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I take the final paragraph with a huge grain of salt, having had an older relative who lived through it describe to me the hugely aspirational atmosphere of the
by JdeBP 3y ago
I take the final paragraph with a huge grain of salt, having had an older relative who lived through it describe to me the hugely aspirational atmosphere of the U.K. in the 1950s and 1960s.
We cannot deduce history from the pages of one company's sales catalogue, merely the changing fortunes of that company; nor from a piece of fairy cake.
- ggm 3y agoBut, since people who lived through this time are still alive we have oral history and other approaches. I think this catalogue is illustrative of an ideal. And, other catalogues will tell a similar story. As a child of prior times I certainly recognised social coding in the change from old kitchen ware to new. The utility function of Teflon was high but the ability to signal "I can afford to buy new things" was also high. Tupperware was pure utility function in colours, but it failed to signify success. Snobs like me rather looked down on it (shamefully, I regret my past)
- mikestew 3y agoTupperware was pure utility function in colours, but it failed to signify success. Snobs like me rather looked down on it (shamefully, I regret my past) It is an unfortunate outcome of the sales and marketing of Tupperware (multi-level marketing). So the ecosystem of Tupperware was looked down upon, similar to Amway. And if you have Tupperware, then you have been to a Tupperware party. The upper crust, I am confident, do not attend Tupperware parties. But the products themselves? Awesome quality and functionality...at least they used to be.
- gorgoiler 3y agoElizabeth II kept her breakfast cereal in Tupperware — this article probably just means commodity plastic food storage, but maybe HM sent out secret shoppers to Knightsbridge parties?: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/may/20/what-the-royals-eat-at-home-rachel-cooke https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/may/20/what-th...