Culinary Capital: the circle of food in the mass media

Abstract

Culinary capital, a concept based on Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital, describes the social network involving food in its material or symbolic condition. Focusing on American culture, the authors expound upon the discourses surrounding the increase in culinary capital, which summons people to citizenship via the rules they preach about good health. The discussion is underpinned by various communication media through which culinary capital is broadcast, such as television programs, social networks, websites, events, social groups, and companies.