what the world eats

Today in my Cultural Hermeneutics class, Professor Kevin Vanhoozer was introducing the idea of cultural "texts." Not just novels or even the internet, but "texts" don't even have to be in written language. For instance, a sculpture or event or song can communicate moods, ideas, worldview... you name it, they can be "read."

Or, Dr. Vanhoozer pointed out, food.

Food as a cultural text?

Well, a text needs to be more discreet - have a beginning, middle, and end, for instance. Like a meal.

Can you read what a meal is telling you? Maybe. His case in point? A recent photo essay by TIME Magazine called What the World Eats. Amazing. Don't forget to be embarrassed by the United States ones.