Talk:Communal meal

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Definition of a 'Communal Meal'[edit]

Feel like the definition of communal meal stated here is overly simplistic and either needs to be defined more closely or expanded significantly. In other words, although a communal meal can be undertaken for social and/or ceremonial reasons, wouldn't a meal eaten in a prison or work canteen or indeed at a religious order or military barracks also be a form of a communal meal? This would stretch the definition of 'social' and probably exclude 'ceremonial'. Furthermore, what are the parameters of what defines a communal meal - would a family meal or dinner party be in scope? Doesn't this need a tight definition of what is meant by 'communal'?

I'm a new editor so don't want to wade in on this big and complex topic so would appreciate a steer. Perhaps a useful way of defining this would be to reach for the concept of 'commensality' and also to look to anthropological writing on eating. RussellHistoryCook (talk) 17:52, 29 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I agree that this article is ridiculously short for such a large subject. It could be improved, as a first step, by a tighter definition. Later expansion could come from adding examples, at a minimum using brief summaries of existing Wikipedia articles. What is preferable, though, is to find material from proper sources: anthropological, sociological, and culinary writing.

As for being a new editor, don't let it put you off beginning to improve the article. You don't have to re-write the whole thing. A sentence with a good reference would be a welcome addition to this sorry stub. --Carbon Caryatid (talk) 21:57, 30 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]