[lbo-talk] Politics of food

[brad bauerly]

Is it just me or does the whole discussion of how food reveals your position
in society not seem like a big distraction from the more important issue of
the production and distribution of food?  I was actually pushed when doing
my masters in sociology studies to shift from a political economy of the
production of food to the consumption end.   My data simply revealed that
among elites food is seen as a symbol of social position while for everyone
else it served as a cultural link to the past or mealy as
sustenance.  Needless to say, I quickly abandoned the research for more
interesting, and IMO more important, work on the relationship between
changes in food production and class dynamics.  I still don't understand the
interest in consumption side analysis.  Maybe someone can clue me in to its
importance.  And yes, I have read Bourdieu. Yawn.

Brad