In Wilk’s Home Cooking
in the Global Village, Wilk is concerned about the effects of globalization
on our food consumption. Wilk brings up
creolization and appropriation of local cultures across the globe. He uses the example that through
appropriation, Americans can consume sushi and other items considered Japanese
without culturally becoming Japanese (Wilk 7).
With appropriation, dominant cultures can consume other cultures without
destroying local cultures. This can be
seen with the diversity of Coca-Cola produces around the globe. If you’ve ever visited the World of
Coca-Cola, then you’ve seen appropriation first hand. Although Coke was originally produced in
Atlanta, Coke has become an item of global consumption. Instead of not allowing Coke products into a
country, the country instead changes the flavor of the drink to correspond with
the country’s culture. Instead of
drinking Coke being an American thing, countries adapted the drink’s flavors to
make it fit into their culture instead. The World of Coca-Cola hosts five continents: Asia,
Africa, North America, South America, and Europe. The flavors at each of the continents give a
small glimpse into how food and drinks can be unique to each country.
America is a country that contains a
wide variety of cultures but instead of destroying local cultures that have
appeared. America has instead adapted these cultural diversities without losing
the identity of being American. This can
be seen through local food festivals, like the Atlanta Greek Festival. Although I do not have a drop of Greek blood
in my body, I have attended the Greek Festival for years but just because I have
attended does not mean that my culture has changed. the same can be applied to eating Chinese food without becoming culturally Chinese. Attending these festivals shows that while
America has these festivals that consist of different cultures, America is a
dominant global culture and thus can contain other cultures but resist foreign
cultures from taking over. Instead of
seeing these festivals as a threat to American culture, these festivals
continues to represent Greek culture, food and dance because America has made
the festivals fit into our history.
Coke is a great example. Is the "I tasted Beverly" from the Coke museum? I agree with your point that we can eat other cultures' foods without appropriating other parts of their culture, but how do you think we Americanize the food from their culture that we're eating?
ReplyDeleteFirst, I love the "I tasted Beverly" image! I wish I had one of those because the Beverly is by far the most memorial Coke product I've ever tasted.
ReplyDeleteI like how you bring up how Americans consume other cultures' foods without losing touch with their own culture. Unless I'm at a special festival or event, though, the other cultures' foods I eat are usually the "American version." Like Chinese food, for example. I always assumed my favorite Chinese food restaurant was pretty authentic...until I ate at a less-commercialized Chinese restaurant. I'm sure they're not all like that, but I find the difference between my favorite restaurant and the more authentic Chinese restaurant interesting. It's like they take traditional dishes, but modify the flavors so they're more similar to the tastes Americans are accustomed to. Maybe so it's less of a culture shock, but Americans still get to experience a bit of another culture? It's interesting to think about.