Mais que mange-t-on en Bucovine?! Esquisse d’un conflit vs. dialogue culturel
What Do They Eat in Bukovina?! The Outline of a Conflict vs. Cultural Dialogue

Summary/Abstract: The natives of the north-west of Moldavia (Bukovina since 1774) have been subjected to foreign attempts at crafting a regional image for their homeland. In the process, Austrian occupiers (Romanian-born Austrian officials included) and travelers considered the local cuisine as well. This paper looks into the first endeavors to project an image that creates a sense of place for Bukovina. Although hardly consistent, this foreign reading of local identities is homogenous enough so that the people of the area could look back on it themselves, much later, in their own ethnographic studies, not to mention documentary and fictional writings. My investigation closes in on several representations of the area’s staple food, which carry highly evocative meanings, framing Bukovinian cuisine as a social and historical marker of indigenous identity. Moreover, the focus on polenta (mãmãligã), an iconic Romanian dish, is of particular interest.

• Details
• Contents