HHUM 4020: Topics in HHUM: Nutritional Anthropology

University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Timely and important areas relevant to Health & Medical Humanities. Section information text: In this course, we take a biocultural approach to explore two guiding questions: (1) how food has shaped what it means to be human, past and present? and (2) why do we eat what we eat? To answer these, we will explore topics such as the co-evolution of humans, diet, and culture; how taste and food preferences are linked to biology, politics, and identity; the role of food and access in health and disease; and the ways that climate change and contemporary trends shape what ends up on our plates. By the end of the course, students will have developed skills in analyzing food from multiple perspectives, made connections to broader social and ecological systems, and critically evaluated contemporary debates about health, culture, and sustainability. In short, students will come to see that food is more than just about eating—it is one of the most complex and fascinating parts of human life.