This book is a novel and original collection of essays on Italians and food. Food culture is
central both to the way Italians perceive their national identity and to the consolidation of
Italianicity in global context. More broadly being so heavily symbolically charged Italian
foodways are an excellent vantage point from which to explore consumption and identity in the
context of the commodity chain and the global local dialectic.The contributions from
distinguished experts cover a range of topics including food and consumer practices in Italy
cultural intermediators and foodstuff narratives traditions of production and regional
variation in Italian foodways and representation of Italianicity through food in old and new
media.Although rooted in sociology Italians and Food draws on literature from history
anthropology semiotics and media studies and will be of great interest to students and
scholars of food studies consumer culture cultural sociology and contemporary Italian
studies.
