By Tia Malika Chawla
Fire and the barbecuing of meat has been a central source of sustenance and community gathering for centuries (4). Internationally, BBQ has evolved to become a catalyst to uniting communities, and a symbol of cultural pride (7). Various forms of barbecue will be explored in their origins and current community significance. Explorations of Churrasco and Cochonita Pibil are used to explore historic uses of barbecue, while a contemporary documentary on Korean barbecue explores present day manifestations .
Being raised in the south––and in the Punjabi culture where grilled meats are widely consumed–– sparked my curiosity for the communal based origins of barbecue. From Tandoori Chicken to classic St. Louis style baby back ribs, each culture and country has their own respective form of barbecue. Barbecue appeals to both the innate human needs of warmth and sustenance, with the special trait that most meat is large enough to be shared among a community (7). The centrality of fire and food as unifying forces in communities is undeniable and has taken hold as a symbol in essentially every culture (4). This exhibit argues that cultures seek to perpetuate divergent ideals and symbols through the medium of barbecue.
4. Wang, Zhenyu. “Changes to American, Korean, and Chinese Barbecue Over Centuries.” University of Missouri, 2014. https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10355/41460/ChangesToAmericanKoreanAndChinese.pdf?sequence=4&isAllowed=y.
7. Maestrini, Bruno. “Asado En El Cuero.” Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 2010. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1048&context=gs_rp.
