Gastronomy and discourse

the construction of food identity in the documentary História da Alimentação no Brasil

Abstract

This article aims to explore the inseparable relationship between gastronomy and discourse by analyzing how meanings related to food identity are constructed in the documentary series História da Alimentação no Brasil. The central hypothesis is that Brazilian gastronomy, beyond its connection to food practices, constitutes a symbolic space shaped by discursive disputes that influence perceptions of authenticity, tradition, and cultural belonging. Drawing on the theoretical framework of French Discourse Analysis (FDA), as developed by scholars such as Pêcheux (1969, 1983), Orlandi (2007), and Maingueneau (2014, 2017), this study investigates how discursive formations contribute to the stabilization or contestation of meanings around food, revealing processes of legitimation and marginalization of specific gastronomic knowledges. The analysis adopts a qualitative approach to the series and is structured around three key axes: discursive memory, gastronomic ethos, and food ideology. The findings suggest that Brazilian gastronomy functions as a discursive field where various actors - chefs, historians, experts, and traditional communities - negotiate the legitimacy and authenticity of elements within the national culinary repertoire. Ultimately, the article demonstrates that discourses about gastronomy do not merely document food practices but actively participate in shaping cultural identity and the symbolic dynamics that structure the food domain.