Consuming Lavish Luxuries: Can we Afford it?
Introduction:
What has a snout, lives in the water, tastes really good, and provides a unique perspective into European national identity? For Western Europeans, Russian sturgeon caviar represents the affluence of the Russian elite. For Norwegians, the Minke whale provides a link to their traditional past, and in Hungary and France, the foie gras industry plays an essential role for their respective economies. For more information, please click on the images below to bring up the individual pages. Each page consists of a short background on the history of the individual animal, followed by an in-depth look into the present day conditions and possible issues and/or consequences surrounding these lavish luxuries. It is these issues and consequences that may potentially alter the way the specific luxury good is connected to its regions's identity.
Bon Appétit!
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Images taken from:
Foie Gras and European Identity-- Kathy Newman
http://www.sentientbeings.org/gallery/goose.jpg
Russian Sturgeon Caviar: Pearls of Luxury-- Allen Fung
http://www.csun.edu/~hcgeo007/sturgeon.jpg
The Minke Whale: "It's very nutritious" -- Jonathan Cogen
http://www.reef.crc.org.au/images/aboutreef/minkie/minke2.jpg
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Kathy Newman, Jonathan Cogen, Allen Fung |