Publication Date

Fall 2010

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Interdisciplinary Studies

Advisor

Gary Pereira

Keywords

Citrus, Food History, Oranges

Subject Areas

Geography; Art History

Abstract

The orange is more than a fruit that one can purchase at a supermarket or pick from the tree in the yard. The fruit started as an object of exoticism. It was later transformed into a symbol of purity. Eventually the orange became a vehicle for humanity to demonstrate its mastery over nature. In modern society, oranges are the foundation of enterprises, ones that sustain entire regions of the world. This thesis presents a series of essays, each using aspects of art history and geography, to describe the history of the orange. The intention of this thesis is to introduce the discipline of art history to geographers, to do the same with geography to art historians, and to introduce both disciplines to the lay audience. It is hoped that the combination of the two disciplines provides a more complete picture of the remarkable history of the orange.

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