Sensorial perception is as much a cultural phenomenon as a physical and biological function. Fragrances, aromas, and the mouth-watering smells of foods are defining elements of our social  perception, building memories, and situating us into particular cultural contexts.  But, what about the unpleasant or foul odours? Heritage and museum initiatives tend to shy away from malodours,  focusing on pleasant fragrances from the past, warping ideas about olfactory history. In this Odeuropa Workshop: Malodours as Cultural Heritage?, an interdisciplinary group of scholars and museum professionals will explore and challenge the topic of stench, dealing with the specifics of historicising malodours. The border between the malodorous and the pleasant is not only individually, but also collectively, culturally and historically defined. What do malodours tell us about transitions and advancements within urban, social, cultural, and environmental contexts? How can the sense of smell act as a measurement of analysis for histories of the past and present? How can we locate malodours, intangible by definition, within the cultural heritage sector and how can they be used as a storytelling technique?

The host of the Nose-on Workshop sessions with malodours containing live and pre-recorded lectures is the Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin at the Humboldt Forum (Berlin), organizers are the EU-research network Odeuropa.eu and the Berlin Center for Cold War Studies (BKKK) of Leibniz Institute for Contemporary History (IfZ). The Scents are provided by International Flavours and Fragrances (IFF) and AromaPrime.

Program

LOCATION
Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin at the Humboldt Forum (Berlin) 

REGISTRATION
The workshop is open for virtual participation. You can register here.