Give an academic enough time...

[clevermanka]

The Night the Good Ship Went Down: Three Fateful Dinners Aboard the Titanic and What They Tell Us About Class, Nationality and Power on the Eve of World War I
7 p.m.Wednesday, November 19, 2008 M.R. and Evelyn Hudson Auditorium Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Johnson County Community College

"Although the doomed Titanic flew the Union Jack, the ship was American-owned and crowded with passengers of numerous nationalities and classes, from Hungarian immigrants to British aristocrats. Dr. Broomfield’s lecture focuses on three dinners served in the first-, second-, and third-class dining salons the night before the Titanic sank and what the foods and courses suggest about the intersections of class and nationality on the eve of World War I. Which class was served English food and why? Why were third-class passengers routinely given three-course dinners while first- and second class passengers were treated to nine- and twelve-course dinners? Who had more options regarding where and when to dine and why? What role did French food play in dividing passengers by class? How was food – its cost, season, presentation and county of origin – used to convey implicit and explicit messages about one’s status and importance, or the lack thereof?"

OK, I suppose using food choice to shed light on social prejudice and classism could be interesting. But let's look at this one particular sentence, shall we? "Why were third-class passengers routinely given three-course dinners while first- and second class passengers were treated to nine- and twelve-course dinners?" Now I don't know about you all, but I'd be willing to hazard a guess that it was maybe, just maybe, because the first- and second class passengers paid more for their tickets.

Completely unrelated:

You know how you have those perfect, sky-opening-angels-singing chances for a biting, witty, on-the-nose-accurate zinger but you have to bite your tongue because the (metaphorical) party isn't at your (metaphorical) house and you don't want to bust up someone else's (metaphorical) glassware by causing a (not-so-metaphorical) fight? I hate that. Happened yesterday and the loss still stings.

This morning, my gaydar was triggered by an applicant's choice of font on his C.V. and Statement of Purpose. That was a first.

I'm so used to slouching around in my old Gap jeans. They're too big, too comfortable, and too threadbare for anything other than casual wear. In other words, delightful. But I've been wearing my Dickies' jeans when I don't want to look like a complete schlub and I've discovered something. Wearing jeans that fit make me feel fat. Hm. Not a great sensation. They might make my ass look spectacular, but if I don't feel spectacular, what's the point?

There was a line at the polls this morning when I arrived at 6:45. That has never happened to me before. I was not the youngest person voting. That has never happened to me before. In fact, the majority was probably on the other side of the 18-35/35-and up age division. That has definitely never happened to me before, although I think it might be due to the fact that, you know, I'm aging. I imagine it will happen more and more (hope so, at least), but it was a really good feeling that half the people standing in line were younger than me.

We've been invited to a neighbor's watch party and I think that's probably where we'll wind up. No driving, parking, or driving home = win, win, and win. Also, if I get tired or run out of kleenex, food, or booze, there's a quick and easy fix.

Comments

[adammaker.livejournal.com]

Intrigued!
Which font is Gaydar triggering?

Yay voting!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what it is. It looks sort of like Palatino, but narrower. And the serifs are more pronounced. It's like whomever created it wanted extra-serif. It's a lovely font. I like it.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_luaineach/]

Now I don't know about you all, but I'd be willing to hazard a guess that it was maybe, just maybe, because the first- and second class passengers paid more for their tickets.

::grin::

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Dude. Totally.

[skyflame.livejournal.com]

From the limited amount of stuff I've read about that time, I'm somewhat shocked that the lower class passengers would get even three-course meals.

Which says that someone's propaganda may be somewhat off.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Bread, water, moldy meat.
Three courses.

:)
I think the subject line of this post says it all.

WIN, CR.

[stuology.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, they had less because they couldn't afford to pay for more. Much like today. To me, that's just economics. It costs more to prepare a 12 course dinner in both manpower and food supply.
If the server that is waiting on a table of first class passengers treats them differently than a server that waits on a table of third class passengers, that is a social class issue. Maybe there is more to it than the description implies.

The types of food, though, might be interesting. If a French meal cost about the same as an English one, who always got which would be interesting. And does it have anything to do with class or nationality?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Maybe there is more to it than the description implies.

I certainly hope so.

[radcliffe.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I wonder if that is caused by someone who had (potentially more legit) sources showing the type of food denoting class vs value- but who was told to put in the word Titanic in order to get the "oh, that's interesting" reaction that I will admit I just had. Sadly, I wouldn't go to the talk/buy the book on the Titanic story, but I would buy the (potentially more legit) other version.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I don't know...her other paper is "Gingerbread Fairings and Gooseberry Fools: What Food Can Tell Us About Character and Plot in Victorian Novels" which I imagine could be really cool if you were into Victorian Novels.

I agree with stuology that quality of food can be a way to discriminate. I have my own soapbox regarding the amount of cheap carbohydrates we make available to low-income families. It's the suggested outrage at "how dare they serve less food to people who paid less for tickets?!?!" that makes me roll my eyes. "Routinely given" vs. "treated to" and so on. I mean come on. If that's a talking point during the lecture, I hope for the audience's sake she doesn't dwell on it long. =D

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

"which I imagine could be really cool if you were into Victorian Novels." I Am!

As always a fun to read thought provoking post.

Your ass is fabulous, how to make you feel it? Another photo?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I agree my ass is fabulous, but I'm so unused to feeling jeans tight(ish) around my waist that I *feel* fat in these jeans now. I'll get over it. It's just sort of weird right now, feeling fat in these jeans (the jeans in the icon).

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

I know I usually won't wear jeans if they feel "tightish" and as I get smaller, I buy them comfortable, wear them for 2 hours and they get... Looseish! Bah!
Today I have on my smallest pair, I can relate to the "they make me feel fat" thing, but I know after a couple hours I'll be yanking them up! Grumble.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I think the best solution is just not wear jeans. I don't wear them very often anymore. Mostly I only wear them when I'm in an environment where a skirt or thin trouser-pant fabric is impractical (like at a bar--or out at afters at faire) where I have to worry about sitting in something or getting grubby.

...sigh. I really need to get on the stick and make some new clothes. *looks to radcliffe for inspiration*

[slinka.livejournal.com]

I'm curious about how much of a 12 course meal actually gets eaten and how much thrown away. That is a serious amount of food.

And I sure would like to try to eat it. :)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I got to experience a six-course dinner (on someone else's dime) once. It was freaking amazing. I can only imagine a twelve-course meal. Mmmmm.

You'd have to really like the other people at your table or it would be excruciating. Eating that much food takes a long time, even when the servings are (necessarily) teeny.

[nataliesee.livejournal.com]

Bingo! That must be it!

The first and second class passengers could only actually eat 6 of their 9 courses (or 9 of their 12, maybe this was a Sunday occurrence), so the third class passengers suffered with *only* 3.

I think we could publish this. No, really.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I think we could publish this.

You probably could.

But you know this.

Ah, academia.