A sociology of smell

Rares sont les sociologues qui ont etudik les sens. Or, de tous les sens, c'est l'odorat qui a toujours ete et demeure sans doute encore le moins valorise. Dans cette communication, l'auteur examine quelquesuns des rbles de l'odorat dans les interactions sociales, notamment l'importance de l'odorat dans la construction morale du soi et de l'autre dans le cadre des relations entre personnes de classe differente, d'origine ethnique differente et de sexe different. Les equations fondamentales, symboliques plutbt que chimiques, sont les suivantes: celui ou ce qui sent bon est bon et vice versa; et celui ou ce qui est mauvais sent mauvais et vice versa. Dans les relations entre groupes, ces equations servent, d'une part, a legitimer les differences de pouvoir et, d'autre part, a les contester d'une maniere fort intime. Sociologists have rarely researched the senses; and of all the senses, smell has been, and probably still is, the least valued. In this paper we consider some of the roles of smell in social interaction, particularly the significance of smell in the moral construction of the self and the other, in terms of class, ethnic and gender relations. The fundamental equations, symbolic rather than chemical, are that who or what smells good is good, and vice versa; and who or what is bad or evil smells bad, and vice versa. Such equations are utilized in intergroup relations to legitimate power differentials, and also to challenge them, in a most intimate way.
ANTHONY SYNNOTT Concordia Uniuerszty* We are all constantly emitting and perceiving odours, smelling and being smelled; and these odours play important roles in virtually every area of social interaction: eating [...]