I. Introduction to Food and Identity
Day 1:
Course introduction & anonymous survey.
Day 2:
Food, Identity and Nationalism: Savoring Palestinian and Israeli Dishes
In-class:
play a short clip of "Mo" episode 1: how can you explain Mo's reaction?
Assigned Reading:
a) Can a Jew cook Palestinian food without getting all political?
Reading Prompt: What are the important ideas you take away from this article regarding cuisine, identity, and the politics of food?
b) Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine protests Sabra Hummus in Harvard yard
Reading Prompt: what critical issue does this article convey concerning the brand Sabra? And what does this tell you about the magnitude of the issue?
*Assignment: Share a family dish tradition (see google doc sign up sheet on Canvas)
Day 3:
Nationalism, Food Politics and Appropriation & Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) Food Traditions
Assigned Reading:
Ronald Ranta (Author), Atsuko Ichijo, “When Groups Participate in Defining the Nation” (Food, National Identity and Nationalism”: From Everyday to Global Politics, Springer 2022, chapter 2)
Watch at home
“Jerusalem on a Plate” (59 minutes), a documentary by Yotam Ottolenghi.