Once Upon a Meal

An (very) interactive curiosity cabinet animation for all audiences
Eating, consuming substances that provide energy, everyone knows how to do it... from bacteria to complex plants to newborns of any animal species. But organizing a meal is a whole different story! At what point and for what reasons did humans distinguish themselves from animals by organizing, with more or less precision, not only the timing but also the type of food to be consumed at different times of the day and especially... from one civilization to another, the establishment of customs or even rituals? Through a small curiosity cabinet and a collection of images displayed and projected on a television, the facilitator engages the audience in mini-games (quizzes, experiments...).

Drawing on a wide range of sciences related to food and numerous illustrations from our region, from the Paleolithic to the present, the presentation explores how meals originated, encompassing dietary aspects, pleasure, and human relationships.
With some surprising, amusing, and spectacular examples, it is our way of eating and sharing that takes center stage, in a succession of striking images and narratives that often reference art, cinema, animation, and other elements of our shared culture.
Note: Numerous scientific partners in the Occitanie/Pyrénées-Méditerranée region have been involved in this creation, including researchers whose work will be highlighted during the conference.

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