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1 unrolled thread about power, each one readable on a single page.
Dec 3, 2024
Dr. Ally Louks's PhD thesis is set to be one of the most influential theses of 21st century. Puts forward an original argument with remarkable clarity. Already has 85M+ views on X/Twitter. Most pe...
Summary
Dr. Ally Louks's PhD thesis examines how smell and olfactory language are portrayed in modern and contemporary literature to reinforce or challenge power structures and social hierarchies. Through close reading of literary works, the thesis argues that words associated with smell create intense emotional reactions that lead to biases against marginalized groups (the poor, people of color, women), but that fiction can also help reshape these associations and challenge oppressive structures. The research is grounded in literary analysis of representations rather than real-world sociology, exploring five key areas: class markers, non-human associations, racial discrimination, gendered harassment, and fiction's potential for change.
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