Nadia Seremetakis's The Senses Still: A Sensory Journey through History and Memory
Seremetakis The Senses Still Pdf Download: A Guide to the Book and Its Author
Have you ever wondered how our senses shape our culture, history, and identity? How do we perceive, remember, and communicate through our sensory experiences? How do we resist or challenge the dominant sensory norms and values of our society?
Seremetakis The Senses Still Pdf Download
If you are interested in these questions, you might want to read The Senses Still: Perception and Memory as Material Culture in Modernity, a groundbreaking book by Nadia Seremetakis. In this article, we will give you an overview of the book and its author, show you how to download it in PDF format, and discuss some of its main themes and concepts. We will also explore how the book can be applied to contemporary issues and contexts related to sensory culture.
Introduction
What is the book about?
The Senses Still is a collection of essays by Nadia Seremetakis, an anthropologist and cultural historian who specializes in sensory studies. The book was first published in 1994 and has been widely acclaimed as a seminal work in the field. The book explores how our senses are not just biological functions, but also cultural and historical phenomena that shape our perception and memory of the world. The book also examines how our sensory experiences are often marginalized or suppressed by modernity, which favors rationality, objectivity, and standardization over emotion, subjectivity, and diversity. The book argues that we need to reclaim our senses as a source of knowledge, creativity, and resistance against the dominant sensory order.
Who is Nadia Seremetakis?
Nadia Seremetakis is a professor of anthropology at the University of the Peloponnese in Greece. She was born in Athens in 1955 and received her PhD from Harvard University in 1989. She has conducted extensive fieldwork in Greece, Turkey, Albania, and the United States, focusing on topics such as oral history, ritual, gender, death, food, media, and sensory culture. She has written several books and articles on these topics, including The Last Word: Women, Death, and Divination in Inner Mani (1991), The Senses Still (1994), Cine-Ethnography (2002), Culture at the Cutting Edge: Tracking Caribbean Popular Music (2005), Sensuous Geographies: Body Sense And Place (2010), and Sensory Worlds In Early America (2011). She is also the founder and director of the Center for the Study of Modernity and Cultural Resistance in Greece.
Why is the book important?
The Senses Still is important because it challenges the conventional view of the senses as passive and natural, and instead shows how they are active and cultural. The book also reveals how our sensory experiences are influenced by our social, historical, and political contexts, and how they can be used as a tool for understanding, expressing, and transforming our reality. The book also offers a rich and diverse range of examples and perspectives from different cultures and times, showing how sensory culture is not monolithic or static, but dynamic and pluralistic. The book also inspires us to pay more attention to our own senses and to the sensory dimensions of our everyday life.
Main Body
How to download the book in PDF format?
If you want to read The Senses Still in PDF format, you have several options. Here are some of them:
Option 1: Use a free online converter
One of the easiest ways to download the book in PDF format is to use a free online converter that can convert any webpage or document into a PDF file. For example, you can use PDFCrowd, which is a web-based service that allows you to convert any URL or upload any file and get a PDF version of it. To use this service, you just need to follow these steps:
Go to PDFCrowd and choose the option "Convert Web Page to PDF".
Enter the URL of the webpage where you can find the book online. For example, you can use this link: https://archive.org/details/sensesstillperce00sere, which is an online version of the book hosted by the Internet Archive.
Click on the "Convert to PDF" button and wait for a few seconds until the conversion is done.
Download the PDF file to your device or save it to your cloud storage.
Note that some online converters may have limitations on the size or quality of the PDF file, or may require you to register or pay for some features. You may also encounter some formatting or layout issues when converting webpages or documents into PDF files.
Option 2: Use a paid software or service
Another way to download the book in PDF format is to use a paid software or service that can provide you with a high-quality and secure PDF file. For example, you can use Adobe Acrobat, which is a professional software that allows you to create, edit, convert, and protect PDF files. To use this software, you need to follow these steps:
Download and install Adobe Acrobat on your device. You can get a free trial or buy a subscription from their website.
Open Adobe Acrobat and choose the option "Create PDF".
Select the source of the file you want to convert into PDF. You can choose from various options, such as webpages, documents, images, scans, etc.
If you choose webpages, enter the URL of the webpage where you can find the book online. For example, you can use this link: https://archive.org/details/sensesstillperce00sere, which is an online version of the book hosted by the Internet Archive.
If you choose documents, browse your device or cloud storage and select the file you want to convert into PDF. For example, you can use this file: The Senses Still.docx, which is a Word document version of the book downloaded from Academia.edu.
Click on the "Create" button and wait for a few seconds until the conversion is done.
Save the PDF file to your device or cloud storage.
Note that some paid software or services may have different features or prices depending on your needs and preferences. You may also need to update or renew your software or service regularly.
Option 3: Buy the ebook from a reputable source
The third way to download the book in PDF format is to buy the ebook from a reputable source that can provide you with a legal and secure PDF file. For example, you can use Amazon, which is a leading online retailer that offers a wide range of ebooks and other products. To use this source, you need to follow these steps:
Go to Amazon and search for the book by its title or author.
Select the ebook version of the book and click on the "Buy now with 1-Click" button.
Sign in to your Amazon account or create one if you don't have one.
Choose your payment method and confirm your order.
Download the PDF file to your device or cloud storage.
Note that some reputable sources may have different prices or availability depending on your location and currency. You may also need to register or create an account to access their services.
What are the main themes and concepts of the book?
Now that you have downloaded the book in PDF format, you might want to know more about its main themes and concepts. Here are some of them:
The senses as cultural and historical phenomena
One of the main themes of the book is that our senses are not just biological functions, but also cultural and historical phenomena that shape our perception and memory of the world. The book shows how our sensory experiences are influenced by our social, historical, and political contexts, and how they vary across different cultures and times. The book also demonstrates how our senses are not fixed or universal, but dynamic and changing, reflecting our evolving relationships with ourselves, others, and our environment.
The marginalization and resistance of sensory experience
Another main theme of the book is that our sensory experiences are often marginalized or suppressed by modernity, which favors rationality, objectivity, and standardization over emotion, subjectivity, and diversity. The book examines how modernity has created a sensory hierarchy that privileges some senses over others, such as sight over smell or touch. The book also analyzes how modernity has imposed a sensory order that regulates and controls our sensory behavior and expression, such as through hygiene, etiquette, or censorship. The book also explores how our sensory experiences can be used as a source of resistance against the dominant sensory order, such as through subversion, innovation, or activism.
The role of memory and emotion in sensory perception
The third main theme of the book is that our sensory perception is not just a passive or mechanical process, but also an active and emotional one that involves memory and imagination. The book illustrates how our sensory experiences are not isolated or discrete, but interconnected and continuous, forming a complex web of associations and meanings. The book also highlights how our sensory experiences are not objective or neutral, but subjective and affective, evoking feelings and emotions that shape our mood and attitude. The book also emphasizes how our sensory experiences are not static or fixed, but dynamic and creative, enabling us to recall and reinterpret our past and envision and anticipate our future.
How can the book be applied to contemporary issues and contexts?
Besides being an academic work, The Senses Still can also be applied to contemporary issues and contexts related to sensory culture. Here are some examples:
The impact of globalization and technology on sensory culture
One of the contemporary issues that the book can help us understand is the impact of globalization and technology on sensory culture. Globalization and technology have enabled us to access and share sensory information across time and space, creating new opportunities for communication, learning, and entertainment. However, globalization and technology have also exposed us to sensory overload and homogenization, creating new challenges for attention, identity, and diversity. The book can help us critically examine how globalization and technology affect our sensory culture, both positively and negatively.
The challenges and opportunities of sensory diversity and inclusion
Another contemporary issue that the book can help us address is the challenges and opportunities of sensory diversity and inclusion. Sensory diversity and inclusion refer to the recognition and respect of the different sensory preferences, needs, and abilities of people, especially those who are marginalized or excluded due to their sensory differences. Sensory diversity and inclusion can enhance our understanding, empathy, and collaboration with others, as well as our creativity, innovation, and well-being. However, sensory diversity and inclusion can also pose difficulties and conflicts, such as communication barriers, accessibility issues, or cultural clashes. The book can help us appreciate and celebrate sensory diversity and inclusion, as well as overcome and resolve sensory difficulties and conflicts.
The potential of sensory activism and education
The third contemporary issue that the book can help us explore is the potential of sensory activism and education. Sensory activism and education refer to the use of sensory experiences as a way of raising awareness, promoting change, or empowering people, especially those who are oppressed or disadvantaged by the dominant sensory order. Sensory activism and education can challenge and transform our sensory culture, as well as inspire and mobilize us to take action for social justice and environmental sustainability. The book can help us engage in sensory activism and education, both individually and collectively.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
In conclusion, The Senses Still is a fascinating book that explores how our senses shape our culture, history, and identity. The book shows how our senses are not just biological functions, but also cultural and historical phenomena that vary across different contexts. The book also examines how our senses are often marginalized or suppressed by modernity, which favors rationality over emotion. The book also argues that we need to reclaim our senses as a source of knowledge, creativity, and resistance. The book also offers a rich and diverse range of examples and perspectives from different cultures and times. The book also inspires us to pay more attention to our own senses and to the sensory dimensions of our everyday life.
Recommendations for further reading and action
If you enjoyed reading The Senses Still, you might want to read some other books related to sensory studies. Here are some recommendations:
The World of Perception by Maurice Merleau-Ponty: A classic work of phenomenology that explores how we perceive the world through our senses.
The Spell of the Sensuous by David Abram: A poetic work of ecology that explores how we relate to nature through our senses.
Sensory Biographies by Robert Desjarlais: An ethnographic work of anthropology that explores how people experience their lives through their senses.
Sensuous Knowledge by Minna Salami: A feminist work of philosophy that explores how we can use our senses to challenge patriarchy.
Sensory Marketing by Aradhna Krishna: A practical work of business that explores how we can use our senses to influence consumer behavior.
If you want to take action based on The Senses Still, you might want to join some organizations or initiatives related to sensory culture. Here are some examples:
Sensory Trust: A UK-based charity that promotes inclusive design for people with diverse sensory needs.
Sense: A UK-based charity that supports people who are deafblind or have complex disabilities.
SenseLab: A Canada-based research-creation group that experiments with new forms of sensory expression.
Sensescapes: A global network of researchers and practitioners who explore sensory landscapes.
Sense about Science: A UK-based charity that promotes public understanding of science.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about The Senses Still:
What is the main argument of the book?
The main argument of the book is that our senses are not just biological functions, but also cultural and historical phenomena that shape our perception and memory of the world, and that we need to reclaim our senses as a source of knowledge, creativity, and resistance.
Who is the target audience of the book?
The target audience of the book is anyone who is interested in sensory studies, anthropology, cultural history, or sensory culture in general.
How many chapters does the book have?
The book has nine chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of sensory culture, such as smell, taste, touch, sound, vision, memory, emotion, ritual, and media.
Where can I find more information about the author?
You can find more information about the author on her academic profile, her ResearchGate profile, or her Academia.edu profile.
How can I contact the author?
You can contact the author by email at nseremet@uop.gr or by phone at +30 2710 372 221.
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