and activists, which engage with food as a conduit to undertake social, political and cultural identity issues and to enhance their community cohesion. This methodology workshop provides opportunities for considering food as a pedagogical tool to practice transdisciplinary research methods while strengthening a sense of self, building awareness or affirming identity. 

We will examine the complexity of food issues in colonial and postcolonial contexts and globalized industrial food systems. Bearing in mind that cooking is both knowledge and embodied practice, this class will engage in critical food studies beyond the confines of academic textbooks and encourage students to practice in-situ learning outside of the classroom. It aims to develop an unconventional syllabus, menu or recipe for fostering a sense of belonging and cultural resilience.