Searching for Identity in the 20th-Century Lithuanian-American Food Exhibitions
Searching for Identity in the 20th-Century Lithuanian-American Food Exhibitions

Summary/Abstract: In this case the author of the article, using quantitative and qualitative analysisof the selected periodical publications, examines ethnic food fairs held in theUSA in the 20th century. Focusing on the issue of food as an expression of ethnicidentity, the article aims to reveal how Lithuanian emigrants, by organisingand participating in ethnic food exhibitions, disseminated and aspired to maintaintheir ethnic and national identity. The theoretical approach of the researchis based on the theories of coexistence of multicultural societies, that is the“melting pot” and a “salad bowl”. The author addresses the following questions:1. How have world and food fairs developed in the USA? 2. What impressionsdid the Lithuanian diaspora leave in world and ethnic food fairs? 3. How wasidentity fostered at Lithuanian exhibitions of “national dishes” during World WarII? and 4. What role did ethnic food exhibitions organised by the Lithuaniandiaspora play in the construction of identity? The author concludes that exhibitionsof “national dishes” organised by Lithuanians brings to light a certainfragmentation of the diaspora in terms of food and ethnic identity.

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