GLST 210 Syllabus

Food is one of the necessities of life; we all need to eat.  How does globalization affect food production and, ultimately, people’s lives around the world?  Food is the focus of this course as a means to better understand the interconnections between global capitalism and what we find on our dinner plates.  The course also considers local alternatives.

The format of instruction is a combination of lectures and seminar-style discussion.  There are films to complement the lectures and readings, as well.

The objectives of this course are:

• Build awareness of other ways of knowing by exposure to the diversity of peoples and cultures throughout the world.
• Identify the local and global impacts of globalization through case studies, past and present.
• Identify key concepts associated with the discipline of anthropology, including ethnocentrism and cultural relativism, and how these relate to the process of globalization.
• Assess the phenomenon of globalization through economic, political, social and environmental terms.
• Critically evaluate resources as presented in various forms, e.g., news media, websites, etc.
• Actively participate in improving the human condition.

Your grade will be based on participation (20%), opinion piece (5%), video short selection (5%), two exams (20% each), and a paper (30%).  Exams will be online, short answer and essay question format.  Written assignments will be submitted online through VIULearn. There is no final exam.

Not attending an exam or submitting an assignment will result in an “F”;
your final grade is based on completing ALL course work.

Required texts:
Bowens, Natasha.  2015.  The Color of Food: Stories of Race, Resilience and Farming.  Gabriola Island: New Society Publishers. (Online1, Online2)

Moss, Michael.  2013.  Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us.  Toronto, ON: Signal.

Steger, Manfred B.  2023.  Globalization: A Very Short Introduction.  Sixth Edition.  New York, NY: Oxford University Press.   (Online, NOTE: This is the older 2nd edition.) 

Please read assigned chapters prior to the week’s class to facilitate discussion.

NOTE:

• Use of technology: Recording is only permitted by request as authorized by Accessibility Services. Please contact Accessibility Services if you are in need of academic support and accommodation.
• If there are exceptional and/or extenuating circumstances, such as illness or a death in the family, that prevents you from meeting an assignment deadline or being present for an exam, please notify me as soon as possible so that other arrangements can be made.  (See VIU General Regulations.)
• Should you need counselling at any time during the semester, contact Student Affairs.  Drop-in counselling is available.  If immediate support is needed after hours, call the Crisis & Information Line: 1-888-494-3888.  As well, you can contact Cowichan Valley Mental Health and Substance Use Services Intake, 3088 Gibbins Road, Duncan: 250.709.3040.  In Nanaimo, there is a Walk-in Counselling Clinic, Brooks Landing (203-2000 Island Highway North), Nanaimo: 250-739-5710.  For general health and wellness queries, go to bc211 or dial 211; it’s free and confidential.
• If you appear to be experiencing difficulties, you might be identified to VIU Student Affairs through the Early Alert System (EAS).  EAS is a campus-wide program to connect students with resources that may help their success.
• Withdrawing from any VIU course MUST be done formally, that is, by applying at the Registration Centre.
• All in-coming mail is spam-filtered. Identify the course name in the “Subject” box when emailing your instructor. Also, add your instructor to your “accepted” email address file and ensure that VIU has your correct email address.

Final grade assignment:
Grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

Created 2003-08-30; last updated 2023-09-04