Cultural Journal Report
![Picture](/uploads/9/8/3/1/9831530/3532332.png?321)
This is what a Greenlandic Shark chunk
looks like before it is cut up into
smaller pieces and sold.
looks like before it is cut up into
smaller pieces and sold.
Shark Star by Edward Hancox, published in the No.3 Atlantica
in June-July of 2011 and accessed on November 29, 2011.
Summary:
This article focuses on one of Iceland’s cultural foods, Greenlandic shark. The author is very biased against the“impossibly pungent” odor and saying “I wish this were delicious”. This shark is naturally poisonous, is never known to have been sick, and has barely, if at all, changed in the past few centuries. On its own the meat is deadly so it goes through a fermenting process. This includes the shark being skinned and the large meat chunks are then sliced into slightly smaller pieces – no bones, then boxed for six weeks, and after, hung outside for four months. They get the meat from fishing trawlers who unintentionally but frequently catch them and then call the farm to come get them. This is a very
interesting process focused on Hildibrandur’s farm to create a classic delicacy.
in June-July of 2011 and accessed on November 29, 2011.
Summary:
This article focuses on one of Iceland’s cultural foods, Greenlandic shark. The author is very biased against the“impossibly pungent” odor and saying “I wish this were delicious”. This shark is naturally poisonous, is never known to have been sick, and has barely, if at all, changed in the past few centuries. On its own the meat is deadly so it goes through a fermenting process. This includes the shark being skinned and the large meat chunks are then sliced into slightly smaller pieces – no bones, then boxed for six weeks, and after, hung outside for four months. They get the meat from fishing trawlers who unintentionally but frequently catch them and then call the farm to come get them. This is a very
interesting process focused on Hildibrandur’s farm to create a classic delicacy.
My Thoughts:
I find it very entertaining. For many many years Greenlandic shark has been a delicacy. I find it quite humorous that this country takes a poisonous shark and turns it into a, though not deadly, repulsive substance. This is one of those food that some would not eat even if it was the only thing they could, not to mention the first time most consume a small chunk of the stuff they cannot keep it down. Other than the humor tone I find it quite nice that the author is reflecting not only on an old tradition but on a farm thathas carried the tradition of making hákarl for so long. This is a very culturally linked story that though it may not be tasty it is highly respectable.
I find it very entertaining. For many many years Greenlandic shark has been a delicacy. I find it quite humorous that this country takes a poisonous shark and turns it into a, though not deadly, repulsive substance. This is one of those food that some would not eat even if it was the only thing they could, not to mention the first time most consume a small chunk of the stuff they cannot keep it down. Other than the humor tone I find it quite nice that the author is reflecting not only on an old tradition but on a farm thathas carried the tradition of making hákarl for so long. This is a very culturally linked story that though it may not be tasty it is highly respectable.
How it relates to Culture:
This shows one of the most popular delicacies that has no other meaning anywhere in the world except for Iceland. Food is simply one of the many ways a group can express culture and tradition from the past and for the future. This is a way for them to showcase a product that took many years to prefect and for many more years to find uses for. It is used by some parents to heal an ailing child and for everyday use as a health food because the shark is never sick. Superstition and old wives tales surround hákarl within Iceland. This is a classic food that though today it is more to test a weak man from a strong man, it was once to use a common beast in hard times and it stuck as a everlasting part of Icelandic culture.
This shows one of the most popular delicacies that has no other meaning anywhere in the world except for Iceland. Food is simply one of the many ways a group can express culture and tradition from the past and for the future. This is a way for them to showcase a product that took many years to prefect and for many more years to find uses for. It is used by some parents to heal an ailing child and for everyday use as a health food because the shark is never sick. Superstition and old wives tales surround hákarl within Iceland. This is a classic food that though today it is more to test a weak man from a strong man, it was once to use a common beast in hard times and it stuck as a everlasting part of Icelandic culture.
Cultural Profile
(Click the image to enlarge it).