The Smell of the Others. An olfactory History of the German Partition (1961-1999)

• Applicant: Dr. Bodo Mrozek
• Subject Area: Modern and Contemporary History
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 446388013

The project aims for an olfactory history of the German partition. From the perspective of sensory history, the political division was a process that deeply affected not only the environment, but also the biology of men. Contesting the ideas of modernity as a de-sensualizing force (Norbert Elias) and the greater de-odorization of societies since the 18th century (Alain Corbin), odors will be understood as a an important area where difference could be produced and perceived – even in late 20th century. Areas to be studied are conflicts about smells and pollution, air monitoring and environmental debates, indoor smells, fine particles and problems with asbestos, changes in hygiene and cosmetics, the politicization of perfumes and measurements of olfactory warfare, the use of fine materials by police and the military. By reading historical documents from the archives, it will be analyzed how different smell scapes were produced. Furthermore, it will be asked how the sensibilities of the contemporaries changed -- regarding pollution, detergents, cosmetics and food. By doing so, the political partition will be studied from a body history perspective. Sources are odor taxonomies in egodocuments of the contemporaries as well as comparative eco-medical analysis of the sensitization for allergies in East and West. Additional narrative interviews with blind witnesses of the past will add their superior sensory perception to historical research. The period of investigation comprises the spatial partition, the cold war, the phase of osmotic assimilation, and contemporary memory culture, in which smells play a crucial role (for example in the nostalgias for the past such as so called “Eastalgia” and “Westalgia”). The projects aims for two main achievements: 1) To gain knowledge about the depth of the partition as well as about its duration and periodization (from an olfactory perspective both parts of Germany persist the Unification Treaty of 1990). 2) By concentrating on olfaction, a so called “close sense” (in contrast to the “far senses” hearing and seeing) will be studied in its relations to both cognition and biology. For the first time, the genuine sensory history of separation and transnationality will allow to gain insight into the deep effects of the political partition on men in their environments. By doing so, the project contributes to a contemporary history of the senses in 20th century. The results will be published in a book and in journal articles .

• DFG Programme: Research Grants