Ben Massey
These two essays show how food is intertwined
with certain communities. “Breaking bread with spread” describes the inner
workings of a San Francisco jail and how “spread”, a jail house conglomeration
of food, functions as a social crux. Inmates use portions of meals, edible
gifts from the outside and any food they can find to create different spreads,
usually with the help of just a microwave or boiling water. The spreads have
evolved to represent a “rebellion” of sorts from prison food the inmates
consider bland and unsatisfying. While reading I couldn’t help drawing a
connection to dorm life. Sometimes I feel “imprisoned” by Sodexco’s food and I
cherish the ability to make dinner in my room that is not only tastier but empowers
the feeling of freedom from the mundane day to day cafeteria feed. Cate also
describes how the spreads function as a social rallying point, certain inmates
always cook together and buying/selling of spreads pulls different groups and individuals
together.
O’Donnell’s essay connects food and
communities as well, but in a much different setting, the emerging Chinese city
of Shenzhen. While the spreads of San Francisco relate relatively small groups
of inmates, O’Donnell discusses how food is tied to different generations in
the world’s largest country. On one hand there is an older generation who value
the socialist ethic and on the other are the young emerging Shenzheners wrapped
up in the self-interest of hybrid capitalism. O’Donnell writes, “Old Shenzheners
nostalgia for socialist meals competes with New Shenzheners commodified
appetites (pg. 38)” The older group values small government issued meals and
the ensuing sacrifice for the “greater good”. The younger Shenzheners view this
socialist rhetoric as old and outdated, preferring instead to bow to the
capitalist notion of fulfilling self-needs as the highest priority. The rapidly
expanding, high end, bars and eateries of Shenzhen are a product of this new
notion of food. This is very much representative of the “westernization” of
Chinese culture away from its humble traditional roots.
Food holds a special place for
everyone. Inmates in the city of brotherly love have found their own type of
community centered on jail-cooked treats. Traditional Shenzheners hold small
bland meals of cornbread and state-issued rice in high regard as a means of
supporting their country. These essays have shown me that certain meals hold more
value that just nourishment and that this value can become a social rallying
point for just a couple of people or an entire generation.
No comments:
Post a Comment