Amelia Louks, a University of Cambridge scholar, recently earned her PhD with a thesis titled “Olfactory Ethics: The Politics of Smell in Modern and Contemporary Prose.” As soon as this unusual academic achievement hit the internet, the meme floodgates opened. Social media users couldn’t resist cracking jokes about the academic study of scents, which quickly went viral.
The thesis explores the societal and political impact of smell, from how scents influence our social structures to their role in literature. Louks examines how odors reinforce gender, class, and racial hierarchies, all through the lens of contemporary fiction. While this sounds highly intellectual, netizens had their own hot takes, with comments ranging from “Smells like academia is getting creative” to “Finally, a degree in something useful—telling if my leftovers are still edible!” This playful response sparked a lively online debate, with some lauding the research while others questioning its relevance.
From Academia to aroma: Cambridge scholar's PhD on smell sends the internet into a frenzy
The thesis's focus, which dives into the intersection of olfaction and oppression, didn’t go unnoticed by scholars either. The study points out how scents are often used as tools of discrimination or identity reinforcement. For instance, Louks explores how certain smells evoke disgust or attraction, leading to reflexive, often biased, reactions. This ‘olfactory logic,’ she argues, helps shape perceptions about people’s social worth, particularly along gender and racial lines. Sounds pretty intense, right? But don’t worry, the internet didn’t let that complexity get in the way of some good-natured ribbing.
Many reactions leaned into humor, with one Twitter user joking, “Can I get a PhD in the politics of my gym socks?” while another quipped, “I always knew my dog was a political genius—he’s been studying olfactory ethics every time we go for a walk.” Though the internet can be an unforgiving place, there was also a fair amount of praise for the unique research. Some users defended Louks, pointing out that while it might seem amusing on the surface, her work dives into deeper sociopolitical questions about how our senses influence perception and power structures.
While some might scoff at the idea of a thesis on smell, it’s part of a broader trend in academia that looks at sensory studies. Smell, as Louks illustrates, can be a powerful symbol in literature and real life. It’s not just about identifying whether someone’s wearing too much cologne; it’s about how scent defines personal and societal identity. This is particularly relevant when discussing marginalized groups, whose experiences are often dictated by ingrained, sensory-based biases.
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At the end of the day, while Louks’s thesis has sparked plenty of online chuckles, it also brings attention to an often-overlooked aspect of how we navigate the world—through our noses. So, next time you catch a whiff of something unpleasant, remember, it might just be a political statement!
From gym sock comparisons to musings about pets becoming professors in scent studies, this viral moment shows how even the most serious academic topics can inspire a good laugh—proving that the internet can make scents of just about anything.
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