Food Culture in A O

I personally believe that the development of a unique food culture is based on well adapting to the specific social background. So, any unique food culture is developed in a circle (constrain).

In the article “The Cultural Politics of Eating in Shenzhen”, O'donnell illustrates the political and economic transformation in Shenzhen according the influence of food, as well as food changed over time. The author illustrated “socialism will be the means through which eating”. More specifically, O’donnel compared the food in north and south part of China. “Northern beef eaters symbolize state socialism, and southern seafood eaters represent the emergent capitalism of China’s post-Mao market economy. “ She thought Shenzheners are successful in business because people in south part of China have to be quick and sneaky to catch fish. “ Furthermore, she mentioned “Talking about food is one way in which the Chinese speak about the transformation of China’s socialist economy into a capitalist one since Mao Zedong’s death in 1976.” In the past, if peoples failed to run business, they still could get food from the government. However, their business was limited and no space to further develop. After the transformation, the economy in China was booming. She talked about how important food is in China. There was a say that “Min Yi Shi Wei Tian” – Chinese treat food as their heaven. Finally, the author gives me an idea that people start to concern about the food related health crisis rather than just eating well.

Cate, the author of “Breaking Bread with a Spread”, described a kind of food that is called “spread” in jail. Inmates made it because they were tired of the food in institution and they could get full by eating spread in the institution. Inmates used the ingredient they saved from other meal to make spread. Spread started to become a huge part of food culture in prison. Type of spread became more and more various and inmates coded them in the order sheet. Some inmates started to consider the nutrient in spread. Not only eating, but also the social activities in a prison is influenced by the spread culture. For example, inmates share their spread or give their spread to their leader of groups to “show little respect”. Finally, spread maker encourage goods consumption in commissary.

In cases like Shenzhen economic booming though fish industry and spread in prison, I could see that food culture is shaped under a specific time, location and by a certain group of people. Social, economy and policy would be influenced by the food culture. However, at the same time, food culture is influenced by social, economy and policy too. From my personal perspectives, I believe the development of a unique food culture is based on well adapting to the specific social background. Take Shenzhen and Jail as two examples, Shenzheners were successful under the special policies of socialism in China. Similarly, inmates made spread with the limitation of money and ingredient in prison.