Introduction to Beyond the Superficial: Making Sense of Food in a Globalized World (original) (raw)

Food is so integral a part of our life that more often than not it is taken for granted. The common understanding of food is that it is one of the basic necessities of life and is essential in terms of nourishment, ensuring survival. However, beyond this basic premise, the ways in which 'food' has been defined over time, in the context of nationality, ethnicity, culture, religion or gender has never ceased to evolve. So, when we embark upon the act of making sense of food, the major concern is to probe the boundaries of this tangible reality. The academic engagement undertaken here is an inter-and multidisciplinary approach, that makes room for an all-encompassing framework aimed at initialising discussions about the nature of food and the ways in which people interact with it on a day-today basis. f 'food' is not reached. What has been triggered instead is an endless and ongoing dialogue on the intricacies and complexities of its presence in a layman's life. This is the basic premise on which this volume operates. So, what exactly does making sense of food imply?