Eat, Drink & Be Merry? The Politics of Food & Drink: Bread

Marian J. Barber Discussion

Please join British, Irish and Empire Studies at the University of Texas at Austin on Tuesday, October 4, at noon Austin time, 6 p.m. British Summer
Time, for "Bread," the fifth session in our VIRTUAL speaker series, "Eat, Drink and Be Merry? The Politics of Food and Drink." Three scholars will
explore the significance of bread through the centuries in Britain and Ireland. Madeline McMahon of UT's History Department will chair.

More detail: Debby Banham of Cambridge University will discuss "Did ladies originally make their own bread? Gender, status and staple food production in early medieval England." Martha Bayless of the University of Oregon will speak on "Bread: Meaning and Magic in Early England," including how the early English made their bread, what it meant to them, and how they turned it to magic. This talk will give the lowdown on early English bread and its uses, both fundamental and surprising, she promises. Regina Sexton, University College Cork, will examine "Eating Modernity in post-Famine Ireland: the case of factory and homemade wheat breads." She notes that the post-Famine period in Ireland was one of significant dietary change with impact on the eating habits of particular note amongst lower socio-economic groups. This presentation will examine the case of wheaten bread as a microcosm of broader changes that pitched a modern food system against older traditional food patterns.

Registration is required. Please use this link:

https://utexas.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJArf-GoqjssGtEAps2KGCvshkxGp77KZ477

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Questions? Please contact BIES staff at Marian.Barber@austin.utexas.edu.