Topics in Social Psychology:
Food & Nutrition - WMST 372

Wednesday, 1:30 pm - 4:15 pm (Period S3)
Brackett- Clark Room- 3rd Fl.

Prof. Mary M. Fox

  
Figs and Blue Bowl © Diane Farris  
Course Website: http://people.hws.edu/mfox Version update: April 25, 2006 11:30 PM

Required Texts - at HWS Bookstore:
Counihan, C., & Van Esterik, P. (Eds.). (1997). Food and culture: A reader. New York: Routledge.

Mintz, S. W. (1996). Tasting food, tasting freedom: Excusions into eating, culture, and the past. Boston: Beacon Press.

Rappoport, L. (2003). How we eat: Appetite, culture, and the psychology of food. Chicago, IL: ECU Press.

Required Text - each student orders:
Germov, J., & Williams, L. (Eds.). (2004). A sociology of food and nutrition: The social appetite (Second ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

Recommended Text - each student orders:
Watson, J. L., & Caldwell, M. L. (Eds.). (2005). The cultural politics of food and eating: A reader. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.

*Blackboard: Blackboard is active for the course. Some readings will be found on Blackboard when noted.

**Reserves in Library: Some readings will be found on Library reserve when noted.

Bibliography

1 - Jan 18 - Organization

2 - Jan 25 - Course Introduction

Read:
* and ** Ch 1 - Introducing the social appetite: Towards a sociology of food and nutrition in Germov, J., & Williams, L. (Eds.). (2004). A sociology of food and nutrition: The social appetite (Second ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp 3-28. Chapter on reserve and on Blackboard.

Ch 4 - Deciphering a meal by Mary Douglas in Counihan, C., & Van Esterik, P. (Eds.). (1997). Food and culture: A reader. New York: Routledge. pp 36 - 54.

Introduction and Ch1 - From myths to MacAttacks in Rappoport, L. (2003). How we eat: Appetite, culture, and the psychology of food. Chicago, IL: ECU Press. pp 13 - 49.

3 - Feb 1- Food, Memory and Memoir

Guest Lecturer: Profossor Janet Berlo, Art and Art History, University of Rochester

Read: (All * readings are found in Blackboard for course.)
*Lust, T. (1999). Pass the polenta: And other writings from the kitchen. New York: Ballantine Books. pp 1-11, 242-243.

*Torrey, J. (1998). Hungry. London: Crown. pp 11 - 27.

**Introduction in Nabhan, G. P. (2002). Coming home to eat: The pleasures and politics of local foods . New York: W.W. Norton & Company. pp. 17 - 27. **On Blackboard and also on reserves in Library.

*Preface - "My father was a cook." In Mintz, S. W. (1996). Tasting food, tasting freedom: Excusions into eating, culture, and the past. Boston: Beacon Press. pp XI - XIX. (On Blackboard and also in a book you have purchased.)

4 - Feb 8 - Fundamental Food Groups - Childhood Experience and Theory

Read: (All *readings are found in Blackboard for course.)
*Lupton, D. (1996). Food, the family, and childhood - Ch2. In D. Lupton (Ed.), Food, the body, and the self (pp. 37-67). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Intro - "A half-baked notion." in Rappoport, L. (2003). How we eat: Appetite, culture, and the psychology of food. Chicago, IL: ECU Press. pp 13 - 28.

*Lupton, D. (1996). Theoretical perspectives on food and eating - Ch1. In D. Lupton (Ed.), Food, the body, and the self (pp. 6-35). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

5 - Feb 15 - Finding / Sharing the Next Meal

Ch 11- Food and social class in Germov, J., & Williams, L. (Eds.). (2004). A sociology of food and nutrition: The social appetite (Second ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp 241-262.

Ch 14 - Food and aging by Wm. Alex McIntosh and Karen Kubena in Germov, J., & Williams, L. (Eds.). (2004). A sociology of food and nutrition: The social appetite (Second ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp 314 - 333.

Ch 27 - Hunger, malnutrition, poverty in the contemporary United States- by Janet Fitchen in Counihan, C., & Van Esterik, P. (Eds.). (1997). Food and culture: A reader. New York: Routledge. pp 384-401.

Ch 2 - World hunger by William Whit in Germov, J., & Williams, L. (Eds.). (2004). A sociology of food and nutrition: The social appetite (Second ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp 29 - 51.

Feb 16, Thursday - 9 am to 1 pm Community Lunch Service - WMST 372 Serves

6 - Feb 22 - Food World: An Introduction to the Globalization of Food

Ch 3 - Food, society, and the environment in Germov, J., & Williams, L. (Eds.). (2004). A sociology of food and nutrition: The social appetite (Second ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp 52-76.

Ch 4- Agribusiness, biotechnology, and food in Germov, J., & Williams, L. (Eds.). (2004). A sociology of food and nutrition: The social appetite (Second ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp 77- 95.

*Ch 11 - Domesticating the french fry: McDonald's and consumerism in Moscow by M.L. Caldwell in Watson, J. L., & Caldwell, M. L. (Eds.). (2005). The cultural politics of food and eating: A reader. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing. pp -180-196

7 - March 1 - Global Products / Local Consumptions
Take home mid -terms available in class.

Assignment: (Note that you do NOT have to read all of the articles below.)
1) In pairs choose one article below to present in class as summary, explanation of issues, and appraisal of article. Individually write a page about your chosen article that you can use in addressing a question in the mid-term (and you can share your writings with your partner for purposes of your class presentation).

*Foster, R. (2002). Globalization: A soft drink perspective - Ch 7. Materializing the nation: Commodities, consumption, and media in Papua New Guinea. Bloomington, IN: -174. (on Blackboard)

The following chapters in Watson, J. L., & Caldwell, M. L. (Eds.). (2005). The cultural politics of food and eating: A reader. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing (This book is on reserve in the library):

How Sushi went Global by Theodore Bestor, pp 13 - 21
Fresh Demand: The Consumption of Chilean Produce in the United States by Walter Goldfrank, pp 42-54
China's Big Mac Attack by James L. Watson, pp 70-80
Of Hamburger and Social Space: Consuming MacDonald's in Beijing by Yunxiang Yan, pp 80-103
Globalized Childhood? Eating Kentucky Fried Chicken in Beijing by Eriberto P. Lozada, Jr., pp 163 - 179
Coca-Cola: A Black Sweet Drink from Trinidad by Daniel Miller, pp 54 - 69
Industrial Tortillas and Folkloric Pepsi: The Nutritional Consequenses of Hybrid Cuisines in Mexico by Jeffrey M. Pilcher, pp 235-250.

2) Read two other articles on your own from the list above in order to participate in class discussion and to have additional articles available to you when you respond to mid-term question.

8 - March 8 - Nutrition - Introduction

*Ch 3. In D. Lupton (Ed.), Food, the body, and the self (pp. 37-67). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Ch 6 - Future Food: The Politics of Functional Foods and Health Claims in Germov, J., & Williams, L. (Eds.). (2004). A sociology of food and nutrition: The social appetite (Second ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp 119 - 147.

Ch 7 Setting the Menu: Dietary Guidelines, Corporate Interests, and Nutrition Policy by John Duff in Germov, J., & Williams, L. (Eds.). (2004). A sociology of food and nutrition: The social appetite (Second ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp 148-169.

Screening of "Super Size Me."

By Joseph Prestele. Homestead, Iowa Amana Society, [ca. 1880]. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9 - March 15- Spring Break - No Class

10 - March 22 - Nutrition - II
Midterms Due

Ch 6 - Future Food: The Politics of Functional Foods and Health Claims in Germov, J., & Williams, L. (Eds.). (2004). A sociology of food and nutrition: The social appetite (Second ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp 119 - 147.

Ch 7 Setting the Menu: Dietary Guidelines, Corporate Interests, and Nutrition Policy by John Duff in Germov, J., & Williams, L. (Eds.). (2004). A sociology of food and nutrition: The social appetite (Second ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp 148-169.

11 - March 29 - Vegetarianism & 'Meat' Eating

Ch 12 - Humans, Food, and Other Animals: The Vegetarian Option in Germov, J., & Williams, L. (Eds.). (2004). A sociology of food and nutrition: The social appetite (Second ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp 263-287. The chapter is the primary text for our discussion of 'meat' and vegetables. This chapter refers to some of the work below, which are included so that you can get a sense of the more complete arguments that these writers make.

*Adams, C. J. (1998). Eating animals. In R. Scapp and B. Seitz.(1998). Eating Culture. Albany, NY, State University of New York Press: 60-75. An excerpt from Adams' strongly stated case for respect for animal life.

*Ch 9 - The Mysterious Meanings of Meat in Beardsworth, A., & Keil, T. (1997). Sociology on the menu: An invitation to the study of food and society. New York: Routledge. pp 193-217.

*Ch 10 - The Vegetarian Option in Beardsworth, A., & Keil, T. (1997). Sociology on the menu: An invitation to the study of food and society. New York: Routledge. pp 218 - 241.

Ch - 6 The Abominable Pig by Marvin Harris in Counihan, C., & Van Esterik, P. (Eds.). (1997). Food and culture: A reader. New York: Routledge. pp 36 - 54.Read this article as an example of early ideas about meat, in particular that from the pig.

Assignment:

'Meat' Eating & Vegetarianism: Using the NY Times over the the week from March 22 - March 29 find an article, ad, or illustration that aligns with an aspect of 'meat' eating or vegetarianism. Bring this NY Times material to class, and be prepared to show how it relates to one or more of the readings above.
Mollie Katzen of Rochester and Ithaca offers a number of connections into the vegetarian world.

12 - April 5 - Food & the Body: Eating Disorders - I

Ch 15 - The Thin Ideal: Women, Food, and Dieting in Germov, J., & Williams, L. (Eds.). (2004). A sociology of food and nutrition: The social appetite (Second ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp 337 - 367.

*Ch - 6 - An Anthropological View of Western Women's Prodigious Fasting in Counihan, C. (1999). The anthropology of food and body: Gender, meaning, and power. New York: Routledge. pp 93 -112.

Ch -12 - Fast, Feast, and Flesh by Caroline Walker Bynum in Counihan, C., & Van Esterik, P. (Eds.). (1997). Food and culture: A reader. New York: Routledge. pp 138 -158.

Ch -13 - The Appetite as Voice by Joan Jacobs Brumberg in Counihan, C., & Van Esterik, P. (Eds.). (1997). Food and culture: A reader. New York: Routledge. pp 159 - 179.

Screening of a Selection of Food and Eating Films - Discussion

"Body Image for Boys," by Producers Scherer and Ling, Cambridge Educational, 2002.
"Dying to be Thin," by WGBH Boston Video, 2000.
"Wegmans Cruelty," 2006.

"Wegman's Cruelty" Website: Filmaker, Adam C. Durand

See NYTimes, March 16, story on the film.
Adam C. Durand: What you can do.
Sources for free-range and cage-free eggs:
* your local health food store
* most farmer's markets
* localharvest.com
* Tops, Wegmans and most other large grocery chains

ABC "Primetime"
The Finger Lakes Times Online carried an article on March 28 about the upcoming ABC "Primetime" special about the investigation of Wegman's Egg Farm In Wolcott, NY by Compassionate Consumers. Wolcott is 35 miles north of Geneva. The segment is tentatively set to air on Friday, April 14 at 9:00 pm.
"Body Image for Boys"
Mike Groll for The New York Times

Adam C. Durand with his friends Melanie Ippolito, front, and Megan Cosgrove. The group filmed conditions at a Wegmans farm upstate.

April 10 - Assignment given for ** Final Paper / Take-home Final **

13 - April 12 -Food & the Body: Eating Disorders - I I

Ch 16 - The Social Construction of Eating Disorders in Germov, J., & Williams, L. (Eds.). (2004). A sociology of food and nutrition: The social appetite (Second ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp 368 - 382.

Ch 17 - Sociological analysis of the stigmatization of obesity by Jeffry Sobal in Germov, J., & Williams, L. (Eds.). (2004). A sociology of food and nutrition: The social appetite (Second ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp 383-402.

Ch 18 - Body acceptance: Exploring women's experiences by John Germov in Germov, J., & Williams, L. (Eds.). (2004). A sociology of food and nutrition: The social appetite (Second ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp 403-426.

Ch 17 - Anorexia Nervosa: Psychopathology as the Crystallization of Culture by Susan Bordo in Counihan, C., & Van Esterik, P. (Eds.). (1997). Food and culture: A reader. New York: Routledge. pp 226 - 250.

Screening of a Selection of Food and Eating Films - Discussion

April 14, 9:00 pm, Friday, Tentative schedule of ABC Primetime: Discussion of "Wegman's Cruelty" film and issues.

14 - April 19 - Future Food

 *Youngberg, G., Schaller, N., & Merrigan, J. (1993). The sustainable agriculture policy agenda in the United States: Politics and prospects. In P. Allen (Ed.), Food for the future: Conditions and contradictions of sustainability (pp. 295-318). New York: John Wiley & Sons.

*Nestle, M., & Dixon, L. B. (2004). Issue 15: Is organically grown food better than conventionally grown food? In M. Nestle & L. B. Dixon (Eds.), Taking sides: Clashing views on controversial issues in food and nutrition (pp. 296-316). Guilford, CT: McGraw-Hill.

*Nestle, M., & Dixon, L. B. (2004). Issue 17: Does the world need genetically modified foods? In M. Nestle & L. B. Dixon (Eds.), Taking sides: Clashing views on controversial issues in food and nutrition (pp. 338-347). Guilford, CT: McGraw-Hill.

Screening: "Big Spuds, Little Spuds," Bullfrog Films, 1999. The film takes a look at the potato to examine the effects of climate change and monoculture on one of the world's staple food crops.

15 - April 26 - Food - Field Trip: Review - Due Date in class for Final Paper/Take-home Final
Edgar's Restaurant and the Cornell University NY State Agricultural Experiment Station.

Meet in the atrium of the library at class time, 1:30 pm. We will drive to Edgar's Restaurant in the Belhurst Castle, 4069 Route 14 South, and there have lunch together at 1: 45 for our final class. We'll talk about the effects on each of us of reading and talking about food during this semester. And we'll be joined by Mark Smith, Assistant Director of the Cornell University NY State Agricultural Experiment Station.

At 3:00 we'll meet at the Cornell Agricultural Experiment Station (see Map to Station), Jordan Hall Main Entrance, for a talk, discussion, and visit to the Station with Mark Smith. You should be able to return to the HWS campus by 4:10 pm.

 

 

 

 

 



May 3 from 4:00pm - 5:00 pm - Last date for paper: I will be in my office, Demarest 210 from 4:00pm - 5:00 pm to receive any remaining papers. After this date I will be available by email or telephone 585-317-6659. (Do not leave papers or postal mail for me at my office in Demarest.) After May 30, use my permanent email address for any correspondence, mfox@mail.rochester.edu. I'd enjoy hearing from you in the future!