This course will introduce students to the various ways in which anthropologists have explored food and the practice of eating in a variety of ethnographic contexts and through a multiplicity of theoretical lenses.  Topics to be be discussed will include food and identity; food, symbol, mind, meaning and material; food and the Body; food, sex and gender; food and religion; food politics; ethics and moralities of food consumption and avoidance; the social performance of taste and taste; food, senses, migration and memory; food, globalisation, exchange and tourism.

 

 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. understand the relevance of studying food anthropologically;
2. appreciate the cultural dimensions of food;
3. understand the various roles of food in webs of power and disempowerment, globalisation, bodies, social relations and culture;
4. participate in a community of scholars organised around an interest in food; and
5. apply anthropological ideas and techniques to the study of food.

Field Trips

There are workshops that will be held at various locations on campus.

Additional Course Costs

Activities-based fees are attached to particular workshops for each student.

Recommended Resources

Agriculture and Human Values

American Anthropologist

American Ethnologist

Appetite

Cultural Anthropology

Culture, Agriculture, Food, and Environment

Current Anthropology

Food, Culture, and Society

Food and Foodways

Gastronomica: The Journal for Food Studies

Global Food History

Journal of Peasant Studies

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction
2	Modern Industrial Foods
3	Technological Tastes
4	The Violence of Mass Production
5	Food Risk and Safety
6	Cheap Meat
7	Obesity and Capitalism
8	The Politics of Global Cuisines
9	Biotechnology and the Engineering of Food
10	Eating as Resistance
11	The Future of Food Security, Justice, and Sovereignty
12	Public Presentation of Projects

Tutorial Registration

This is a seminar with workshops, there are no tutorials attached to this course.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Group Presentation of Readings and Case Studies	20 %	28/10/2022	15/11/2022	12,3,4,5,6
Group Project	20 %	28/10/2022	15/11/2022	1,2,3,4,5,6
Photo Essay	30 %	28/10/2022	15/11/2022	1,2,3,4,5,6
Writing Reflections	30 %	28/10/2022	15/11/2022	1,2,3,4,5,6

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

The readings have been carefully selected for each thematic session and it is expected that students complete all the assigned readings for that week before attending class. If you invest time and effort into the readings you will find the course material to be thought-provoking and intellectually rewarding. It is in your interest to attend all classes in order to receive the maximum benefit of taking this course. Active student participation is vital to having an engaging and lively class because this is a discussion-based seminar with numerous group activities. Thus, students are expected to come prepared for interaction.

Examination(s)

There are no examinations in this course.

Assessment Task 1

Group Presentation of Readings and Case Studies

*This activity is designed to help students practice public presentation, leading class discussion, and develop critical thinking skills.* Students will be organised into groups and each group will be required to make a presentation on the course readings and outside case studies, generate discussion questions, and lead class discussions.

Assessment Task 2

Group Project

*This project is designed to challenge you to collaborate and translate the themes of the course into tangible practices, research findings, or creative content. You must employ your research skills and critical thinking skills to design a workshop, event, research project, or creative product that is informative, compelling, and original.* Students will work in groups based on research interests and will be responsible for researching the topic and developing material that will inform the general public or targeted audience about the issue.

Assessment Task 3

Photo Essay

*This activity is designed to deepen engagement with the theoretical material and encourage students to articulate their application of the readings to relevant examples.* Each student will write an analytical essay of 1200-1500 words and generate accompanying visual material examining how the concepts from the readings and learned in the course thus far provide an understanding of your chosen example.

Assessment Task 4

Writing Reflections

*The writing reflections are designed to help you think openly and concretely about the topic matter at hand and facilitate a deeper comprehension of the course material.* There will be specific writing prompts that students will need to complete. Each writing prompt will require students to cite the course readings and outside case studies.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

No submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date will be permitted. If an assessment task is not submitted by the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded. OR Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Assessments will be available approximately 2 weeks after the assignment deadline. Students will need to re-enter the submission portal on the course wattle site to find the feedback and mark.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students