The Politics of the Olfactive Body
<p>This conversation with Rahel Aima and Ahmad Makia is the first of two (the second one is with Dena Qaddumi) recorded live in the event organized by Columbia University Studio-X in Amman, directed by <em>Funambulist</em> friend Nora Akawi. This is a presentation of <em>Archipelago</em> in general and of the Levant series in particular as it originally preceded the conversation with Rahel and Ahmad. We begin the latter with the introduction of their online/printed platform, <em>THE STATE</em>, and its subtle articulation between the politics of space and the politics of body. This discussion mostly focuses on the third issue of <em>THE STATE</em>, entitled “The Social Olfactory<em>,” </em>as well as its peripheral articles online. We question both the undervalue of smell when it comes to body politics, as well as the monopoly of our imaginary linked to smell by Western references. The second part of the conversation focuses on the militarization/surveillance of smell, as well as its potential forms of subversion.</p>
Host: Léopold Lambert
Guests: Rahel Aima, Ahmad Makia
Part of: The Funambulist Podcast