Spread P4

Kerry dePenaloza

Mr. Leake

Writ 1133

9 April 2013

P4

In Mary Ann O’Donnell’s article “The Cultural Politics of Eating in Shenzhen” she puts a lot of emphasis on the importance that food played in Communist China, especially for Shenzhen people.  The Shenzhen people are important workers in the Chinese community because they are “college-educated immigrants.”  Food was so important for these people because there were so many sacrifices done by them in order to develop the cities and industrialize towns. 

            In Sandra Cate’s article “Breaking Bread with a Spread” I found it very interesting how big of a role the spread plays in the lives of the prisoners.  The ability to create something for them creates a sense of freedom.  This ability to make the spread is really important for their well being. This freedom allows for prisoners to be calm because they are able to express creativity when creating the spread.  Also, the spread helps to bring prisoners together because they tend to eat the spread together.  Most importantly, without a doubt, the spread is better food then the food that they receive on a regular basis.  If they have the means, they will make the spread as often as they can.

            Sandra Cate and Mary Ann O’Donnell both relate the importance of food to different communities.  Cate shows the importance of spread to the prison community.  Now you may not think of a prison as a community, but it certainly is one.  Spread does so much for them and Cate does a great job of stressing that importance.  Just like Cate, O’Donnell certainly sows the importance of food in the Shenzhen community.  Food for them is something they hold dear to their hearts because it is essential for them.  They work so hard during the day that they need the nourishment that only food can provide. 

            For me, the most interesting and fascinating thing I learned was about the spread in prison.  This class is the only reason I now know spread exists.  The idea of it never really crossed my mind.  I can understand why prisoners enjoy having spread instead of the generic mundane food that is served in prison.  The freedom they get from expressing creativity and enjoying a good meal was really emphasized in Cate’s article.  It wasn’t just the spread that I found most interesting, but it was some of the recipes and how the prisoners go about obtaining the ingredients to concoct the perfect spread.