KULA’24

THE ANNUAL ACADEMIC CONFERENCE OF

THE

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY,

LADY SHRI RAM COLLEGE FOR WOMEN

SOCIOLOGY OF SENSES

CONCEPT NOTE

Our theme, the “Sociology of Senses” aims at conceptualising sensory experiences as social
constructs, viewing senses through a social lens, divesting them from the strictly
physiological or cognitive realm of understanding. The theme hinges on how we sense shapes
our understanding of what we sense. It delves into the profound ways in which our sensory
experiences mould our understanding of the world. It studies how senses are a fundamental
domain of cultural expression. Our senses are not merely neutral and objective channels for
comprehending the contemporary but instead they act as potent pathways which connect us,
transcending temporal, spatial, and experiential barriers.

Normatively, we understand ‘senses’ as an amalgamation of five components, namely touch,

smell, sight, hearing, and taste.
The sense of touch serves as a metaphor for connecting and understanding. It influences
emotions as well as behaviours in social settings. It provides cardinal information about our
surroundings and appreciably enhances our sensory experiences. Cultural and social
meanings of touch vary, being contingent upon the social categories of gender, race, class,
and so forth.
Often referred to as a “mute sense”, the sense of smell profoundly affects lives, shaping
social interactions, perceptions, and ways of acting. Scents not only communicate maudlin
memories but are also reflective of cultural identities and social statuses. From a capitalistic
vantage point, specific scents are associated with varying brand products in an effort to
influence consumer behaviour. Smell triggers emotions, preserving past experiences.
For aeons now, the sense of sight has been determined by cultural and historical factors.
Reality is mediated by the social construction of the visual as well as the visual construction
of the social. Employed as one of the primary instruments of socialisation, the sense of sight
plays a quintessential role in communication and identity formation. Norms dictating
appearance influence self-perception, which in-turn produce taxonomies, resulting in social
hierarchies. Media representations reinforce stereotypes, contributing to social inequalities.
Surveillance technologies raise privacy concerns.
A sociology of taste examines factors shaping culinary experiences, which embody societal
norms as well as individual subversions, across cultures. Taste reflects societal beliefs, from
ancient rituals to modern vogues, instantiating the interminable struggle of adaptability.
A sociology of hearing explores sound's role in framing human interactions and societal
structures. From language to music, sound is crucial for communication and identity
establishment. Socio-economic factors influence accessibility to sound, raising questions
about disability rights. Urban soundscapes impact community interactions and quality of life.
The academic conference intends to converse these sensories to make one conscious and
cognizant of the often taken for granted how we sense through traversing the dynamics of our
sensory and perceptions. On the whole questioning the physiological and cognitive
understanding of the senses.

In essence, a Sociology of Senses encourages us to rethink our understanding and

perceptions. It highlights how our senses deeply impact our aspects of being. The nuances of
our senses unlock a realm of awe, connection, and significance. It enables us to not just
observe the world but facilitates an appreciation for countless opportunities.

FOR FURTHER READING:

1. Ackerman, Diane. 2011. A Natural History of the Senses. Vintage.

2. Howes, David. 1991. The Varieties of Sensory Experience. University of Toronto

Press.

3. Hochschild, A. 1983. The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling.

Berkeley: University of California Press.

4. Bedichek, Roy. 1960. The Seappreciation also facilitates Joseph.

5. Howes, D. 1987. “Olfaction and Transition: An Essay on the Ritual Uses of Smell.”

6. Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology, 24: 398–416.

7. Stoller, Paul. 2010. The Teste of Ethnographic Things: The Senses in Anthropology.
Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Press Ann Arbor, Michigan Proquest.

8. Beardsworth, A. and T. Keil. 1997. Sociology on the Menu: An Invitation to the

Study of Food and Society. New York: Routledge.
9. Alex, G. 2008. “A Sense of Belonging and Exclusion: ‘Touchability’ and
‘Untouchability’ in Tamil Nadu.” Ethnos.

10. Bull, M. 2000. Sounding out the City: Personal Stereos and the Managementnt of
Everyday Life. Oxford: Berg.

11. Taylor, Joshua C. 1981. Learning to Look a Handbook for the Visual Arts. University
Of Chicago Press.

12. Phillip Vannini, Dennis Waskul,and Simon Gottschalk. 2012. The senses in self,
society and culture: A Sociology of Senses.