American Cookbooks from 1798 to 2010: The Collapse of the Art of Cooking in America

Abstract

From American Cookery to the modern world of the Food Network, we will focus on specific aspects of each cookbook, including the structure and divisions of the sections, the intended audience or assumed reader, the ingredients, the language, and the visual presence of the food on the page. We willieamjust what it is that can be deduced about transformations in our food culture through the survey of cookbooks. We will approach each cookbook as a historical document, which represents the era of publication. Among the changes which have affected the food culture in the United States, advances in technology, global events, and changing food tastes and lifestyles are three prominent factors in shaping the current food situation we face today. Using cookbooks as historical documents of our changing food culture will provide insight into our society's current food and cooking experience.