Food: Nature and Culture

Judith Friedlander Introduction to Part I: Everyday Life: Ordinary Pleasures, Rituals, and Taboos

This article explores the relationship between food and culture. 

Food Is Fundamental, Fun, Frightening, and Far-reaching

This article explores the cultural evolution of the trajectory of food in human life as described by Leon Kass in his book The Hungry Soul. 

Culture and Obesity

This articles explores the relationship between culture and obesity. 

Introduction to Part II: Case Histories: Ways in Which Foods Have Emerged, Migrated, and Been Assimilated

People naturally take their customary foods with them when they migrate, even for long distances. But in varying degrees, they are also open to experimenting with and incorporating much of what they newly discover. Over the long-run, foods become mirrors of many-layered cultural encounters and an index of contemporary cosmopolitanism.

Translating Maize into Corn: The Transformation of America's Native Grain

This article explores the historical and cultural background with which maize was transformed into corn. 

How the Potato Changed the World's History

This article discusses how the potato changed the world's history. 

Sweet Polychrest

This article traces the history of sugar and its rise to prominence as a staple commodity. 

Sustainable Agriculture for a Food Secure World

This article explores the issue of agriculture and food security. 

Food and Culture: Interconnections

This article talks about the relationship of food and culture. Change the diet and you will change the culture, and vice versa. But one must ask oneself: What is the direction of change and what is being replaced? Who stands to benefit? And who loses?

Commensality and Poisoning

In all societies, sharing food is a way of establishing closeness, while, conversely, the refusal to share is one of the clearest marks of distance and enmity.  This article explores the social significance of food sharing.

Eating Karma, In Classical South Asian Texts

This article discusses myths about food in South Asian culture.

Unspeakable Rites

This article addresses the issue of cannibalism. 

Writing of Food

This article focuses on the representation of food in art and literature. 

Appetite Appeal

This article discusses the importance of food packaging in winning customer loyalty. 

Feasts for the Eyes, Foods for Thought

This article talks about food in art and food as art. 

Introduction to Part VI: Abundance and Scarcity: Access to Food Is Far from Equal

The first paper looks at availability and access. The second paper talks about hunger in the U.S. and access to food. The third paper addresses the topic: “What is Food?”

Hunger in the United States: A Matter of Policy

The article talks about hunger in the United States and access to food. 

Food and Food Poverty: Perspectives on Food Distribution

This article explores the issue of food distribution from a number of perspectives. In doing so, it will attempt to answer the following questions: How has the level and distribution of food changed during the last third of this century? How much redistribution would be required to eradicate under-nutrition? Is the protein-rich diet of those with higher incomes an important cause of calorie deprivation among the poor? Is income really the driving force in reducing the incidence and degree of under-nutrition? Is it correct to think of food poverty as a demand problem, not strongly related to the magnitude and structural characteristics of food supply?

Scarcity in Abundance: Food and Non-food

This article attempts to establish the definition of food. The article will discuss the following: why societies consider certain things to be food that others do not; how people's understanding of what food is changes over time; and what some of the consideration are that go into those changing perceptions of food.

Introduction to Part VII: The Future: Prospects for the Global Availability of Food and Ways to Increase It

This article focuses on efforts to improve food production to meet increasing population. 

Food for All in the Twenty-First Century

This article talks about the social problems of hunger and poverty. 

Food Security and Conflict

This article explores the multiple connections between food insecurity and armed conflict, estimates agricultural and other costs of conflict, and examines policy options aimed at reducing conflict, improving food security, and breaking the links between hunger and conflict. 

Population Growth, Environmental Resources and the Global Availability of Food

This article looks at the links between population growth, environmental resources and the global availability of food. 

Oakmont Books | Rare, Pre-owned, Special Interest & Hard To Find Books | Australia & worldwide | Online