Sensing the World: An Anthropology of the Senses (Sensory Studies Series)

"Sensing the World: An Anthropology of the Senses is a highly original and comprehensive overview of the anthropology and sociology of the body and the senses. Discussing each sense in turn -- seeing, hearing, touch, smell, and taste -- Le Breton has written a truly monumental work, vast in scope and deeply engaging in style. Among other pioneering moves, he gives equal attention to light and darkness, sound and silence, and his disputation of taste explores aspects of disgust and revulsion. Part phenomenological, part historical, this is above all a cultural account of perception, which returns the body and the senses to the center of social life. Le Breton is the leading authority on the anthropology of the body and the senses in French academia. With a repute comparable to the late Pierre Bourdieu, his 30+ books have been translated into numerous languages. This is the first of his works to be made available in English. This sensuously nuanced translation of La Saveur du monde is accompanied by a spicy preface from series editor David Howes, who introduces Le Breton's work to an English-speaking audience and highlights its implications for the disciplines of anthropology, sociology, and the cross-disciplinary field of sensory studies."--Bloomsbury Publishing This Work Provides A Comprehensive Overview Of The Anthropology And Sociology Of The Body And The Senses. Discussing Each Sense In Turn - Seeing, Hearing, Touch, Smell, And Taste - Author David Le Breton Gives Equal Attention To Light And Darkness, Sound And Silence, And His Disputation Of Taste Explores Aspects Of Disgust And Revulsion. Part Phenomenological, Part Historical, This Is Above All A Cultural Account Of Perception, Which Returns The Body And The Senses To The Center Of Social Life. Le Breton Is A Leading Authority On The Anthropology Of The Body And The Senses In French Academia, And This Is The First Of His Works To Be Made Available In English. This Nuanced Translation Of La Saveur Du Monde Is Accompanied By A Preface From Series Editor David Howes, Who Introduces Le Breton's Work To An English-speaking Audience And Highlights Its Implications For The Disciplines Of Anthropology, Sociology, And The Cross-disciplinary Field Of Sensory Studies. Preface : David Le Breton And The Sociality Of Sensation / David Howes -- Sensing The World : An Anthropology Of The Senses -- From Seeing To Knowing : Sight, The Reflective Sense -- Listening To The World : Hearing, The Sense Of Understanding -- Skin Deep : Touch, The Sense Of Contact -- Smelling And Feeling, The Self And The Other -- Savouring The World : From Taste In Food To The Taste For Life -- The Cuisine Of Disgust. David Le Breton ; Translated By Carmen Ruschiensky. First Published In French In 2006. Translated From The French. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Contents 6 Preface: David Le Breton and the Sociality of Sensation 8 Introduction 14 1 Sensing the World: An Anthropology of the Senses 20 2 From Seeing to Knowing: Sight, the Projective Sense 44 3 Listening to the World: Hearing, the Sense of Understanding 76 4 Skin Deep: Touch, the Sense of Contact 108 5 Scents of Self and Other: Smell, the Sense of Transition 144 6 Savoring the World: From Taste in Food to the Taste for Life 192 7 The Cuisine of Disgust 242 Overture 268 Notes 270 References 280 Index 306