中研院民族所

Identification through food: Tibetan Momo in the Diaspora

Dr. Ute Wallenböck

Assistant professor, Department of Chinese Studies, Masaryk University

2024年2月26日（一）上午10點至12點

中央研究院民族學研究所新館三樓第三會議室

Food plays a significant role in the social lives of diasporic communities – it creates a sense of belonging and creates ethnic identity. This paper explores the role of food, specifically Tibetan Momo, filled dumplings, in shaping and preserving cultural identity within the Tibetan diasporic communities. By discussing the challenges and adaptations involved in maintaining culinary traditions in new cultural contexts, I will shed light on the complex interplay between food, identity, and diaspora, highlighting the resilience and agency of Tibetan communities in navigating transnational spaces through gastronomic practices. Thus, through a qualitative analysis of interviews and ethnographic observations, I will examine how the consumption and preparation of Momo serve as a means of identification, connection, and resistance to assimilation for Tibetan communities dispersed across the globe, with emphasis on Tibetans in Switzerland. By delving into the significance of Tibetan Momo as a culinary symbol of home, belonging, and cultural heritage, my research sheds light on the multifaceted ways in which food practices intersect with diasporic experiences and identity construction.

許仟慈，02-2652-3324，chientsu@gate.sinica.edu.tw