Third Essay Assignment: Defining the Good Life Through Food.

Essay Prompt:

In her essay, “Food, Eating, and the Good Life,” Judith Farquhar argues that the crafting of a good life is “guided in part by an aesthetic even under conditions where real lives may fall far short of what might be desired” (p. 155). In your explorations of the cultural dimensions of food in this course, have your visions of the good life changed with respect to how food can provide the means of care for the self as well as care for others? Can you give an example of how your own food practices navigate between practical constraints and “what might be desired?”--especially given the challenges faced in the midst of global pandemic.  Don’t forget to use examples from the readings to develop your thoughts, for example, Sister Zhang and Sister Zhou from Farquhar’s essay or perhaps Carlo Petrini’s ideas of “slow” as described in Allison Leitch's essay on lardo as well as from the final set of readings, especially the very last reading by Farquhar and Zhang (Ten Thousand Things).

3 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font (800-1000 words), Times Roman, standard margins.

Due Date: Monday, Dec 12 by midnight.

The paper assignment is constructed to give you some creative latitude in composing your essay. You are welcome to incorporate personal experience in your discussion if you would like to, but you are also expected to use material from the course materials and critical concepts presented in class in developing your ideas. The essay is an opportunity for you to demonstrate what you have learned and to integrate the course materials by making thoughtful connections.