Norbert Elias Theory on Civilization of Manners and Social Control Evolution
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Norbert Elias, Civilization Process, social control, table manners, sociology, social structures, bourgeois society, aristocratic society, social norms, conformity
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Abstract
Norbert Elias' seminal work, "On the Process of Civilization," sheds light on the intricate dynamics of social behavior and control, using the simple act of dining as a lens through which to examine the complexities of societal structures. Elias masterfully illustrates how table manners and the consumption of meat reveal underlying social hierarchies, power dynamics, and the evolving nature of control mechanisms. As we navigate the nuances of modern society, Elias' insights raise crucial questions about the impact of new technologies on social control and the illusion of freedom in our increasingly normalized world. By exploring the historical development of social norms and expectations, Elias' work encourages us to reflect on the subtle yet pervasive forces that shape our behavior, from the way we eat to our online presence, and challenges us to consider whether our modern societies are truly more liberated or simply more sophisticated in their conditioning.
Extract
[...] The civilization of manners also passes through these daily rituals, seemingly mundane, but which say a lot about the way society controls and civilizes individuals. He takes it further in the demonstration, showing that cutting meat, a seemingly mundane task today, was actually a reserved art form for qualified people, a true skill. We didn't just cut a piece of meat like that, at random. There was a whole technique, a code to respect. The slightest mistake could be perceived as a lack of civility, or even social incompetence. [...]
[...] It's as if modern civilization is pushing us to repress our relationship with nature. We eat meat, but we don't want to remember where it comes from. It's not just a story about meat, ultimately, what it says is that civilization itself is a process where we learn to hide everything that could offend our sensitivity. But the question I ask myself is to what extent do we repress too much? To the point of wanting to hide too much, do we not end up losing part of our relationship with reality? [...]
[...] Before, every detail of serving meat had its importance, as a means of social distinction. Today, Elias notes that this 'delicate' side has been diluted, rationalized, almost become invisible, and everything has been passed into the hands of specialists (butchers, merchants, etc.). In short, the table was a real social theater where every gesture counted. Now, we've delegated all that to others. What's striking here is that he makes the link with the evolution of social norms. What was seen as 'normal' before, like trembling with fear at the thought of poorly cutting meat in front of a noble, is now completely unthinkable. [...]
[...] So, it wasn't just 'eating to nourish oneself', it was a way to show your social class. It's funny because you see in the text that even over the centuries, eating habits, the presentation of dishes, all that changes, but it remains linked to class. The higher you are on the social ladder, the more you distinguish yourself by the way you eat. Large game, fish - all that was symbols of wealth. And even the way of cutting meat becomes a refined art, reserved for those who have the means. [...]
[...] What was visible and public becomes private, almost shameful. - And he even talks about 'Chinese civilization' by saying that the way we hide the cutting operations even more radically there shows that this phenomenon is not just Western. But the question remains the same: how far do we go in hiding, and what does it say about our cultural values? Even at the table, we are influenced by centuries of unconscious associations, as if a clumsy gesture with the knife could suddenly awaken the collective fear buried in each of us. [...]
