Most communities are defined by the cultural values that they hold. Cultural relativism emphasizes the idea that people should not be judged based on their beliefs or practices. An example is that there are some types of food that some people consider nutritious, but they appear disgusting to others. From the video, Ten Weird Foods We Dare You to Try the idea of consuming the Indonesian coffee beans is controversial. The main reason is that an Asian civet excretes them before being sold for consumption. Another example is the shark meat that is first dried and preserved for months, and it has a strong disgusting smell. However, some people do not mind spending their money on these foodstuffs despite the beliefs that they are among the worst foods.
There is a connection between food and culture. Most people grew up eating the foods of their cultures. They, therefore, tend to believe that the foodstuffs are more nutritious or valuable than those consumed by other communities (Reisinger, Kozak, & Visser, 2013). The main points of difference are the ingredients to be used, the source, expected taste, and flavor. From the video, preserving the shark meat for months by hanging it away from where people live is unlike our culture. Usually, meat should not be frozen for more than three months especially when using natural methods. Based on our social beliefs, shark meat has high mercury levels.
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Cultural relativism is evident in this comparison. The reason is that I used my culture as the center and evaluated other people's beliefs based on it. There is some form of assumption that when food is preserved for so long, it might not be healthy for consumption. However, these foods have been eaten for many years as a healthy food source. From the film, it is evident that people build their cultures based on what they believe. Communities should, therefore, stop judging the practices of groups that are different from theirs (Reisinger et al., 2013). It is essential to understand the origin of these beliefs and the benefits observed over time.
References
Reisinger, Y., Kozak, M., & Visser, E. (2013). Turkish host gaze at Russian tourists: A cultural perspective. The host gaze in global tourism , 47-66.
TheRichest, (2015). Top 10 most disgusting delicacies in the world: Would You Eat It? 10 Weird Foods We Dare You To Try. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3AxDtpdCCc
