Order 349489: Cultural Celebration research paper - Tea ceremony in Japan

NuFS 144: Cultural Celebration Research Paper – Library Tips

Task

1) Present a history of a celebration using an anthropological/historical point of view

a) Discuss associated symbolic food(s) and their meaning in the context of the celebration

b) Identify typical preparations

c) Discuss changing uses of the food in the modern world due to immigration and globalization

Research Guide for NuFS 144

libguides.sjsu.edu/nufs144

Obtain background information on the cultural celebration

· Go to Gale Virtual Reference Library, an encyclopedic resource (library.sjsu.edu > Articles & Databases > G > Gale Virtual Reference Library)

· Simply type in the celebration in question

· Can’t find it? Look for materials on the country in which the cultural celebration takes place. Example: La Tomatina, the Spanish tomato-throwing festival

Catalog search = spain AND festivals

Retrieved results includes Festivals & Rituals of Spain (http://catalog.sjlibrary.org/record=b1717702~S1), possibly a good resource

Books

· To find both print and electronic books, search the library’s catalog (available on the library’s homepage library.sjsu.edu):

· Tips on searching:

· Restrict your search to “SJSU” to remove all of the public library materials. You will find that there may be lots of children’s picture books on your topic or short non-fictional works. While these may be helpful in gaining an understanding of your celebration, these are not ideal for a college assignment.

· Look for alternate names and/or spellings of your cultural celebration.

· Example: Eid al-Fitr is also known as Fastbreaking Eid, Sweet Festival, Ramadan feast, Eid al-Saghir, Sugar Feast, etc.

· If you can’t find materials on the first item, go through the entire list

· Again, if you cannot find any materials by searching for the celebration name, search the country name and the word holiday, celebration, or festival

· Example: india AND festival (for a search on Holi)

· Retrieved results include The Life of Hinduism (http://catalog.sjlibrary.org/record=b3113827~S6), Growing Stories from India (http://catalog.sjlibrary.org/record=b5075125~S6) – both have a chapter on Holi

· Add “food culture” to your country in question and see if that helps with narrowing down your results

· If you’re looking for a food that is native to a specific country, search the country’s name with one of these search terms: “cookery,” “cooking,” or “food habits”

· To search ebooks only

· Library’s home page (library.sjsu.edu) > Search & Find > Ebooks

· Best options: ebrary and EBL

· All ebooks are fully keyword searchable

· Look for the citation feature on each platform

Journals (Scholarly articles)

· Academic Search Complete

· Input your search terms

· On the left hand side you will these options:

· Use the source type option to select the format.

· Academic journals will be scholarly and more comprehensive, but the focus will be very narrow. Academic journals can be helpful for in-depth articles on one aspect of your celebration.

· Example: Dermatoses among Children from Celebration of “Holi,” the Spring Festival, in India

· This article reports on the skin afflictions that may result from the inhalation and application of the colors/dyes that are used during Holi.

· Magazines may be a little lengthier than newspaper articles

· Example: Strength Thru Joy: Holi in Fiji

· This article discusses how Holi is celebrated among Hindu Fijians.

· Newspapers are great for a current treatment on the topic (particularly how your celebration has changed with immigration and globalization)

· Example: A Traditional Hindu Spring Parade in Queens is Canceled as Organizers Feud

· The Phagwah or Holi parade is cancelled, due to organizer infighting, which some think is “a reflection of the increasing complexity within a growing population, with combustible differences being a natural outgrowth of the community's social and political evolution.”

· Magazines (Not scholarly in nature, but they provide trends and some greater topical treatment of the celebration)

· Select the Magazines option from the source types in Academic Search Complete

· Newspapers (Not scholarly, but they indicate current aspects particularly helpful for captured how your celebration has changed, due to immigration and globalization)

· From Academic Search Complete, select the Newspaper option

· ProQuest Newsstand, which includes major newspapers

Other Potential Databases

· JSTOR – scholarly journal articles on many disciplines (food items and celebrations could be covered in this resource)

· America: History and Life – database on history and life in America (good if you would like to see how a food item migrated to the United States and became part of the culture)

· Social Sciences Full Text – database that includes many social sciences

· Hospitality & Tourism Complete – database on travel and food service

Revised 03/17