As an opening remark, the breadth of all the presentations I have witnessed surpassed the vocal range of the legendary Axl Rose (Guns and Roses) with a whopping 6 octaves. Spanning both geography and time (or to put it in
Migratory Sweet Potato: A Transnational Tuber
The Sweet Potato is a versatile, nutritious and if cooked properly, delicious root. Whether it’s in fry form, steamed form, or roasted form, we see this humble tuber across multiple cultures and states across the globe. Although the roots of
Cinnamon Rolls and Cardamom: A Story of Trade
Upon perusing several recipes to fuel my insatiable desire for making edible things in general, I came across an interesting feature in the Cinnamon Roll. Cinnamon rolls (Skillingsboller or Kanelbullar depending on where you’re from) are quite an interesting pastry,
A Deeper Dive into using Phenomenology in Oral and Food History (things that didn’t make it into my essay)
Upon examining the possibility of combining philosophical methods on inquiry to reinforce the discipline of history, I came upon several fascinating features of a specific Kyoto School affiliated philosopher that’s ideas were incredibly applicable to the field of Oral and
(Project Proposal) Transcending the Tikka Masala: The Local and Transnational Role of Garam Masala and Spiciness in the Construction and Colonisation of Indian Identity through Food Culture.
Context Garam Masala, Tikka Masala and Spiciness are all commonly discussed terms in the realm of Indian food overseas. The sheer ubiquity and nature of the “Indian Takeout” in the United Kingdom, often with an only passing resemblance to recipes
“Why do you ask?” Forays into Social Microhistory, and Asking the Right Questions
After finding disparity in general literature with the sources, I have begun to look at another angle of research, interviews (or more formally, Oral Histories). As of today, 2 interviews have been conducted with the family members of friends, asking
Where Are the Sources? A Discourse on the Dominance of French cuisine
After a preliminary search for the histories of such a ubiquitous spice blend such as Garam Masala. It was surprising to see that there is a distinct lack of historical sources. I believe that the overall lack of focus on
The Threads that Tether Us?
When the inevitable question of: “What modules are you taking this semester?” appears between friends and family the most typical reaction to the name “Transnational History” is usually that of “isn’t that very broad?”. As echoed by my fellow students