Roehampton University invites you to their free festival
A free festival showcasing the memories, joys, tastes and academic study of food is to be held at the University of Roehampton in mid-November, and the public are being invited to sign up and join in.
While there’s no such thing as a free lunch, there is a free evening banquet during the 10 hour celebration on Saturday 15 November. The banquet will include a tasting menu and discussion of how food has played key roles in our lives, from the first things we ate as infants, to foods associated with funerals. Whilst they eat, diners will learn about the myths and truths around brain food and ritual practices in different cultures. Visitors will be encouraged to talk about their own memories of food and its associations with milestones in our lives.
As well as the banquet local people can sign up for day time activities, including:
• ‘Food for thought’ workshops on how to become a food writer and blogger, how dining is represented in theatrical performances and the study of food history.
• A lecture exploring the origins, structure and importance of the grand Victorian dinner party, by Professor Nicola Humble from the University.
• Tours of the University’s orchards where fruit lovers can learn about the history of the apple, pick up recipes and share memories of London’s lost orchards with the Growhampton team and the Urban Orchards Project.
• A contemporary dance performance encouraging visitors to discuss memories of eating, as dishes are fed to them.
• The screening of a film by a Roehampton MA student charting the experiences of staff in Eritrean, Pakistani and Argentinian restaurants, and different understandings of ‘authentic’ cooking.
The festival has been designed to increase understanding across the University of how food is central to many academic disciplines, from psychology to history, dance, literature and others. People’s reaction to the events, and the opinions they share will help lecturers understand how best to teach.
All events are free to attend, but must be booked in advance, by visiting www.roehampton.ac.uk/memorybanquet
The event is part of a nationwide project called the Being Human Festival, led by the University of London, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy.
November 3, 2014