MODULE : FOOD AND CULTURE [ ARC3223 / CLS60203 ] !

ASSIGNMENT : ASSIGNMENT 1A - RESEARCH PROPOSAL!

NAME : NOR SYARIANNA NEO [ 0318236 ] !
TUTOR : MR.NICHOLAS !
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1. Title : !
Food and Constructed Realities!
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2. Main Research Question :!
To explore how food operates as a key socio-cultural entity that structures symbolic sense of !
identity which subsequently generates the construction of concept and reality.!
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3. Objectives :!
Urban spaces are monopolisation of food spaces, and the idea is to look at the relationship of !
food and urban spaces through the study of symbolism of food and its narrative to the !
construction of realities. Abiding with the content of the flow chart below, the objectives of the !
proposal are as the following: !
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FOOD IMAGINARY REALITY PHYSICAL REALITY URBAN SPACE
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1. To study the fundamental relationship of food to geography, place, culture, tradition and !
identity. !
2. To explore and map out the variety of narratives of food based on the different identities!
in the construction of imaginative reality. !
3. To study the translation and interpretation of imaginative reality of food to the physical!
construction of reality of a food-related space through multiple case studies.!
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4. Significance : !
Food is the common ground for people, because everyone necessarily participates in it,!
making food a powerful tool in influencing and creating urban spaces, especially in our!
localised context, Malaysia, where food has always been a huge part of our culture, thus the!
significance of this research proposal is to instigate the very fundamental idea of how food can !
be used as a tool in creating urban space. In this fluid global world of exchanged culinary !
traditions, foods of different locality and identity are always being introduced, and thus the!
incorporation of relating identities into the built, physical reality to reinforce the imaginary!
pre-conception and narrative that the public has, or perhaps, even re-imagining and !
 re-interpreting to create a more interesting urban food space.!
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5. Methods and Expected Outcomes : !
A visual book in which the first part features visuals and literature research and writings that !
map out the specifics of different locality of foods and culture; second the narration of the !
imaginative reality through conceptual visuals and drawings on specific identity; and third the !
exploration and case studies on examples of translatation and interpretation of the narratives!
into built physical reality and spaces through writings and study sketches and photos.!