Australia’s increasing fascination with food is the driving force behind Constructing the Everyday Foodie - a PhD study by a QUT Creative Industries academic and she’s looking for 10 households to participate.
Katherine Kirkwood said the topic for her PhD was inspired by her 2013 Honours research, which examined the popularity of the TV program MasterChef Australia.
“Australian food culture is really peaking and there has not been a comprehensive documentation of it. The culinary landscape has changed dramatically and what we eat has become a kind of status symbol,” Ms Kirkwood said.
“There is a lot of focus on what is good and what is bad for us. Fast food is taboo but there has been an explosion of upmarket, gourmet burger places that are cool to patronise despite being more expensive.
“The notion of the ‘everyday foodie’ encompasses average people who are taking a more active interest in gourmet food culture by watching the ever-increasing number of cooking programs, buying cookbooks, trying new recipes and restaurants and posting pictures of their meals on social media.”
“To me, the everyday foodie is not the professional food blogger, hipster or regular shopper at farmers’ markets. It’s more people who live vicariously through food shows but are more grounded in the reality of daily living.”
Ms Kirkwood is looking for 10 Brisbane households to undertake a one-hour recorded interview with her.
“I think there is a growing proportion of the population who are more inquisitive, and critical about what they eat, who want to expand their horizons, but who wouldn’t necessarily be called a ‘foodie’ as it’s traditionally understood,” she said.
“The everyday foodie concept aims to capture these different people and the different ways they pursue food.
“They are attracted to gourmet food culture but are perhaps restricted in their pursuit of this interest due to money or time constraints, health or diet concerns, or a lack of confidence in the kitchen.
“All responses will be anonymous and depending on whether the interview takes place at the participant’s home or at a café/restaurant of their choice, I’m offering a $35 supermarket voucher, or paying for their meal to the value of $35.”
Find out more at Ms Kirkwood’s Constructing the Everyday Foodie Facebook page and volunteer by emailing her at ke.kirkwood@qut.edu.au
QUT is part of a national collaborative group of five major Australian universities that form the ATN (Australian Technology Network of Universities).
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 1841, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
