Esra
There are many interesting directions you could take your study. One other
aspect I would add is the cultural background of the households you are
studying as there were and still are cultures that never had dining tables.
Most cultures preferred being closer to nature until the influence of the
colonists. In India, dining tables have become dowry items even among the
lower middle classes in rural and urban areas, adding to the debt burden of
the girl's family.
A Quote from India's Sarod Maestro Amjad Ali Khan:
"In fact, we Indians completely disconnected our selves with mother earth or
‘the ground.’ Even the lower middle class families began demanding dining
Tables, chairs and Sofa sets as Dowry from the helpless families of the girl
child for their living or drawing rooms. I personally feel that sitting on
the chairs all the time is so unhealthy! I think the concept of a couch
potato arises from here! Thanks to our old world heritage of Yoga, suddenly
or gradually it is in vogue to ‘be connected to the ground’ and finally the
world realized the importance of the ground or mother earth. In fact, the
tradition of sitting on the floor and eating has been timeless in India and
perhaps a very fascinating aspect of Indian history. For lunch and Dinners
Muslims traditionally use to spread beautiful piece of cloth on the ground
called DastarKhwan and Hindu’s preferred Thali, Banana Leaf or Pattal etc.
Thank God because of our music, I have spent thousands of hour’s of quality
time on the floor while at concerts, practicing or doing Sadhna at home.
Unquote
Uma V Chandru
CHATS-IIACD
Bangalore
On Mon, Nov 8, 2010 at 6:28 AM, Tom Bieling <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Esra,
>
> a couple of years a ago, Uta Brandes had compiled the book
> "Geschmack sache" (Steidl, 1996). As far as I am aware, it was only
> published in germen, but you still might find helpful references there.
>
> Another good german book is this one: Eva Barlösius - "Soziologie des
> Essens" (Juventa, 1999).
>
> Moreover, I am pretty sure you will find translations of some of the
> classics:
>
> Norbert Elias (e.g.: "Über den Prozess der Zivilisation")
>
> Georg Simmel (e.g.: "Soziologie der Mahlzeit")
>
> Pierre Bourdieu (e.g.: "Die feinen Unterschiede - Kritik der
> gesellschaftlichen Urteilskraft")
>
> David Bell ("All you can eat")
>
>
> Best,
>
> Tom
> www.tombieling.com
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related
> research in Design [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of esra
> bici
> Sent: Montag, 8. November 2010 13:49
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: reference for dining tables and ritual
>
> Hi all,
> I am conducting a research about the dining tables. I am searching out if
> they lose their essence by the contemporary life styles in which people
> don't have so much time for cooking meals, work for long periods, eat out
> often. I also will conduct a survey about the situation of the frequency
> this dining ritual in people's lives. I have been searching for two weeks.
> I
> would like to learn if you also know any references for this subject.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Esra.
>
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