In this course we will explore how local, national, and international
poets write about food. We will consider how culture, class, gender, location,
and migration shape how poets represent agriculture and aquaculture, farmers’
markets and grocery stores, cooking and eating, health and sickness. This is a
writing intensive course, so we will also write our own poetry and short
stories about food. Since food is a hands-on experience, we will conduct many
hands-on activities throughout this course to inspire our poetry, including
eating, cooking, shopping, and gardening. We will also discuss (and write
about) many of the food issues in Hawai’i, such as Hawaiian customary food
practices, colonial agriculture, imported foods, GMOs, diabetes, and hunger.
Lastly, we will listen to music and watch several films and documentaries about
food.
Course Requirements
- Attendance and
participation - Reading and
discussion - Informal creative
writing assignments - Peer-editing/workshop
- Oral presentations
Required Texts
- Brandy Nalani
McDougall, The Salt Wind Ka Makani
Pa’akai - Emelihter Kihleng, My Urohs
- Lee Cataluna, Folks You Meet in Longs and Other
Stories - Javier Huerta, American Copia: An Immigrant Epic
- We Go Eat: A Mixed Plate From Hawai’i Food Culture
- Other readings will be provided via Laulima.