Assignment: Food Ethnography
This assignment is meant to be a way of looking at how both food and culture are connected to larger structures in society. Roland Barthes, in his article did this focusing on French food. Your work should do the same but focus on food in a specific location, time, and place.
An ethnography is a research method involving detached observation to uncover the everyday practices or customs of a culture. Ethnographers take detailed notes on verbal and non-verbal communication as well as material culture (packaging, how food is plated, served, sold, preserved, etc.). It helps uncover taken for granted aspects of everyday life.
For this assignment, you will select a public space that involves the consumption and or production of food. This could be a grocery store, a restaurant, a religious feast, a wedding, a farmer's market, a food bank, etc. Ideally, this should be a place you are not familiar with. You cannot do your research in a place where you work, for instance. You may need to ask a manager's permission. Be sure to follow culturally appropriate norms. You will turn in two things: 1) detailed Observation Notes and 2) an Analysis of your findings.
Once you determine the place, spend 1 hour observing. You may participate if you wish by ordering a meal or buying food (this method is referred to as participant observation). You may jot down notes or record a voice memo on your phone if necessary.
Part 1:
Detailed Observation Notes: When you get home, spend some time writing out a more detailed description of your observations. You will turn these in along with your analysis.
Things to consider as you observe:
A. Who do you see? Are there patterns you notice such as a common age group? Racial or Ethnic group? Gender? Social class? Verbal, non-verbal language, marketing, advertising, signage, dress/clothing, norms, gestures, rituals, etc.?
B. What types of food do you see being sold or served? Is the food prepared, packaged, fresh, canned, etc?
C. Where is this place located? Is it a food desert or a central city location?
D. When are you visiting? Could the time of day impact what you are observing?
Part 2:
Analysis: (3 to 4 pages double spaced)
• Your introduction should be a general outline of where you went and what overarching themes you observe. If you go to a farmers' market, for instance, perhaps you notice identity playing an important role in how individuals express their interests in buying local, environmentalism, slow food, veganism, health, etc. You should define the term foodways in your introduction and how this applies to your observations.
A. I would like to see three to four themes that you discuss. Themes can include technology, religion, social inequality, health, gender, social class, race, ethnicity, globalism, food insecurity, social identity, post-industrialism.
B. Use terms and concepts from our readings to discuss your findings. You might observe symbolic behaviors, differences in language, marketing techniques, placement of products, advertising, signage, packaging, indicators of social class, etc. What would Barthes say about this?
C. Last, incorporate at least one theoretical perspective. How would a conflict theorist, or symbolic interactionist see this? What about a functionalist or cultural materialist? For instance, let's say you are in a fast-food restaurant, would a conflict theorist notice the geographic location being away from high income neighborhoods, or social class playing a role? Would a symbolic interactionist look at the use of marketing to lure children in for free happy meals? What language is used to market? Would a functionalist view the need for fast food in a fast-paced society that stimulates a capitalist economy? Use the tools provided in this course to discuss food and culture from a sociological point of view.