Food praxis
Recall our discussion and definition of praxis: asking questions for the purpose of transformation. Praxis questioning is an act of courage to see one’s place in the world as a mirror of power relations; praxis questioning has us revisiting the familiar and relinquishing tacit acceptance of our conditions, commodities and experiences as value-free. In other words, much of we do and choose is structured, in part, by relationships of power. Our choices are not benign--they impact other workers, producers, and people nearby and far away. Deep praxis requires us to think about that as we go about our life; it demands that we shift a questioning mode from an unquestioning mode, especially of that which we take for granted.
As we begin to answer questions about what we eat (where does my food come from? who grew or packaged it? who has access to this food?) we can begin to inform others about food, and work for change in the food system.
The assignment:
During and after a meal, begin to record questions about production, consumption and distribution of the food you are eating. Consider taste, labor, ingredients, where it comes from, environment, etc. Then, have a discussion about your questions with others who shared your meal--and encourage them to ask questions.
Requirements:
As we begin to answer questions about what we eat (where does my food come from? who grew or packaged it? who has access to this food?) we can begin to inform others about food, and work for change in the food system.
The assignment:
During and after a meal, begin to record questions about production, consumption and distribution of the food you are eating. Consider taste, labor, ingredients, where it comes from, environment, etc. Then, have a discussion about your questions with others who shared your meal--and encourage them to ask questions.
Requirements:
- Invite at least two others to share a meal (ideally in a home). Let your invitees know that you'd like them to join you in a food praxis exercise about the meal.
- Create a list of at least 10 questions. Model the questioning for the others, but encourage them to do most of the questioning. Generate at least 3 questions about each component of the food system economy: PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION, DISTRIBUTION.
- Engage your fellow diners in a discussion afterwards: what was it like to ask the questions? What did you think about? What did you learn? How did it feel to do this? Record a journal entry about this experience and these prompts.
- RECORD: Your questions, what you ate, who ate with you, where you ate. Submit.