Transformation Processes toward Low-Impact Pleasure: Rethinking Culinary Art with Karen Blixen’s ‘‘Babette’s Feast’’ (1950)

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Abstract

Taking Karen Blixen’s short story “Babette’s Feast” (1950) as the starting point of reflection this article examines the role of culinary pleasure in relation to social and environmental transformations. Combining literary criticism and food studies, the article explores the transformative potential of culinary art both as it is represented in the literary text and as it might affect people in real life. While Blixen in her story makes the case for culinary pleasure as an experience of abundance and extravagance, the article argues that we need to rethink pleasure according to sustainability criteria, including frugal practices. By presenting a method that engages in processes of change by both examining a literary food text and reflecting on a cooking workshop as a speculative exercise on how to create low impact pleasure, this contribution seeks to introduce an integrated approach to literary criticism, food studies and socioecological transformation.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummer6
TidsskriftGastronomica: The Journal for Food Studies
Vol/bind24
Udgave nummer1
Sider (fra-til)36-45
Antal sider10
ISSN1529-3262
StatusUdgivet - feb. 2024
BegivenhedCooking workshop: Celebrating the transformative kitchen - Kitchen Collective, Copenhagen
Varighed: 10 mar. 2023 → …

Workshop

WorkshopCooking workshop: Celebrating the transformative kitchen
LokationKitchen Collective
ByCopenhagen
Periode10/03/2023 → …

Emneord

  • Det Humanistiske Fakultet
  • culinary pleasure
  • literary food studies in practice
  • protestant food culture
  • sustainable eating

Citationsformater