Modern History of Asia: Analysis of Food Habits in Colonial Indonesia

This report provides a critical analysis of Susie Protschky's article, "The Colonial Table: Food, Culture and Dutch Identity in Colonial Indonesia." The report examines the intersection of food habits with cultural values in the Netherlands Indies during the 19th and 20th centuries. It explores the influence of Dutch colonialism on Indonesian food culture, including the significance of the "rijsttafel" and the social implications of food preferences. The report highlights the author's use of secondary sources, referencing various books and articles to provide a comprehensive overview of the topic. It delves into the role of food in constructing racial and class categories, examining how food habits reflected and shaped cultural identity. The report also discusses the author's analysis of contemporary fiction and other sources to paint a vivid picture of the colonial culture, taboos, and social dynamics surrounding food. While acknowledging the value of the analysis, the report suggests that the inclusion of primary data could have further strengthened the study. Overall, the report offers valuable insights into the historical relevance of food habits in the context of colonial Indonesia, making it a relevant study for historians, anthropologists, and sociologists.

Running head: MODERN HISTORY OF ASIA
Modern History of Asia
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

1MODERN HISTORY OF ASIA
The purpose of this article is to inform the audience about the various food habits of
Netherlands Indies which is deep rooted into the cultural values of the people. The author Susie
Protschky has taken an in-depth study of the food habits that were native to the Indonesia and the
Dutch colonialism during the period of nineteenth to twentieth century. The article also analyzes
the way culture and food intersected that influenced the lifestyle of the people. The article’s
intended audiences are the ones who have never set a foot in the country but still has an interest
in the study of the food, culture and Dutch identity in colonial Indonesia. The author has also
indicated that the study will help in the interconnection of the literatures that has helped in the
construction of racial and class categories of the country. Going through the article, it can be well
understood that the collection of data is secondary resources, as it has taken references from
several books. However, the article has a lot of informational value as it has related a number of
information to give a well-drawn picture of the country in the nineteenth and twentieth century.
The authoress Susie Protschky is a well-qualified lecturer in Modern History. Her
expertise in the mentioned subject has made her exploration in the colonial culture of Indonesia
an insightful one. She has analyzed and interrelated the article with other authentic references
that makes the article an interesting and informational read. This particular piece of writing has
been cited in various research works and by various other publishers due to her intellectual take
on the topic. Her other researches and articles revolves around the various nuances of the
historical aspects of colonial Indonesia. It gives a hint of her strong knowledge base on
Indonesian imperial history of culture, food habits and other facets.
The article has provided a list of references and bibliography thereby making the article
an authentic one. According to the list, the authoress has taken the reference of works like Johan
Van der Woude and Maria Dermout. She has also compared her opinions with that of Ann Laura

2MODERN HISTORY OF ASIA
Stoler whom she has challenged up on the issue of identification of cultural work in the discourse
on sexuality as well as race in her book. Apart from that, the article has provided ample
information backed by other sources that makes the writing an authentic one. The facts provided
by the authoress are also supported up by facts, data and statistics collected from reliable
sources. Therefore, quite a real picture can be drawn from the particular article that provides the
reader with the glimpse of colonial culture of Indonesia and its food habits.
The article has been presented in a contemplative manner that critically studies the works
of other authors. She has taken the reference of notable works from reliable sources and has
provided the description of food habits that was prevalent in the colonial Indonesia. In this
respect, she has substantiated her point that it was imperative on the part of the Dutch to maintain
a European identity that would help them to retain their dignity. The statement presented by the
authoress is both fact and opinion which gives us a picture of the colonial culture, taboos and
various other aspects that revolves around the topic of food. Moreover, it also connects with the
class culture and gives us a glimpse on the issues faced by the people solely on the basis of food
habits. The breaking of the rules regarding this factor was also considered to be an offence.
According to her research, she stated that the “rijsttafel” was a representation of the colonial food
habits of the Indonesia. In contrast to that, rice was considered a low grade food that were mainly
avoided by the people in order to maintain their dignity. Various other evidences were gathered
from different sources that helped her portray the picture of the people and their diet customs.
Since she has provided ample references of other authors and the facts she has collected from
other sources, it is quite evident that the authoress has been credible throughout. Moreover, she
has also taken her reference from the contemporary fictions that gives us a hint of that particular
time. For instance, she has mentioned the work of P.A. Daum’s “Ups and Downs of Life in the

3MODERN HISTORY OF ASIA
Indies” in the lights of the food habits to substantiate the outward preference towards European
foods whereas having a private inclination towards Javanese foods which is considered as
“Indisch” habits. She has also drawn a reference to “The ten thousand Things” that aligns with
her topic of food habits.
The information provided by the authoress in this article is based on the history that has
quite significant value in the present age researches. It has been a relevant topic among the
anthropologists, historians and sociologists to carry out their further researches on this section.
Moreover, these researches assists the current age society to get a through insight into the
culinary preference and palate of the people of nineteenth and twentieth century.
By going through the entire article, it can be stated that it has allowed us to take a
thorough insight into the works of other authors that reflects the food consumption customs of
colonial Indonesia. Moreover, it enables us to take a glimpse on the prevalent cultural
background that becomes an important study for the modern age historians. However, the
authoress could have been more inclusive by integrating primary data. Nonetheless, the standard
of the writing and the line she has tried to maintain is depicted in her article that makes it a
noteworthy critical analysis on the colonial food habits of Indonesia.
In reference to the above analysis, Susie Portchsky has been successful in her attempt to
paint a vivid scenario where the historical relevance of the food habits are deep rooted in the
cultural values in her article “The Colonial Table: Food, Culture and Dutch Identity in Colonial
Indonesia”. This critical analysis also assists the readers in delving into the psychological
perspective of the people of twentieth century that has made it all relevant.