HIST 840 Discussion Materials (Fall 2019 – Week 8)

HIST 840
Syllabus
Weekly discussion materials
Some historic menus

Week 8: Eating and Manners

Readings:

Reay Tannahill, Food in History, pp. 174-195 (Chap. 13: “The Medieval Table”)

Margaret Visser, The Rituals of Dinner, pp. 146-155, 167-196, 208-210, 284-295 (“Taking Note of Our Surroundings,” “Fingers,” “Chopsticks,” “Knives, Forks, Spoons,” discussion of hamburgers, plus notes on pp. 366-9, 373-4)

Images:

Far Side cartoons (Gary Larson):

barbarian faux pas
elbows on table
take just one

 

Kitchen and bakery from Stirling Castle, Scotland (late 15th or 16th century):

kitchen cauldrons
another view of kitchen, with table and fireplace
crowded workspace
some kitchen workers
bakers at work

St. Louis sends food to paupers’ table (French, from Life of St. Louis, 14th cent.)

Images from the Luttrell Psalter (England, c. 1325-35):

the cook
kitchen boys turning the spit
detail of servant
the Luttrells at table
detail of women eating

washing hands at table, from the ‘Vows of the Peacock’ (c. 1300-1325)

The Duc du Berry at table, from Les très riches heures du Duc de Berry: January (1412-16):
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Limbourg_brothers_-_Les_tr%C3%A8s_riches_heures_du_Duc_de_Berry_-_January_%28detail%29_-_WGA13017.jpg

Take a medieval food quiz here, and another medieval food quiz here

Fish knives and forks
Sir John Betjeman recites his poem, “How to get on in Society” (1958, beginning: “Phone for the fish knives, Norman,” 1:35 min.):
with drawing: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48945812@N07/4705367405/sizes/l/in/photostream/
full text, followed by glossary: http://classsystem.blogspot.com/2010/12/phone-for-fish-knives-norman.html
full text only: http://everything2.com/title/How+To+Get+On+In+Society

“This, lads, is a fish knife” (New Statesman, 5 Feb. 2007):
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2007/02/development-course-officer

(If the above website is unavailable, used this archived version instead:)
https://web.archive.org/web/20150618211738/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2007/02/development-course-officer

 

Videos:

Chinese dining etiquette (5:29 min.):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkyE2rPac3s

Modern Japanese table manners (5:03 min.):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhs30vkXlAE

“Are they difficult?” scene from “Gigi,” in which Aunt Alicia teaches Gigi to eat ortolans (film, 1958, with Leslie Caron in title role, 3:28 min.):
http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/97885/Gigi-Movie-Clip-Are-They-Difficult-.html

“My Fair Lady”: dialogue at Ascot (film, 1964, with Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn, 3:07 min.):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uozGujfdS0

Emily Post, “Table Manners” (1947; 10:07 min.):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAPcnZAJanE

King of Queens, “Hungry Man” clip (1:13 min.):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unXKYK0uRJ8

“Food Ad Tricks” (from Buy Me That! produced by Consumer Reports© Television, 1989?, 2:59 min.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUjz_eiIX8k
A food stylist shows how to style a hamburger to look good on TV