Searching for Identity in the 20th-Century Lithuanian-American Food Exhibitions
Abstract
In this case the author of the article, using quantitative and qualitative analysis of the selected periodical publications, examines ethnic food fairs held in the USA in the 20th century. Focusing on the issue of food as an expression of ethnic identity, the article aims to reveal how Lithuanian emigrants, by organising and participating in ethnic food exhibitions, disseminated and aspired to maintain their ethnic and national identity. The theoretical approach of the research is based on the theories of coexistence of multicultural societies, that is the “melting pot” and a “salad bowl”. The author addresses the following questions: 1. How have world and food fairs developed in the USA? 2. What impressions did the Lithuanian diaspora leave in world and ethnic food fairs? 3. How was identity fostered at Lithuanian exhibitions of “national dishes” during World War II? and 4. What role did ethnic food exhibitions organised by the Lithuanian diaspora play in the construction of identity? The author concludes that exhibitions of “national dishes” organised by Lithuanians brings to light a certain fragmentation of the diaspora in terms of food and ethnic identity.
Keywords
Lithuanian-Americans; identity; community; ethnic food fairs; Lithuanian food
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