“Southern food derives its strength from many cultures. It's a melding of food cultures from Native Americans, enslaved African-Americans, and Europeans.” CultureNativeSouthernNative American Author:Marcie Cohen Ferris
“Southern food that appears in contemporary popular culture is so exaggerated that it's hardly recognizable to most Southerners. This enriching of Southern food - fatter, richer, more over the top - is what we typically see on TV, in Hollywood films, and in Southern-style or country-themed chains like Cracker Barrel. Southern food becomes a caricature, like characters and props in a reality TV show.” CharacterRealityFilmCultureSouthernPopular CultureSoutherner Author:Marcie Cohen Ferris
“Most Southerners recognize when a story about their own experience feels off-kilter or offensive. But Southerners are also fascinated by the way their region is presented in popular culture. It is exciting to see how filmmakers take great care to present worlds in which race, region, and food are deeply intertwined.” WorldCareCultureExcitingFilmmakerOffensivePopular CultureSoutherner Author:Marcie Cohen Ferris
“The study of foodways - the intersection of food and culture - addresses a central issue in the humanities: how we connect the great dramas of history with the lives of ordinary people.” PeopleHumanityCultureStudyDramaOrdinary People Author:Marcie Cohen Ferris
“The South is about the abundance, beauty, and richness of Southern culture, but also its dark underside. The history of Southern food reflects the history of slavery, of poverty, of the negotiation of power.” CultureDarkPovertySlaveryAbundanceSouthernNegotiation Author:Marcie Cohen Ferris