Professor of Food Culture at the University of Helsinki Johanna Mäkelä will hold a public lecture entitled ”Sign of the Times: Food in Modern Finland” on Tuesday the 24th of April 2012 at 10:15 – 11:45 am in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Education of Tartu University (Lossi 36-214).

Abstract of presentation
Many societal changes like industrialisation and urbanisation, the changing position of women, and globalisation have left their marks on our eating habits. The lack of food is not an issue in the Western countries anymore. Therefore, we can ponder the quality, healthiness, safety, ethics and politics of food we eat. The choice of food has become a form of political and moral statement making. Today you are not only what you eat but more and more what you do not eat. The styles and practices of eating are numerous.

The presentation focuses on current debates and happenings around food and eating. Firstly, I analyse the patterns of modern eating with an emphasis on individualization and commensality. Secondly, I depict how interest in local food is a global movement. Thirdly, I discuss the role of as culture and policy in Finland. Finally, I show some examples of the contemporary interpretations of the Finnish food culture.