Gastronomy themed movies

Abstract

The global proliferation of mass media has caused a shift in the way individuals perceive the world. Cinema/film as both an art form and a communication medium is able to transmit strong and memorable messages. It can be said that cinema is able to influence individuals’ attitudes and perceptions on various levels. When considered from a gastronomic perspective, it can be said that cinema plays an important role in marketing the gastronomic cultures of different countries. Also, the movie industry, after a long hiatus, has recognized the visual and aesthetic attractiveness of gastronomy and started producing movies where food is the lead actor. This has resulted in the emergence of a new genre; gastronomy themed movies. Use of gastronomy in movies provides important insights about the culture of the country being portrayed, in addition to contributing to propagation and promotion of the culture. This study examines four subjectively chosen movies that portray the French and Italian cuisines, to highlight the prominent features of the portrayals and provide suggestions towards propagating the portrayal of gastronomy culture in films.