Hsuan L Hsu, "Olfactory Worldmaking" (U Minnesota Press, 2026)

Hsuan L Hsu, "Olfactory Worldmaking" (U Minnesota Press, 2026)

Author: New Books Network March 24, 2026 Duration: 26:15
Smell is a vital, if underappreciated, medium through which we inhabit and imagine the world. In Olfactory Worldmaking (University of Minnesota Press, 2026), Dr. Hsuan L. Hsu traces how olfactory experience communicates across visceral, material, and affective registers to offer new ways of relating, which challenge the extractive logics of racial and colonial capitalism. Blending environmental humanities, sensory studies, and critical ethnic studies, the book highlights how scent animates suppressed histories and marginalized memories. Dr. Hsu theorizes olfaction as a speculative, reparative practice. Examining projects from historical novels, memoirs, and speculative fiction to conceptual art and experimental perfumes, he reveals how these works mobilize scent to imagine alternative ways of sensing, relating, and creating more equitably livable worlds. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda’s interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies

Dive into the vibrant and complex world of Black thought, history, and culture with New Books in African American Studies. This podcast, part of the wider New Books Network, functions as a serious but accessible audio library where ideas are explored in depth. Each conversation is a direct line to the latest scholarship, featuring authors in detailed discussion about their recently published books with knowledgeable interviewers. You’ll hear about groundbreaking research that spans centuries and disciplines, from sociology and politics to literature, music, and art, all grounded in the African American experience. The dialogue moves beyond simple summaries, delving into the authors' inspirations, their research processes, and the broader implications of their work for understanding society today. It’s like attending a compelling academic lecture or an insightful conference panel, but from wherever you choose to listen. This channel specifically offers a focused, curated space within the larger network's vast archive, dedicated entirely to these vital conversations. For anyone looking to move past headlines and engage with the substantive ideas shaping contemporary discourse, this podcast provides an invaluable resource. The tone is collegial and engaging, designed to make sophisticated scholarship approachable for students, educators, and lifelong learners alike. Tune in to discover the books and thinkers currently defining the field.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

New Books in African American Studies
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