The Caffeinated World: Coca-Cola and Coffee in History, Culture, Politics, and Your Life
The New School Food Studies Program (http://www.newschool.edu/ce/foodstudies) features Mark Pendergrast exploring the history of caffeine in an informative, entertaining and thought-provoking presentation. He is the author of For God, Country and Coca-Cola: The Definitive History of the Great American Soft Drink and the Company That Makes It and Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World. Moderated by New School faculty member Andrew F. Smith (http://www.newschool.edu). Coffee grows wild on the mountain slopes of Ethiopia and its seeds have been roasted, brewed and drunk by humans for at least 500 years. Part of a history full of controversy, slavery and exploitation of developing countries, coffee has become a major focus of fair trade. Coca-Cola, invented in 1886 as a tonic drink and soda made with cocaine and caffeine, is a much newer drink, but over its short history it has become just as ubiquitous and controversial. Currently, soft drinks are widely vilified as a major culprit in the obesity epidemic.
Sponsored by the New School Food Studies Program for Public Engagement (http://www.newschool.edu/ce/foodstudies) The New School Food Studies Program draws on a range of disciplines to explore the connections between food and the environment, politics, history, media and culture. Students learn the theoretical and practical tools they need to engage in the emerging conversation about food production, distribution, quality and taste and to make positive changes in their own food environments.
Location: Theresa Lang Community and Student Center, Arnhold Hall, 55 West 13th Street, 2nd floor. 06/19/2013 6:00 p.m.
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