Emily Huttner

Tasting Race

Questions to the author #11

Question 1

When guest speaker Dr. Laura Harrison came to class she stated ideas of race are

shaped and changed in order to meet the needs of the dominate class. Throughout this class we

have continued to see this and in todays reading Ji-Song Ku (2014) writes nearly a 10

billion domestic animals (mammals and fowls) are raised and killed each year in the United

States for purposes of food production (p.149). It seems that western culture gets to pick and

choose which animals are deemed appropriate for domestication, eating and companionship. It

seems evident that most westerners are not truly concerned with animals being killed, but rather

finding ways to decide what is and is not considered civilized as a means to distinguish

themselves from savagery. If dogs had not been domesticated and become pets do you think

westerners would still denounce eating dog meat?

Question 2

When you go the grocery store or market we depend on previous knowledge or labels to

tell us the contents of what we are about to purchase and then consume. Ji-Song Ku writes

given the choice, we would rather not know or be reminded where meats and other

animal treats come from. If knowledge is power in human-human relationships, then

ignorance (on the part of the human) is truly bliss in the human-animal interface (p. 149-

150).
Unless you are concerned with animal rights, vegetarian, vegan, watch documentaries or know

someone who does you probably blissfully purchase whatever looks good or what you have been

told is good for you. What social influences affect what you find appropriate to consume? Have

you ever considered the foods that someone else eats acceptable for them, but for you it would be

taboo? Have you ever considered yourself as a better person for having a different diets?

Question 3

If any of you have been to state fair it is typical to find exotic foods. It is typical

because this is one context where eating multiple types of foods is accepted and anticipated.

Even though most animal products are considered socially acceptable to eat in the United States

some still require a specific setting. Ji-Sung Ku states Dogmeat is a reminder of globalizations

limits: it is one thing for a taco trucks in American urban centers to offer kimchi tacos; it is

something altogether different for the tacos to contain dog meat (p.130). My question is where

do you think the line is draw for what is socially acceptable to eat and should it matter? Do you

think having knowledge of historical or cultural context of certain foods influences

consumption?
 References

Ji-Song Ku, R. (2014). Dubious gastronomy The cultural politics of eating Asian in the USA.

Honolulu,HI: University of Hawaii Press