China and ancient cuisine: consumption of wild animals, western stereotypes and zoonoses

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to highlight the characteristics of China's ancient cuisine, discuss the stigmas proffered by the Western media through image readings and, in the end, highlight the Western cultural horizon, with the demarcation of animal rights and concern about the emergence of zoonosis. The justification and problematic revolves around discussing the stigmas created about Chinese eating habits, the fakenews about their cuisine and the consumption of domestic and exotic animals. The methodology employed was descriptive and explanatory, as well as qualitative and bibliographical. The results obtained, through the analysis of a postcard and a virtual game about Chinese cuisine, show that there is a naturalization of stereotypes of the Chinese, something that is strongly linked to the scientific racism of the 19th century. We concluded that, although there are few outlets for these animals in China, where the number of consumers is small, it should be kept in mind that continuous contact with these species can lead to the emergence and spread of zoonoses.