FOOD STUDIES ABROAD

116 Pages·2016·1.17 MB·English

FOOD STUDIES ABROAD: IDENTITY, CONSUMPTION,
AND LEARNING IN ITALY

by

CHRISTINA GOOCH

A THESIS

Presented to the Environmental Studies Program
and the Graduate School of the University of Oregon
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
Master of Science
December 2015
THESIS APPROVAL PAGE

Student: Christina Gooch

Title: Food Studies Abroad: Identity, Consumption, and Learning in Italy

This thesis has been accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
the Master of Science degree in the Environmental Studies Program by:

Stephen Wooten Chairperson
Sarah Wald Member

and

Scott L. Pratt Dean of the Graduate School

Original approval signatures are on file with the University of Oregon Graduate School.

Degree awarded December 2015
ii
© 2015 Christina Gooch

iii
THESIS ABSTRACT

Christina Gooch

Master of Science

Environmental Studies Program

December 2015

Title: Food Studies Abroad: Identity, Consumption, and Learning in Italy

Food studies offers a powerful lens through which to consider the complexity of
travel, given the ways in which food can bring multiple perspectives to the table. The
merging of food studies with the well-established tradition of study abroad, then,
provides a platform for incorporating critical thinking and fresh perspectives into the
discourse surrounding study abroad. How does food studies abroad reflect the
opportunities and reify the concerns posed by study abroad in general? I explore this
topic through a case study of a University of Oregon food studies abroad program, Food
and Culture in Italy, looking specifically at students’ motivations, on-site experience, and
perceived outcomes. I employ the lenses of identity, consumption, and experiential
learning to discuss the trends that emerge from the data and conclude with a series of
recommendations for moving thoughtfully and critically forward with food studies
abroad programming.

iv
CURRICULUM VITAE

NAME OF AUTHOR: Christina Gooch

GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOLS ATTENDED:

University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts

DEGREES AWARDED:

Master of Science, Environmental Studies, 2015, University of Oregon
Bachelor of Arts, Geology, 2007, Smith College

AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST:

Food studies
Tourism studies
Food pedagogies

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Food Studies Assistant, University of Oregon, 2014-2015

Teaching Assistant, University of Oregon, 2013-2014

Wilderness Park Ranger, Sequoia National Park, 2009-2015

Environmental Educator, Everglades National Park, 2010-2012

GRANTS, AWARDS, AND HONORS:

Paul and Helen Weiser Scholarship, 2014-2015

Sue Samuelson Award, American Folklore Society, 2015

Barker Award, University of Oregon, 2014

Graduate Teaching Fellow, University of Oregon, 2013-2015

v
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I wish to express sincere appreciation to Stephen Wooten for his continued
support throughout this project, and to both Stephen Wooten and Sarah Wald for their
patience and guidance as I explored my own understanding of learning and identity
during this time. I’d also like to express gratitude to AHA Macerata and the UO Office of
International Affairs for providing access and support, and to Galen Martin, Filiberto
Bracalente, and the students of Food and Culture in Italy 2014 for welcoming me into
their classes. Finally, I’d like to thank the Barker Foundation and the Environmental
Studies Program for the Barker Travel Award. Without their support, this research would
not have been possible.
vi
Dedicated to Ree, Anna, and Aldo.

vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Page

I. FOOD STUDIES ABROAD.................................................................................... 1
Introduction............................................................................................................ 1
Background of Study Abroad.......................................................................... 2
Food Studies Today......................................................................................... 4
Food Studies Abroad: A Case Study............................................................... 5
Research Questions ......................................................................................... 7
Overview of Findings...................................................................................... 8
Methodology.......................................................................................................... 10
Research Design and Rationale....................................................................... 10
Sample and Student Profiles............................................................................ 11
Program Description........................................................................................ 12
Study Limitations............................................................................................. 13
Researcher’s Background...................................................................................... 14
II. FOOD, TRAVEL, AND THE QUEST FOR IDENTITY...................................... 16
Introduction............................................................................................................ 16
Expectations and Motivations: Getting a Little Lost (to Find Oneself)................ 18
Exploration....................................................................................................... 18
Taking Risks.................................................................................................... 19
Perspective....................................................................................................... 20
Independence and Responsibility.................................................................... 22

viii
Chapter Page

Explorations in the Field........................................................................................ 23
Perceived Outcomes.............................................................................................. 27
Students as Culinary Tourists................................................................................ 31
III. CONSUMING EXPERIENCE ............................................................................. 37
Introduction............................................................................................................ 37
Study Abroad as a Commodity Good.................................................................... 40
In the Field: Experiencing Consumption............................................................... 45
Consumption of Culture......................................................................................... 51
IV. FEEDING THE MIND THROUGH FOOD AND TRAVEL............................... 57
Introduction............................................................................................................ 57
Experiential Learning in Travel....................................................................... 60
Food as Experiential Learning ........................................................................ 61
Motivations and Expectations................................................................................ 64
In the Field: Mangiamo (Let’s Eat!)...................................................................... 66
Perceived Outcomes........................................................................................ 70
The Power of Experiencing Food.......................................................................... 73
V. FACING FORWARD: TURNING GAZES INTO CONVERSATIONS.............. 76
Summary of Overall Findings: Potential Concerns and Opportunities................. 78
Recommendations for Future Food Studies Abroad Programming....................... 80
APPENDICES............................................................................................................. 88
A. PRE-TRIP INTERVIEW QUESTIONS........................................................... 88
B. PRE-TRIP QUESTIONNAIRE........................................................................ 90
ix
Chapter Page

C. POST-TRIP INTERVIEW QUESTIONS......................................................... 94
D. POST-TRIP INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE.............................................. 96
REFERENCES CITED................................................................................................ 100

x