Title: The anatomy of the senses : natural symbols in medieval and early modern Italy /
Authors: Camporesi, Piero.
Publisher: Polity Press,
Year: 1994
Subjects: Human body Social aspects; Food habits Italy History; Folklore Italy; Human Body sociology.; Feeding Behavior history.; Folklore; Italy Social life and customs.
Abstract: Drawing on a large body of literature, Camporesi builds up a remarkable picture of the everyday beliefs and practices of medieval and early modern Italy. He examines the symbolism relating to food and the overtones of vampirism which have haunted the Christian sacraments. He discusses the eating habits of monks and hermits which were held up as a religious model for the community. He offers a striking analysis of medieval views of the body, and of humanity situated at the centre of the symbolic universe. Moving from the anatomical table to the kitchen table, he shows the similarities between the anatomist and the cook, both of whom worked with dead flesh, with corpses which had to be cut up, greased, severed, skinned, diced and gutted. Vivid in detail and engagingly written, The Anatomy of the Senses will be welcomed by students and researchers in social and cultural history, as well as anyone interested in the history of the body, food and popular beliefs.
Contents: The hieroglyphic for pleasure -- Plants as symbols -- The cursed cheese -- The "stupendous abstinences" -- The "dreadful desire to study" -- The anatomy of emptiness -- "Juicy, soft and flexible" -- Retarded knowledge.