Frankenstein Was a Vegetarian: Essays on Food Choice, Identity, and Symbolism

In Frankenstein Was a Vegetarian: Essays on Food Choice,Identity,and Symbolism ,Michael Owen Jones explores topics often overlooked in foodways, such as how we communicate through what we eat, the connection between food choice and who we are, and the nature of disgust. He also examines how food is used and abused on the campaign trail, how gender issues arise when food meets politics, and how eating preferences reflect the personalities and values of politicians.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 238 pages
Publication date: 27 June 2022
Publisher: University Press of Mississippi

In his book Frankenstein Was a Vegetarian: Essays on Food Choice, Identity, and Symbolism, Michael Owen Jones delves into topics often overlooked in the realm of foodways. He begins by pointing out that it was Victor Frankenstein's daemon, not the scientist himself, who advocated vegetarianism in Mary Shelley's novel. Jones then explores how our food choices communicate our identities, the connection between food and mood, the self-medication of emotions through food, and the nature of disgust. He presents fascinating case studies, including religious bigotry and political machinations sparked by rumored bans on pork, the last meal requests of prisoners facing execution, and Percy Bysshe Shelley's utopian vision based on a vegetarian diet, reminiscent of the creature's meals in Frankenstein.

Furthermore, Jones examines how food is used and abused on the campaign trail, how gender issues emerge when food meets politics, and how eating preferences reflect the personalities and values of politicians. He also delves into the symbolism of food and analyzes the link between food choice and multiple identities. Aesthetics, morality, and politics play significant roles in his inquiries.

In the final two chapters, Jones applies these concepts to overhaul penal policies and practices that make food part of the pains of imprisonment and explore transforming the counseling of diabetes patients, who number in the millions. Frankenstein Was a Vegetarian offers a thought-provoking exploration of food, identity, and symbolism, challenging our assumptions and prompting us to reevaluate our relationship with food and its impact on our lives.

Weight: 394g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496839947