The Cuisine of the municipality of Zetaquira

A visual journey through culinary traditions

Abstract

This work focuses on the exploration of the traditional cuisine of the municipality of Zetaquira, Boyacá, through photography and visual ethnography. Its objective is to make visible, through photography, the experiences of traditional cooks, highlighting their role in the preservation of culture and the transmission of knowledge. The methodology applied is qualitative, using visual ethnography as the main tool. Visits were made to traditional cooks in the Guanata and Rusa villages, where stories were collected and experiences were documented through images. Relevant authors cited include Bonetto (2016), who highlights the importance of photography in ethnographic observation, Stuart Hall who makes an approach to the process of representations and Duarte and Cárdenas (2008) who expose the importance of visual anthropology.  The results emerge in categories of analysis that include landscape and territory, everyday life and the environment, and the roles of women in the kitchen. These categories allow a deeper reading of the traditional cuisine of Zetaquira, revealing the authenticity and identity of the territory. In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of traditional cuisine not only as a means of food preparation, but also as a vehicle for cultural preservation and community strengthening, contributing to the understanding of cultural heritage from a visual perspective.