I have a confession to make. Despite being a female in my twenties, I haven't actually seen very much of HBO's Sex & the City. What I have seen, however, is more than enough to inspire this post (don't worry, this isn't a proclamation that Sex & the City is a detriment to society). Whether they were at brunch or breakfast, the characters' constant discussion about misadventures in sex has helped broadened the boundaries of propriety for any conversation that takes place over savory egg dishes and mimosas.
Is this a terrible thing? No. Not for me at least. But it does stand to be said that the prim & proper brunch of yesteryear is on the brink of extinction. At least for young urbanites (my primary brunch cohort). Unless a special occasion (e.g., Easter, Mother's Day), no one takes pains to dress up, and they're certainly not observing conversational formalities.
Though I pointed out the influence of Sex & the City, the R-rated brunch conversation isn't a female phenomenon. Last week while having a respectable higher-end brunch with 3 of my dearest dudes, I got an in-depth explanation of why you shouldn't blame a guy or take it as an insult if he can't get it up. Other things I've learned from my brunching brethren: the best hand job is the one you give yourself; the benefits of paying for pornography on the internet; and that men have a post-sex emotional spike that sometimes resembles clinginess.
While I know this type of conversation is not for everyone, nor it does it describe every brunch (especially the first date brunch... more on that in the future), when out to brunch I've come to expect overhearing this type of talk from surrounding tables. Whatever the causes of brunch's contemporary moral aesthetic, brunch is an escape from the niceties of polite conversation. With so much time spent working and worrying about life, I love that brunch is an acceptable time to let your guard down and relax.
The move away from formality at brunch is actually a return to historical form. As I covered in the post Brunch: A History, brunch was a gluttonous luxury that early pioneers could afford. It was a time for them to pretty much continue the party that started the night before, drinking, eating and gossiping to their hearts' content.
Is this a terrible thing? No. Not for me at least. But it does stand to be said that the prim & proper brunch of yesteryear is on the brink of extinction. At least for young urbanites (my primary brunch cohort). Unless a special occasion (e.g., Easter, Mother's Day), no one takes pains to dress up, and they're certainly not observing conversational formalities.
Though I pointed out the influence of Sex & the City, the R-rated brunch conversation isn't a female phenomenon. Last week while having a respectable higher-end brunch with 3 of my dearest dudes, I got an in-depth explanation of why you shouldn't blame a guy or take it as an insult if he can't get it up. Other things I've learned from my brunching brethren: the best hand job is the one you give yourself; the benefits of paying for pornography on the internet; and that men have a post-sex emotional spike that sometimes resembles clinginess.
While I know this type of conversation is not for everyone, nor it does it describe every brunch (especially the first date brunch... more on that in the future), when out to brunch I've come to expect overhearing this type of talk from surrounding tables. Whatever the causes of brunch's contemporary moral aesthetic, brunch is an escape from the niceties of polite conversation. With so much time spent working and worrying about life, I love that brunch is an acceptable time to let your guard down and relax.
The move away from formality at brunch is actually a return to historical form. As I covered in the post Brunch: A History, brunch was a gluttonous luxury that early pioneers could afford. It was a time for them to pretty much continue the party that started the night before, drinking, eating and gossiping to their hearts' content.
Distinction or extinction.
ReplyDeleteBut thought-provoking nonetheless.
Brunch has already achieved a level of distinction, so definitely meant extinction. Fixed :)
ReplyDelete