Landscape, Food, and Culture

As humans, we are shaped by two main influences in our life: the natural world and our own culture. However, these two forces are not independent, but rather constantly shifting and interacting to determine much about our lives. Nowhere is this more apparent than with food. On the one hand, we (as humans) perceive ourselves as masters of the natural world. It is true that we act as a keystone species worldwide and have an intense affect on the ecological systems in which we live through our cultural activities, especially the production of food. On the other hand, although our culture is a product of our individual and collective human minds, it cannot be separated from the natural context in which it developed. Although we strive to dominate and shape our landscape, ultimately our efforts have little effect on the inherent productive capacity determined by soil types, climate, geological factors and seasons, and understanding of our societies can not be extracted from these factors. Thus culture is a product of landscape, and landscape is a product of culture. In this course, we will explore the ideas of identity, causality, historical progression, culture, power (within culture and nature vs. science) and the role of humans as both master of and participant in the ecological systems in which they find themselves. We will study the intersection of landscape, food and culture through assignments and class activities including readings (a reader), discussion (some led by students), analysis, journaling, short essays, cooking and eating.