At first glance, wine politics research might appear far removed from truth narratives. Yet my research on wine has opened my eyes to the role of the construction, diffusion, and institutionalization of specific “truths” to construct and maintain economic, social, and racial hierarchies. A person’s own lens of social organization influences how she perceives the natural world, including historical dynamics of class relations. Through the “We Hold These Truths” initiative, I am integrating these ideas into my “Food and Wine Politics” class. We will consider the role of mythologies, institutions, and classifications on shaping the perpetuation of certain social truths, notably truths of hierarchy, repression, and exclusion. Selected students will present their individual research projects through a poster session at the “We Hold These Truths” event in Concord.
Global Racial and Social Inequality Lab
