In Tanveer Ali‘s essay “The Subway Falafel Sandwich and the Americanization of Ethnic Food,” he acknowledges advantages and disadvantages of mass-producing the food of a particular culture so that it can enter into the American mainstream. Ali considers how the authenticity of the food is inevitably sacrificed in the process of Americanization, which brings us back to a theme that we have been discussing since the start of the semester: cultural gains and losses during globalization. Overall, do you believe that the advantages (gains) outweigh the disadvantages (losses) when a culture’s cuisine becomes Americanized, or vice versa? And why? Are the sacrifices too great, or does the opportunity for cultural exposure and integration outweigh the sacrifices? In your response, consider any food from your country that has become part of mainstream American cuisine, and also establish a connection with another Globalization essay that also conveys the theme of cultural losses and gains.

*Additional note: I also encourage you to read this opinion piece in The Washington Post, which argues that the term “ethnic food” is offensive and should be dropped.

Respond either to this post or to the “Veiling and Integration” post before class time on Friday, 10/19. Refer to the Blog Response Evaluation Criteria handout (BB > Handouts > Unit 2) to review expectations for your response.