Civilized at the Table

A long time ago, hubby and I found ourselves in a conversation with a fellow who declared to us that you could judge the level of a civilization  by considering table utensils. The conclusion according to the speaker was that our Western civilization was the most evolved because we used silverware to dine... you know, knives, forks and spoons, and where these utensils prevailed, we could certainly expect a higher level of cultural attainment.  The Orient had somewhat lower evolution as indicated by the use of chopsticks. The rest of the world was very base, in this fellow's opinion. Those people used fingers and maybe bread stuffs to get the food to their mouths, thus marking themselves and their societies as undeveloped, uncultured, and essentially unworthy. His words were "not civilized".

Clearly, there were issues with this argument, but as we were essentially en route to Peace Corps service in Ethiopia and would likely never see the guy again, we changed the topic.  Still, it rolled around in my head from time to time and now, 40 years later, comes out.  So, how do we measure civilizations?  Can we do this? Should we try?  Actually, I think the word "civilization" is inappropriate here, as civilization is defined as having common elements like advanced cities, complex institutions, record keeping capacity, specialized work, and advanced technology. (This last is a relative term) So certainly, our modern western  civilization qualifies, but so do the ancient civilizations of Machu Picchu,  Zimbabwe,  the Axumite Empire, and Babylonia, to name just a few.  Culture is different. Cultures reflect learned and shared symbols, including language, art, religions, and values...and food.  Civilizations rise and fall, cultures change and adapt, while reflecting ongoing social constructions and degrees of integration within the culture.  Many cultures may exist within any civilization.  To make this long story shorter, let me say that table behaviors and food traditions reflect  culture, not civilization. I personally prefer the concept of culture  over civilization. Culture is colorful, mutable, flavorful, and rich in learning opportunities at a human level. In a word, interesting.  Civilization is institutional. Enough said.

Food as a part of culture is one of those norms that is shared, though not necessarily in the same way by all. As Americans, we share a common food culture like hot dogs, corn on the cob, pizza, peanut butter, and so on. Then there are the sub-cultures that exist, including food traditions that come from the Old Country, or  some that enjoy a regional explanation. These latter might be New England vs. Manhattan clam chowder, or the apparently infinite variety of barbeque recipes that duke it out on Food TV.  As part of a shifting and dynamic society, we can explore foods and recipes and adjust our eating habits to a variety of influences and opportunities.

I need to return to the original idea... utensils.  I will make a leap here and contend that our choice of utensils, typically knife, fork, and spoon,  are perhaps manifestations of a broader cultural norm, that of our valued American tradition of Individualism, with a capital I.  We are a society that has perfected Individual Independence, not interdependence. We live in single family homes, in our nuclear families, celebrate the empty nest, and we do not eat off of each other's plates or even share the cookies very well.  Contrast that with communally structured traditional societies that see everyone in the community as family, share kitchens, and eat together, often from the same plate. And often there are no utensils, once the food is on the table. The pita, the nan, the injera, the tortilla all serve to move the meal to the mouth. How efficient, eating your utensils. Sure saves on the washing up. I think we also value the concept of community and we are genuinely generous as a nation. But culturally, we stick to our own plates and do not get our hands messy. Communal meals in America are called "potlucks" and I think we all harbor the secret wish that they only happen a couple of times a year because who knows what goes on in someone else's kitchen?

So there you have my simple thoughts on the utensil issue... We have them and use them. That does not make us a better society or culture than those that do not.  And we do not stick to this rule, either. We all eat with our fingers on a regular basis and will even share the bag of popcorn at the movies.  It is all food for thought.