FLP Open Meeting: The History of Pasta and the Italian Identity

Date of Event: 

Tuesday, September 24, 2019 - 7:00pm to 8:30pm

Location of Event: 

TBD

From our modern viewpoint, pasta seems to have always been an integral part of the Italian culinary landscape, one of the key defining factors determining Italianità, or what it means to be Italian. Although shadowy references to pasta-like foods have been recorded as early as Ancient Rome, the road to becoming a culinary and cultural identity marker evolved slowly over centuries, and pasta did not fully consolidate as a source of national pride until the 20th century. This talk examines how that evolution unfolded, the reasons it was stymied, and the context in which it finally became the leviathan centerpiece of the Italian table that it is today. 

Karima Moyer-Nocchi is a professor in the Modern Languages department at the University of Siena and also teaches Food Studies at the University of Rome, Tor Vergata. Her research explores the sociocultural, political, and economic implications of foodways and culinary traditions, focusing in particular on the meaning of authenticity. In both of her books, Chewing the Fat - An Oral History of Italian Foodways from Fascism to Dolce Vita, and her most recent work The Eternal Table: A Cultural History of Food in Rome, an epic culinary history spanning from the pre-Romans to present day, she reconstructs histories with food as the central focus, and along the way deconstructs many of the Italian food myths that we take for granted. Moyer-Nocchi was born and educated in the US, and has been a permanent resident in Italy since 1990. She currently resides in Umbria.

Space is limited. Please REGISTER HERE to secure your spot.