frualeydis | Sumptuary legislation

Still agonizing about the chapter and not writing as much as I should. I have however read most of a totally wonderful book: Governance of the consuming passions. A history of sumptuary law by Alan Hunt. It is brilliant and I can't understand why I didn't read it ages ago, I've had it at home for a year. I thought I could get away with just reading the brief history in the beginning, especially what he wrote about the Middle Ages, but it's the analysis that make it so good. He uses Foucault in a very good and rather understandable way (which is a feat in itself, as you know if you have read Foucault), but also Bourdieu and Marx, Thompson and Veblen. Now I just have to rewrite stuff because of the interesting thoughts I got while reading it. As ususal it means that it will take longer to write but will be better.

Oh, and I love the english sumptuary law from 1571 that states that every person over the age of six should wear on sundays and holidays a wool cap made in England. Look at my userpic, it is wearing it even if it isn't a holiday :)