Meals in the Experience Economy - a study of the meal order in Swedish households

The meal order in Swedish households has undergone significant changes. The changes have occurred in all parts of the meal chain, from sourcing to the meal itself. Ethnological research in Sweden has previously demonstrated the fruitfulness of using meal studies to get perspective on both peasant society and industrial society. This project aims to do a study of the contemporary situation

The meal order in Swedish households has undergone significant changes in recent decades. The changes have occurred in all parts of the meal chain, from sourcing to the meal itself. Research within this field will be an entry point to understanding current cultural processes. When meals are changing, society and culture, changes, too. Ethnological research in Sweden has previously demonstrated the fruitfulness of using meal studies to get perspective on both peasant society and industrial society. So far, a coherent study of the meal order after the transformations of the recent decades is missing.
An hypothesis is that the changing meal order is related to a cultural and social transformation which has been described as a transition from an industrial society to an experience economy. A study of the present-day meal order can therefore be an important tool for gaining perspective on this transformation.In the study, the classical ethnological research themes of time, place, and social environment will be focal points. Both the preparation of the meals (shopping, cooking, setting the table, washing up), and the social and time-bound situation that the meal itself constitute will be studied, as well as the household members' perceptions of the role of the meal , the role and function for both household and personal identity. Fields of study will include Media, Ingredients, kitchen artifacts,meal situations, all in relation to gender and class.