This paper analyses the ways the consumption of food accompanies moments from daily routine and extraordinary events throughout our lives. It comes in different forms, from the first romantic dinner together for two people in love, to a wedding banquet or formal and informal business lunches. Events which have always occurred. In fact, as time goes by and societies change, types of food also vary as do the ways of obtaining, presenting and consuming it, but what has not changed is a tendency to attribute symbolic significance. Food helps us to communicate, express who we are or show how we would like to appear. The significance of food can take on many forms: moral, religious, social or nutritional. Moreover, our relationship with food is not only functional, but also emotional, sexual and celebratory. It is a constant theme in social settings and throughout the calendar year. Our analysis then proceeds with a short study of the social significance of food in the various stages of life. From breast-feeding to parents and children deciding on their first meals, food for adolescents and the role of wet nurses who tend to maintain mothers throughout their lives. From “having something together” with friends in bars and restaurants, typical of young people, to the significance of cooking and eating a meal together for a couple, and family meals. Food is also an important social indicator. It is an element not only of social distinction, but also of cohesion; it is a factor in characterising the local traditions of various populations, but also the fruit of globalisation.

Il saggio analizza i modi in cui il consumo di cibo accompagna durante tutta la vita momenti di vita quotidiana ed eventi straordinari. Lo ritroviamo infatti sotto diverse forme dalla prima cena romantica di due innamorati fino al banchetto di nozze o in pranzi di lavoro formali o informali. Tutto ciò avviene da sempre. Infatti, con il passare del tempo e con il variare delle società cambiano i cibi, il modo di procurarseli, di prepararli, di presentarli, di consumarli, ma non la tendenza a rivestirli di significato simbolico. Essi ci aiutano a comunicare, a esprimere quello che siamo o a mostrare quello che vogliamo apparire. E le valenze dell’alimentazione sono multiformi: morali, religiose, sociali, nutrizionali. Inoltre, nostro rapporto con il cibo, oltre che funzionale, è anche di tipo affettivo, sessuale, celebrativo. Scandisce i tempi sociali e il calendario annuale. La nostra analisi prosegue quindi con una breve rassegna del significato sociale del cibo nelle diverse fasi della vita. Dall’allattamento alle trattative delle prime pappe fra genitori e figli, al cibo per gli adolescenti e al ruolo di nutrici che tendono a mantenere le madri per tutta la vita. Dal “prendere qualcosa insieme” agli amici nei vari locali, tipico dei giovani, ai significati del cucinare e gustare un pasto insieme per la coppia, e al pasto in famiglia. Il cibo è anche un importante indicatore sociale. E’ elemento di distinzione sociale ma anche di coesione, è fattore caratterizzante le tradizioni locali dei diversi popoli e insieme frutto della globalizzazione.

Cibo, effetti e relazioni sociali, 2007.

Cibo, effetti e relazioni sociali

Scramaglia, Rosantonietta
2007-01-01

Abstract

This paper analyses the ways the consumption of food accompanies moments from daily routine and extraordinary events throughout our lives. It comes in different forms, from the first romantic dinner together for two people in love, to a wedding banquet or formal and informal business lunches. Events which have always occurred. In fact, as time goes by and societies change, types of food also vary as do the ways of obtaining, presenting and consuming it, but what has not changed is a tendency to attribute symbolic significance. Food helps us to communicate, express who we are or show how we would like to appear. The significance of food can take on many forms: moral, religious, social or nutritional. Moreover, our relationship with food is not only functional, but also emotional, sexual and celebratory. It is a constant theme in social settings and throughout the calendar year. Our analysis then proceeds with a short study of the social significance of food in the various stages of life. From breast-feeding to parents and children deciding on their first meals, food for adolescents and the role of wet nurses who tend to maintain mothers throughout their lives. From “having something together” with friends in bars and restaurants, typical of young people, to the significance of cooking and eating a meal together for a couple, and family meals. Food is also an important social indicator. It is an element not only of social distinction, but also of cohesion; it is a factor in characterising the local traditions of various populations, but also the fruit of globalisation.
Italiano
2007
Stroppa, Claudio
Cibo, società e scienza dell'alimentazione
111
131
21
978-88-548-1055-6
Italy
Roma
Aracne
nessuno
nazionale
A stampa
Settore SPS/07 - Sociologia Generale
1
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10808/2179
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