Social stratification

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This week’s readings and videos use archaeological and ethnographic evidence to explore how feasting relates to community organization and social stratification. Authors consider how people engage economically, politically, and socially through conspicuous consumption and competitive feasting.

For this week’s post, consider one of your own feasting or party experiences. Identify a theme that you would like to explore from this week’s readings. Write about your feast or party with respect to that theme, incorporating at least two of this week’s readings in substantive ways. Please write at least 3 juicy paragraphs on your chosen topic.

What would count as a ‘theme’ from this week’s readings? Themes could include, for example, competitive feasting, conspicuous consumption, the use of food to create alliances and social networks, the role of feasts in redistributing resources, the importance of feasts to celebrate life-cycle issues and holidays, or the role of eating in displaying social status. Students are welcome to find and discuss other themes, too.

 

Readings

  • Kirch 2001 – “Polynesian Feasting in Ethnohistoric, Ethnographic, and Archaeological Contexts”
  • Schmandt-Besserat 2001 – “Feasting in the Ancient Near East”
  • Wilson and Rathje 2001 – “Garbage and the Modern American Feast”