SOC 808 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Digestion, Food Security, World Food Summit

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 808
• Professor: Donna Appavoo

Document Summary

Social and cultural perspective- intersections between food society and culture. Political economy- how historical processes or systems shape institutions in ways the reproduce patterns of social imbalance and conflict in society. Environmental approaches- examine questions of ecological sustainability related to food systems. Health approaches- linkages between health, food, and agricultural policy. A symbol: holiday foods are essential markers of holiday meals and celebrations. A ritual object: can be a symbol during religious ceremonies or rituals. Food can also be involved in more everyday rituals like giving a gift to the house host when invited to his/her home. An identity badge- an upper middle-class torontonian might eat foods from various ethno- (cid:272)ultural (cid:271)a(cid:272)kgrou(cid:374)ds to i(cid:374)di(cid:272)ate (cid:894)perhaps u(cid:374)(cid:272)o(cid:374)s(cid:272)iously(cid:895) that she is (cid:862)k(cid:374)o(cid:449)ledgea(cid:271)le(cid:863) or (cid:862)hip(cid:863). A teenager might eat fast food to fit in with his peers. A political tool- eating organic or local food, or boycotting certain products; activities might stage hunger strikes.