Upon reading the article in the Freetimes (http://www.free-times.com/index.php?cat=1992912064227409&ShowArticle_ID=11012611083704007 ) about the specialty grits milled downtown, I was struck by the relevancy of Glen Robert’s approach as well as the ironies. For one, I am a Top Chef addict so any connection to chef Tom Colicchio is (embarrassingly) exciting to me.
Also, as an anthropologist who teaches Intro to Cultural Anthropology every semester, my classes at that moment were considering industrialism, globalization and the general push towards monocrop production—and the ultimate consequences of the industrialized agriculture trend (lack of biodiversity, lack of small scale/family farms, lack of local foods, etc). So, it was refreshing to have another source, one local and relevant to people’s sense of southern identity (grits!), to discuss as an existing counter besides my usuals—anti-globalization movements, freegans and websites on sustainability/consumption.
What I find ironic, however, is that if it were’nt for elitist food ideals (heirloom grits taste better even if they’re very, very expensive and time-consuming to make), this attention to the local might not exist. Plus, this elite market probably wouldn’t exist without tourism and other global food markets featuring a ‘taste of the old south.’ I guess for those who consider such issues regularly such ironies are the norm.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
To Begin
I've been stewing about creating a blog for awhile now concerning subjects I think about frequently but don't spend the time to write about.
The title of the blog relates to my grandfather; he sent out 'dear folks' letters frequently during the year--probably 5 or so a year, the ubiquitous Xmas letter usually a bit longer than the rest. These were typed on his famous white-out splattered, non-electric typewriter and then xeroxed for friends and family--eventually I'll post a photo of one. I don't think I really appreciated these letters until he was writing them less frequently and then, of course, after he died. The letters always contained family news but also grandpa's thoughts on what he was reading or writing about as a scholar; my grandpa was a philosophy professor. He would also sometimes include some pretty corny things like spoonerisms or word games or quotes from famous writers.
Anthropology is what I've been doing for awhile now in a student mode and more recently in a teaching and writing mode.
As blogs tend to be (as far as I know), this blog will really be about me writing about stuff for my own self-reflection. But, the 'dear folks' and anthropology union brings with them an attempt to make the blogs somewhat more relevant than just meandering thoughts. Hope someone besides myself will eventually enjoy these occasional posts.
~Sarah
The title of the blog relates to my grandfather; he sent out 'dear folks' letters frequently during the year--probably 5 or so a year, the ubiquitous Xmas letter usually a bit longer than the rest. These were typed on his famous white-out splattered, non-electric typewriter and then xeroxed for friends and family--eventually I'll post a photo of one. I don't think I really appreciated these letters until he was writing them less frequently and then, of course, after he died. The letters always contained family news but also grandpa's thoughts on what he was reading or writing about as a scholar; my grandpa was a philosophy professor. He would also sometimes include some pretty corny things like spoonerisms or word games or quotes from famous writers.
Anthropology is what I've been doing for awhile now in a student mode and more recently in a teaching and writing mode.
As blogs tend to be (as far as I know), this blog will really be about me writing about stuff for my own self-reflection. But, the 'dear folks' and anthropology union brings with them an attempt to make the blogs somewhat more relevant than just meandering thoughts. Hope someone besides myself will eventually enjoy these occasional posts.
~Sarah
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
