Culinary imagery, much like sexual and violent imagery, is a key cinematic device used to elicit a sensory response from an audience. In many films, culinary imagery is central enough to define a new subgenre, defined by films in which food production, preparation, service and consumption play a major part in the development of character, structure or theme. This book defines the food film genre, and analyzes the relationship between cinematic food imagery and various cultural constructs, including politics, family, identity, race, ethnicity, nationality, gender and religion. Chapters examine these themes in several well-known food films, such as ""The Cook"", ""The Thief"", ""His Wife and Her Lover"", ""Chocolat"", ""Babette's Feast"", and ""Eat Drink Man Woman"", and lesser-known productions, including ""Felicia's Journey"", ""Kitchen Stories"", ""Magic Kitchen"", and ""Chinese Feast"". The work includes a filmography of movies within the food genre.
About the AuthorJames R. Keller is a professor and chair of the English and Theatre department at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky. The author or editor of numerous works about popular culture, he lives in Lexington, Kentucky.
Reviews"recommended"-
Choice; "I devoured this book...intriguing...a fine study"-
Journal of Popular Culture.Book InformationISBN 9780786426164
Author James R. KellerFormat Paperback
Page Count 215
Imprint McFarland & Co IncPublisher McFarland & Co Inc