Descriptif

Beyond the Mundane: Analyzing Food Practices part I

Description of the course

With the development of positive thinking and personal development since the 1990s, there has been an emphasis on certain food practices that are considered better than others. This course offers to analyze the main trends around food and lifestyle. To do this, it goes back to the roots of the literary and artistic depiction of food choices in France.

We will use various media and documents to understand the depiction of food since the second half of the 19th century, when intensive livestock farming developed as the result of industrialization. These economic and societal changes impacted dietary practices. As meat became more available and its consumption increased, vegetarian practices also developed in Europe, sometimes even leading proponents to form communities throughout the 20^th century. What is left of these practices and mindsets today, and how are they currently portrayed?

Whether it’s fancy dinner parties or on the contrary the depiction of hunger, food always reveals attitudes and details about the characters who consume or refuse it, and about the artists who choose to make it central. Depicted in various media, food can have a symbolic meaning or even serve as a narrative tool.

This course will help you to understand the key role of food in relation to consumerism, and ultimately what lies beyond seemingly mundane practices.