Andrew Hess

Date of Award

2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Goff, Brendan

Keywords

History, Senses, Historical Methods

Area of Concentration

History

Abstract

This thesis assesses a growing trend in the writing of history, which attends to the various roles and conceptions of the senses throughout history. Proceeding from a discussion of the sometimes unique and sometimes standard methodologies of the habit of "sensory history," the various implications and problems of such an approach are suggested and explored using a once widely accepted historical framework known as the "great divide." Imbuing this once black and white binary with the lost textures and experiences of sensory detail and evidence, a similar treatment of the life and work of social theorist Karl Marx is attempted. The results challenge and enhance our understanding of his theories and indeed even how he might have experienced his own sensory world. While sometimes raising more questions than it answers, it would be wise for historians or really anyone interested in academic research to pay attention to the specter of the senses of the past.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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