Smells and their impact on society may not be an obvious subject in literature, but they hold surprising significance. Dr Ally Louks of the University of Cambridge explores how smell and the language of smell shape power dynamics related to gender, race, class and other social constructs. Her research delves into how literature depicts these dynamics and how they resonate in today’s world.
Dr. Louks explained the purpose of her research, saying, “The overall goal of this thesis is to provide an intersectional and broad understanding of olfactory suppression by establishing the underlying logic that promotes the use of smell in creating and subverting gender, class, and sexuality. Research. This research, part of her PhD thesis in English literature, focuses on how modern and contemporary fiction illuminates the importance of smell in defining identity and social relationships.
People’s response to smells is often an automatic one, categorizing others without thinking. According to Dr. Laux, this strong emotional reaction can lead to rejection, or to ways of controlling or reshaping the relationship. Her research looks at the complex ways in which smells can be both attractive and off-putting, showing how they often reinforce or challenge social norms.
Stories and books play a key role in reflecting these ideas. george orwell’s road to wigan pier and Bong Joon-ho’s movies parasites Revealing how smell highlights class differences. Meanwhile, Virginia Woolf’s rinse and Laura Jane McKay’s animals of that country Use scent to explore ideas about animals and the non-human world. In the work of Toni Morrison and Raven Leilani, smell is intertwined with race and gender, showing how smell can exacerbate social inequality.
Online debates about her work have generated much discussion. To clear up misunderstandings, Dr. Laux said: “To clarify for those unfamiliar with academia, I have a PhD in English literature, not a PhD in the ethics of smell – which was the thesis topic on which I earned my PhD.” She said Also speaking about misunderstandings about her research, she said: “I am still baffled by the large number of people who completely mischaracterize the themes and arguments of my paper. The words are right in front of them, but their interpretation is in a separate existence level.
Smell can also be a tool for exploring human desire and identity. In Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita and Patrick Suskind’s. perfumesmell is associated with control and utilization. Dr. Laux also examines queerness and unconventional forms of attraction in the texts of Ann Quin Berg with Sam Byers Come join our diseaseshows how writers prompt readers to think differently about smells and their meanings.
Dr. Laux believes that literature can serve as a testing ground for new ways of understanding relationships and identity. By analyzing how smell appears in stories, she offers a fresh perspective on how something as fleeting as smell can impact society in meaningful and lasting ways. Her research challenges us to rethink the power of smells and how they shape our world, making it an important contribution to understanding literature and culture.
refer to
Laux, A. (2024). The Ethics of Smell: The Politics of Smell in Modern and Contemporary Essays [Apollo – University of Cambridge Repository].
Dr. Ally Louks is a distinguished scholar specializing in English literature with a keen interest in the intersection of sensory experience and social structure. A graduate of the University of Cambridge, Dr Laux earned her PhD through groundbreaking research that explored the ways smell is represented in literature and its role in shaping gender, race, class and other social hierarchies.
Her work uniquely combines literary analysis with cultural criticism, providing new perspectives on how olfactory imagery (often overlooked) can be profoundly significant in modern and contemporary fiction. Dr. Laux’s research delves into different texts to show how smell affects identity and challenges social norms.
In addition to academia, Dr. Laux is an advocate for accessible scholarship and frequently interacts with the public to clarify and discuss her work. Her contributions extend beyond the scope of her dissertation to stimulate discussion about the power of sensory perception in literature and its impact on understanding social dynamics.
