Kyle Kisling
April 7th, 2013
Composition 1
Food and Family Food holds a special place in society. Aside from its obvious purpose of survival, food also is a great way to bring people together. The first real example I can provide is the common celebration of Thanksgiving. The day has no real significance other than eating food with family. A turkey is placed at the center of the table, football provides entertainment, and family members enjoy the company of one another. I feel like some people underappreciate the true value of food and the cultural reunions it creates. Though not all countries celebrate Thanksgiving, food still carries an important role in countries all over the world. The first documentary we watched was called Smokin’ Fish. The film went into deep investigation of the culture of Cory Mann. The title alone should give away the idea that food is somewhat involved in Cory’s culture. Cory is an entrepreneur who annually returns to his home village for a few months to catch fish from the river and smoke them. Initially, I questioned his motives when he simply abandons his business and returns home to fish. It came off as strange because most people are not willing to risk their financial security to go fishing for a few months. The film continues on and as it progresses you see that smoking fish carries a much deeper meaning to Cory. Cory is part Indian and smoking fish is a tradition his peoples have had for centuries. He feels as though it is his duty to help carry on a culture that seems to be on a rapid decline as time progresses. Though the smoked fish is a delicacy, it has a much greater value to Cory and his culture. The second documentary we watched was called Summer Pastures. The film focuses on a Nomadic couple that spends their days in the countryside. Though the main focus is not necessarily on the type of food they eat, it still plays a major role in the survival of the couple. The wife milks the yaks every morning and then spends the rest of the day turning the milk into cheese and butter. The husband collects caterpillar fungus and takes it to the market where he barters the fungus in exchange for other foods. Food in the film is seen as more of a necessity. The couple is not worried about what type of food they are eating but are more worried about if they are eating in general. What if the wife is unable to collect milk? The consequences would be easily noticed because they would not have cheese or butter. What if they husband is unable to find fungus? The couple would no longer be able to buy food from the market. The Nomadic culture revolves around the ability to produce so they can survive. Lastly, food plays a significant role in my own culture. My family comes from an Irish background so many of the dishes we eat are from recipes that have been past down. Potatoes and ham are often key ingredients in the meals we eat. My family also likes to take advantage of the cultures around us. We often eat Chinese, Mexican, and Italian dishes to diversify ourselves. By taking advantage of what society has to offer, my family is able to appreciate the cultures of places from all over the world.