240521 SE Anthropology of Food - From the Beginnings to Current Debates (P4) (2022W)

The course introduces anthropological theory and practice about food (and consumption). Students will be enabled to identify and analyse research areas of food anthropology by studying anthropological texts (and doing brief fieldwork). Processes of appreciation and devaluation of food practices are shown as an integral part of emphasizing differences and the common consciousness of belonging in societies. The importance of food (and materiality) will become unveiled on different social levels and ranks. The social phenomena of recent 'food consumption' in the 'West' as well as the 'South' are discussed in their historical context, as 'markers of difference' inside societies, as socio-cultural expressions of societal relations as well as power relations and in the context of social sciences its significance for processes of globalisation and hybridisation. Considering 'food consumption' both as basic need and as possibility to express preferences and structures of power, the course highlights the social, cultural and practical importance of food consumption for the formation of societies worldwide.
The students learn to
· understand anthropological theory and practice in the context of (food) consumption,
· recognize food consumption both as basic need and status marker within societies,
· to understand different, 'cultural-based' influences on living and consuming conditions,
· to comprehend the impact of 'globalisation' through consumption patterns,
· students are trained to discuss and analyse case studies on the basis of the existing theoretical anthropological approaches.
The methodology of the course includes:
+ short input sequences
+ presentation of documentations and videos
+ discussion of anthropological texts, text & film analysis
+ topical working groups with particular assignments (e.g. fieldwork, interviews, text/material analysis)
+ all steps supported by blended learning (Moodle)