Food and Culture

3 semester credits. This course is designed to explore the diversity of food and culture around the world. It will apply the concepts and principles of anthropology to the study of human diet and nutrition. The overall goal is to broaden awareness and understanding of how different cultures celebrate food through rituals and traditions. Students will analyze the origins of the human diet, the role of the cultural heritage on food preparation techniques, identify nutritional menus for international and regional areas; interpret international recipes, customs, and lifestyles; and compare ethnic customs in order to understand social/cultural meanings and implications of food behaviors.

3 semester credits. Though food diversifies throughout the world according to local cultural backgrounds, there is a common ground in the universal approach to food: it is a part of everyday life and sharing food is still one of the greatest examples of humans acting as “social creatures.” Italy represents a unique case for now food is both celebrated and is involved in cultural celebrations that are still fundamental in Italian society. This course will provide students with a full immersion in the relationship between food and the local community in Italy, focusing on the many moments that represent conviviality in Italian culture and society. Coursework includes a wide variety of field learning activities through which students will be introduced to local and traditional crafts, food markets, typical street food vendors, local purchasing groups, community-supported agriculture, and countryside food festivals as fundamental milestones in the Italian gastro-social tradition. Through hands-on experiences and on-site activities students, will learn the fundamentals of community-geared food production and will acquire a deeper understanding of food as an essential element of society. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI.

6 semester credits. Though food diversifies throughout the world according to local cultural backgrounds, there is a common ground in the universal approach to food: it is a part of everyday life and sharing food is still one of the greatest examples of humans acting as “social creatures.” Italy represents a unique case for now food is both celebrated and is involved in cultural celebrations that are still fundamental in Italian society. This course will provide students with a full immersion in the relationship between food and the local community in Italy, focusing on the many moments that represent conviviality in Italian culture and society. Coursework includes a wide variety of field learning activities through which students will be introduced to local and traditional crafts, food markets, typical street food vendors, local purchasing groups, community-supported agriculture, and countryside food festivals as fundamental milestones in the Italian gastro-social tradition. Through hands-on experiences and on-site activities students, will learn the fundamentals of community-geared food production and will acquire a deeper understanding of food as an essential element of society. This course includes experiential learning hours with our Community Engagement Member Institutions (CEMI).

3 semester credits. This course will cover all aspects of chocolate from the scientific, cultural, and gastronomic points of view. Topics include its history from Aztec origins to globalization during the Industrial Revolution, the hotly debated health and aphrodisiac issues surrounding chocolate, and the role of chocolate in literature and films. Students will be introduced to the processes of chocolate production, types of finished chocolate products, past and present trends of chocolate preparation and service, the notions of chocolate pairing, and the chemical makeup of chocolate and how it influences medical/scientific research. In addition to the theoretic part of the course, hands on workshops will be dedicated to chocolate tastings and both classic and innovative chocolate preparations.

3 semester credits. This course is targeted towards students with an interest in Italian food traditions, society, and culture. The main focus consists of what is generally defined as "made in Italy" culture and style in post-war Italy. Also covered are the relationships between Italian traditions, folklore and contemporary Italian society drawing from examples including festivals, food, tourism, and economy, and the influence of foreign civilizations. Students will be asked to regard the subject of food outside of the context of ingredients and the procedures used to create a dish; we will instead examine a large scale context in which food is either featured as a main component or an integral element in cultural situations. Thus the student is asked first and foremost to observe the presented material across an anthropologic lens that roves over the entire Italian peninsula. Lectures will be complemented by visits and tastings.

3 semester credits. The city of Florence is a veritable mine of food and cultural experiences spanning from the kitchens of the Medici family to the rustic regional cuisine of Tuscany, growing rituals such as aperitivo, and high profile restaurants recognized internationally. The aim of this course is to introduce students to the food, street, and cultural scenes that set Florence apart from other metropolitan cities; encourage the discussion of the historical weight of its storied past on the food culture of today, and construct a topographical map that indicates the pinpoints of Florence's thriving gastro-cultural activities. Lectures will be complemented by student cooking labs and tastings.

3 semester credits. Where does our food come from? How is it grown? What is actually in the food we eat? These are all important questions that we don’t always want to know the answer to. Food justice is a social movement that examines the ethics of food production and food distribution, access to food, and the policies that are often a silent ingredient in our meals. Organic foods, farming, labor wages and practices, food supply distribution and waste, and sustainability are among the themes to be examined in this course. How food systems impact the health and well-being of individuals and communities, political policies and their role in food distribution in developed and developing countries, and the consequences of globalization on food ethics will be addressed through in-class discussions and activities. A special emphasis will be placed on the cultural aspects of food supplies, the Italian traditions of food production and consumption, and the darker roles represented by food in organized crime and immigration.

3 semester credits. Food is a global necessity to sustain life, and it is no surprise that for the majority of world populations there are many reasons for why we eat beyond the basic importance of daily sustenance. The concept of food includes not only what we eat but also how food is perceived, chosen, procured, produced, and consumed according to the complex interactions between individuals, cultures, and environments. Food depictions in media offer a perspective of the changing politics revolving around the food experience. This course analyzes food culture through representations including print, film, and traditional and new media. Food and food culture are evaluated as a consequence of social and political issues such as tradition/local rituals vs. globalization, the role of food in society, nutritional awareness, and food trends. Lectures, readings, class discussions, field learning activities, and food labs offer diverse points of reflection on food as well as the analysis of food through journalism, media, and communication studies. The food labs provide the hands-on component of this course in order to emphasize that while analyzing food representation in media, the most natural way to familiarize with food is to directly experience its preparation.

3 semester credits. Italian cuisine draws from food-based traditions that have developed over the centuries spanning Italy's political, cultural, and social formation. This course will introduce the student to the foundational food traditions that unite the Italian peninsula as well as the traditions that distinguish regional differences. Key concepts focus on the development of unchanging traditions and their cultural significance in contemporary society. Lectures will be complemented by student cooking labs and/or tastings.

3 semester credits. Italy represents longstanding traditions of food culture, wellness, and nutrition through health-oriented practices. Recent decades have represented a dramatic change in the way we approach health through the lens of food principles. Nutritional facts and information that are constantly updated and the ethics of sustainability have deeply influenced a global awareness of a healthy lifestyle. Italy’s approach to seasonality and nutritional balance is characterized by an abundance of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and a distinct respect for food. This course will provide students with a complete overview of how food can be the basis of wellness, along with the practice of a positive lifestyle through cultural understanding and integration with the local community. Particular emphasis will be placed, through discussions and direct practice, on seasonality and nutritional principles, whole foods, and freshness, traditional customs, and contemporary innovation. Course topics will also reference the aphorism of “We are what we eat” and how it aligns with the Italian culinary tradition and culture. Students will also complete a survey of the different dietary recommendations that have been researched and developed to examine how the field of dietetics is directly affected by social and cultural implications. Through hands-on experiences and on-site cultural activities, students will experience the fundamentals of wellness-oriented cuisine and lifestyles in Tuscany and Italy. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI.

3 semester credits. This course includes lectures on typical Italian products that make the Mediterranean diet the symbol of healthy living: olive oil, pasta, rice, polenta, etc. The food pyramid will be analyzed and compared with the everyday food of Italian homes. Lectures will be complemented by student cooking labs and/or tastings. Hands-on preparation features typical dishes of the Mediterranean diet. This course includes experiential learning hours with our Community Engagement Member Institutions (CEMI).

3 semester credits. The best way to get to know a city is to explore it by foot, wander its streets, gain confidence with its social life and surroundings, breathe in every corner of it, and be captured by the unique views, perfumes, and, especially in Italy, the food. Jean Brunhes wrote “To eat is to incorporate a territory” mainly because food, its ingredients, and the rituals connected to it, have represented the mirror of society since ancient times. This course offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself into Florentine gastronomy and cultural background through neighborhood walks and tastings, using the city as one of most beautiful classrooms. Walking will give students the opportunity to see things that they otherwise would never see and to taste what’s hidden in between the tourist food attractions. Going by foot means to stumble across areas of the city that are not always intended for tourists, maybe less fancy or famous, perhaps calmer and more beautiful, possibly with the best food ever tasted, along with neighborhood stories and curiosities to be discovered in tiny galleries or in hidden food and wine shops. Florence and its treasures are ready to be unveiled. Classes include tastings in gelaterie, gastronomie, enoteche, visits to food-related city spots, and suggestive walks in the secret Florence. The course is intended to provide academic knowledge through guided field learning activities that include research, on-site involvement, and topic assessment for each food and wine themed walk in Florence. The classroom approach of this course is based on experiencing the city as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations.

3 semester credits. Pasta has been a part of Italian life for millennia and plays a fundamental role in Italian cuisine. This course combines lectures and workshops to provide students with a well-rounded knowledge of one of the main elements of Italian gastronomic culture. Students will study the history of pasta and some of the myths surrounding it, from its possible origins in Ancient Greek and Roman times to its diffusion in other cultures aided by Italian emigration. Particular focus will be placed on the role of pasta in Italian traditions and culture and its development over the centuries. Theoretical lectures will be complemented by hands-on workshops through which students will learn traditional techniques for the preparation of fresh pasta.

3 semester credits. The best way to get to know a city is to explore it by foot, wander its streets, gain confidence with its social life and surroundings, breathe in every corner of it, and be captured by the unique views, perfumes, and, especially in Italy, the food. Jean Brunhes wrote “To eat is to incorporate a territory” mainly because food, its ingredients, and the rituals connected to it, have represented the mirror of society since ancient times. This course offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself into the Ligurian Riviera gastronomy and cultural background through neighborhood walks and tastings, using the city as one of most beautiful classrooms. Walking will give students the opportunity to see things that they otherwise would never see and to taste what’s hidden in between the tourist food attractions. Going by foot means to stumble across areas of the city that are not always intended for tourists, maybe less fancy or famous, perhaps calmer and more beautiful, possibly with the best food ever tasted, along with neighborhood stories and curiosities to be discovered in tiny galleries or in hidden food and wine shops. The Riviera and its treasures are ready to be unveiled. Classes include tastings in gelaterie, gastronomie, enoteche, visits to food-related city spots, and suggestive walks in the secret Riviera. The course is intended to provide academic knowledge through guided field learning activities that include research, on-site involvement, and topic assessment for each food and wine themed walk in the Ligurian Riviera. The classroom approach of this course is based on experiencing the city as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations.

3 semester credits. This course focuses on different aspects of regional food in Italy. Emphasis is placed on how food relates to the local lifestyle. Regional economy and local resources are analyzed and compared. Students are introduced to a diversity of local products. Lectures will be complemented by student cooking labs and/or tastings.

3 semester credits. Italian gastronomic tradition is strongly rooted in the consumption of plant-based foods since ancient times. This course offers the opportunity to explore the idea of how integrated vegetables are to Italian gastronomy and the potential redundancy of the vegetarian diet concept in Italy. The survival of previous generations relied heavily on vegetables, grains, cheeses, and fruits while limiting meat consumption to special occasions. This inherently vegetarian heritage is now available and celebrated in the multitude of Italian culinary masterpieces: simple and tasty preparations that are consumed for what they are, independently from a specific dietary regimen such as vegetarianism. Current times have witnessed a growing interest in vegetables consumption due to awareness campaigns and an increasing focus on health and wellness, a sign that the existing ancient bond between man and vegetables is fortunately becoming even stronger. Nutritional interest and the need for genuine food have contributed to the development of cultural movements that based their strength on plant-rich diets, organic foods, and a more genuine approach to seasonal food production. This course offers the opportunity to understand the deep connections between vegetables and Italian culinary heritage, and to discover the “naturally vegetarian” personality of Italian cuisine.

Cross-listed from Restaurant, Food, and Beverage Management

Cross-listed from Architectural Restoration and History of Architecture

Cross-listed from Art History

Cross-listed from Psychology

Cross-listed from Psychology

Cross-listed from Sociology