Discussion Questions for Food, Culture, and Society

Intersections: Food, Culture, and Society

1) Compare the perception of obesity in Super Size Me with that of Mauritanians in "Mauritania's 'wife-fattening' farm;" what do you make of the fact that in the former, obesity is often a symbol of low socio-economic status, while the opposite is true of the latter?  (Avoid the obvious responses, please.)

2) From your perspective, who or what do you find to be ultimately at fault for America's obesity epidemic?  Who does Spurlock seem to blame?  Do you agree with his view on ths matter?  How does addiction factor into this situation?

3)  How is food used as social manipulation (or as a 'social tool') in "The Cabmen's Cafes?"

4) Is McDonald's manipulation through advertising any different than the manipulation of the working class  by the upper-class in "Cabmen's?"  Were the cabmen as easy to sway as American children are? 

5)  How does money (and by connection, social status) fit into all three of these pieces?  If you can, try to isolate one or two common themes, but if not, a mere comparison is great...