Chapter 7. (Un)healthy food discourses
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Jana Declercq
Abstract
This chapter addresses the central role of health in food discourses and identities as emerging during the production of a TV show about food. Food fulfils a range of socio-cultural functions which are essential for the construction of national, regional, ethical, gender, health, and many more identities. This chapter focuses on the dimension of health, as this becomes increasingly important in eating discourses because of the current moral imperative to live a healthy life and take individual responsibility. The analysis shows, however, that health-oriented identities and discourses are in conflict with other food discourses and identities, such as being a food lover or a sociable person who is not preachy about eating. In sum, talking about food must be understood as a multi-dimensional, often contradictory socio-cultural practice.
Abstract
This chapter addresses the central role of health in food discourses and identities as emerging during the production of a TV show about food. Food fulfils a range of socio-cultural functions which are essential for the construction of national, regional, ethical, gender, health, and many more identities. This chapter focuses on the dimension of health, as this becomes increasingly important in eating discourses because of the current moral imperative to live a healthy life and take individual responsibility. The analysis shows, however, that health-oriented identities and discourses are in conflict with other food discourses and identities, such as being a food lover or a sociable person who is not preachy about eating. In sum, talking about food must be understood as a multi-dimensional, often contradictory socio-cultural practice.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
-
Lifestylization and the global
- Chapter 2. How less means more in the comments section of vegan food blogs 15
- Chapter 3. The moral taste of food 35
- Chapter 4. The local and the global in airline food 57
- Chapter 5. Language in transnational communities of consumption 79
- Chapter 6. Craft beer and linguistic lifestyle emblematization 99
-
Mediatization and identity
- Chapter 7. (Un)healthy food discourses 125
- Chapter 8. Dinner for One 145
- Chapter 9. “Tell me about food and I tell you who you are” 167
- Chapter 10. Formality and informality in cooking shows 189
-
Enculturation and localization
- Chapter 11. A rich sauce of comedy 211
- Chapter 12. Naming practices in Singapore’s hawker centres 235
- Chapter 13. Naming food in English in multilingual Cameroon 257
- Index food and food names 277
- Index 281
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
-
Lifestylization and the global
- Chapter 2. How less means more in the comments section of vegan food blogs 15
- Chapter 3. The moral taste of food 35
- Chapter 4. The local and the global in airline food 57
- Chapter 5. Language in transnational communities of consumption 79
- Chapter 6. Craft beer and linguistic lifestyle emblematization 99
-
Mediatization and identity
- Chapter 7. (Un)healthy food discourses 125
- Chapter 8. Dinner for One 145
- Chapter 9. “Tell me about food and I tell you who you are” 167
- Chapter 10. Formality and informality in cooking shows 189
-
Enculturation and localization
- Chapter 11. A rich sauce of comedy 211
- Chapter 12. Naming practices in Singapore’s hawker centres 235
- Chapter 13. Naming food in English in multilingual Cameroon 257
- Index food and food names 277
- Index 281
