W5: Our Fast Food Nation (Winter '12)

For this week's post I'm interested in your own "fast food story" but then I really want you to move beyond that and do some thinking about why America is such a fast food nation. I've traveled quite a bit and I know that many of you have too. Nowhere else in the world does fast food like America does fast food. In developing countries, places like McDonald's are luxury items. When you walk inside you'll see a pretty wealthy clientele. In other developed countries (say, in Europe) fast food tends to be relegated to freeway rest stops and a few locations "downtown".


What is it that makes fast food so American? (And, what have you seen fulfilling this role in other countries if you've traveled? How are those foods different from fast foods?) 

 

due to Personal Blog by 2/8

Food Histories & Mysteries

What have you learned so far about some of America's iconic (?) foods?  Be sure to demonstrate that you've read the material from this week. Next, choose one food that remains a mystery to you and do some research on it (e.g. Velveeta cheese).  Tell us a bit about the history of your food mystery.

due in class 2/1/12

Supersize ME Response

Spurlock uses a variety of strategies, especially visual ones, in order to make his argument. What is his argument and what strategies did you find most effective or striking? What strategies were ineffective in persuading you?

due 2/1 as a response to the Course Blog

W4: "American Food" (Winter '12)

Here's your task for this week's post: You get to design the menu for a new "quintessential American restaurant" in, let's say, Russia. What foods best represent "America" and why? At a minimum, your post should list the menu items and the rationale. But no burgers, fries, or pizza. Those are a given--let's dig deeper.

due 2/1 to your Personal Blog

"Southern"

What is the role of our “southern associations” in Paula's Home Cooking? What associations (and stereotypes?) does Deen draw on for her show?  Why?  To what effect?

image credit: pauladeen.com

Julie & Julia as Memoir?

Given what we've read and discussed about memoir in the last few weeks, how does Julie and Julia (the film) function as a memoir?  Does it feel authentic?  Does it have an appropriate scope?  What common experiences are examined?

Post as a comment in class on 1/23.

W3: Teachers (Winter '12)

As we're transitioning into the next section of the class, we'll be talking about cookbook authors, bloggers, and television hosts--people who, in part--are trying to teach us about food and cooking. Who have been the "teachers" in your life? Who has taught you about cooking and food (and what did they teach you)?

If you don't like or know how to cook, feel free to get creative with this prompt. What do you know (even if you don't feel like it's a lot)? For example, I'm remembering the friend who taught me to make grilled cheese without the stove, enabling a new after-school snack. She would put the bread in the toaster and then butter it, add the cheese, and microwave it to make the cheese melt. My best friend Jenifer taught me that peanut butter and jelly was even better if you grilled it (butter = better). She would make her sandwich, butter it, and then grill it just like grilled cheese. And now that I think about it, on that same visit she introduced me to the fried hot dog--a hot dog pan fried in butter with a little worcestershire.

Now none of these is haute cuisine. None is going to win a prize. But both of these people did teach me something about food. So if you need to expand your definition of "teach" for this post, then have at it.

And in honor of one of America's best known food teachers, I give you: The Chicken Sisters!

Post to your personal blog by 1/25.