Abstract
Food serves as a powerful medium for cultural expression and spiritual fulfillment. This paper examines the symbolic role of food in the Japanese film Megane (2007) by Naoko Ogigami and the Danish film Babette’s Feast (1987) by Gabriel Axel, analyzing their engagement with Daoist and Christian traditions, respectively. Through a comparative lens, the study explores how these films reflect Eastern and Western religious and aesthetic values while using food as a transformative agent. In Megane, tasogare (twilighting) and kaki-gori (shaved ice) represent Daoist ideals of wuwei (effortless action) and ziran (natural spontaneity). The protagonist, Taeko, initially resists but ultimately embraces the minimalist way of life promoted by the enigmatic Sakura, mirroring Daoist notions of detachment and harmony. The film’s cinematography, influenced by Shan-shui (mountain-water) painting, visually reinforces these themes. Conversely, Babette’s Feast centers on Christian themes of sacrifice, grace, and redemption. Babette, a former chef, prepares a lavish meal for a strict Lutheran community, symbolizing the Eucharist and the transformative power of generosity. Axel’s cinematography, inspired by Vermeer and Rembrandt, emphasizes Christian symbolism through chiaroscuro lighting and balanced compositions. Both films depict food as a medium for self-discovery and communal renewal, demonstrating how culinary traditions transcend their physical necessity to embody profound spiritual and artistic expression across cultures.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Babette's_feast,megane,comparative_studies,christian,Daoist,food_symbolism
