Course Title: “Roots of Resilience: Plant-Based Food Justice in Literature and Beyond”
Course Description:
“Roots of Resilience” provides a dynamic learning experience that combines theoretical knowledge with real-world engagement, empowering students to critically examine and actively contribute to the discourse on plant-based food justice through literature and field study.
This interdisciplinary course explores the intersection of plant-based food systems, social justice, and literature. Students will critically examine the ethical, environmental, and socio-economic implications of plant-based diets while engaging with literary works that illuminate various aspects of food justice. This hybrid course blends online learning with immersive field study experiences, offering students a comprehensive exploration of plant-based food justice through the lens of literature.
Through readings, discussions, and experiential learning activities, students will investigate the global food system, including issues related to food access, food sovereignty, agricultural sustainability, and the impact of animal agriculture on the environment and marginalized communities. They will also explore the cultural, historical, and political dimensions of plant-based diets and their potential to promote social justice and ecological resilience.
Literary texts will serve as both mirrors and windows, allowing students to reflect on their own relationship with food and society while gaining insights into diverse perspectives and experiences. Drawing from fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and other genres, students will analyze how food narratives shape identities, communities, and collective struggles for justice.
Topics covered:
The ethics of plant-based eating: animal rights, environmental sustainability, and human health
Food sovereignty and indigenous foodways
Food deserts, food apartheid, and access to healthy, affordable food
Environmental justice and the impact of industrial agriculture on marginalized communities
Food labor and workers’ rights in the agricultural industry
Intersectionality and the interconnections between food justice, race, gender, and class
Ecofeminism and the linkages between the oppression of women, animals, and the Earth
Food activism and grassroots movements for change
Literary representations of food, agriculture, and social justice in diverse cultural contexts
Course Objectives:
Throughout the course, students will develop critical thinking skills, engage in reflective writing, and collaborate on projects that explore practical strategies for promoting plant-based food justice in their communities. By integrating academic inquiry with real-world activism and literary exploration, this course aims to inspire students to become informed, compassionate, and empowered agents of change in the global food system.
Analyze the ethical, environmental, and socio-economic implications of plant-based diets within the context of food justice movements.
Examine the intersections of literature, culture, and food systems, and critically evaluate how literary texts reflect and shape attitudes towards food and social justice.
Investigate the structural inequalities and power dynamics inherent in the global food system, with a focus on issues such as food access, food sovereignty, and agricultural sustainability.
Explore the historical and contemporary narratives surrounding plant-based diets and their cultural significance, including indigenous foodways, religious practices, and ethical philosophies.
Evaluate the impact of industrial agriculture, including animal agriculture, on marginalized communities and the environment, and analyze strategies for promoting more just and sustainable food systems.
Engage with diverse literary texts, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and memoir, to deepen understanding of the complexities of food justice issues and the lived experiences of individuals within food systems.
Develop critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze and interpret literary texts through the lens of food justice, identifying themes, symbols, and representations of food, agriculture, and social inequality.
Reflect on personal values, attitudes, and behaviors related to food consumption and activism, and consider the role of individual agency in promoting positive social change within food systems.
Collaborate with peers to explore practical strategies for advancing plant-based food justice initiatives in local communities, and develop communication and advocacy skills for engaging with diverse stakeholders.
Course Format: (Beginning January, 2025)
Online Modules:
Week 1-2: Introduction to Plant-Based Food Justice
Overview of plant-based food justice concepts, including environmental sustainability, social equity, and health implications.
Readings and discussions on seminal works addressing plant-based food justice issues in literature.
Week 3-4: Literary Analysis
Close reading and analysis of literary texts that explore themes of food justice, sustainability, and ethical consumption.
Interactive discussions on the portrayal of plant-based diets and their implications in society.
Week 5-6: Intersectionality and Representation
Examination of intersectional perspectives on plant-based food justice, including race, gender, and socioeconomic status.
Exploration of diverse voices and narratives in literature that highlight marginalized communities’ experiences with plant-based living.
Week 7-8: Culinary Narratives
Study of food memoirs, culinary literature, and food writing that center around plant-based cuisines.
Analysis of how storytelling influences perceptions of plant-based diets and shapes culinary identities.
Week 9-10: Advocacy and Activism
Investigation of literary works that inspire and advocate for food justice initiatives.
Discussions on the role of literature in promoting social change and fostering sustainable food systems.
Guest Speaker Series:
Talks and panels featuring authors, scholars, and activists in the field of plant-based food justice and literature.
Q&A sessions allowing students to engage directly with experts and practitioners.
Assessment:
Online Discussions: Active participation in online forums and discussions on assigned readings and topics.
Critical Reflections: Writing assignments reflecting on field study experiences and their connections to course themes.
Culinary Projects: Creation and presentation of plant-based recipes inspired by literary texts studied in the course.
Final Project: Research paper where you synthesize interdisciplinary knowledge from literature, sociology, environmental studies, and other fields to critically assess the complexities of plant-based food justice and advocate for more equitable and sustainable food systems OR a creative project exploring a specific aspect of plant-based food justice and literature, integrating insights from both online learning and field study components.