Abstract
Slow Food has long been studied subjectively, attempting to determine the quality of the movement’s message. However, little attention has been paid to the sociological perspective of the movement. This thesis aims to understand the sacralization process underway within the Slow Food movement, using sociological theories of secularization and sacralization as its lens. It suggests that Slow Food communicates its understanding of the sacred through its fundamental values: good, clean, and fair food for all. To begin, this study places the modern Slow Food movement within its historical context. It then analyzes existing sociological theory to understand how Slow Food counters the typical secularization theory and instead offers an illustrative example of what we will call immanent sacralization. Finally, this it discovers the many ways, some intentional and others less obvious, that Slow Food (re)produces the sacralization of good, clean, and fair. Content analysis of social media posts, podcasts, newsletters, and more from August 2021 through January 2022 is supplemented with remote participant observation and five interviews to teach us about the meso-level complexities of nontraditional sacralization in a secular world. By evaluating the practices and lived experiences of the Slow Food community, this paper highlights the importance of the Slow Food movement and similar nonreligious social movements as primary spaces of meaning.
Presenters
Ellie MartinStudent, Master of Arts, Graduate Theological Union, California, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Slow Food, Sociology of Food, Culture, Secularization, Sacralization, Social Movements
