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Accepted Contribution:

Taste as practice. An autoethnographic exploration investigating sensory perceptions in the experience of flavor through self-experimentation  
Anna Geliev (RWTH Aachen)

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Short abstract:

What is happening when we experience taste? When/where does taste start/end? How does the composition of individual taste elements influence the sensory-aesthetic experience of taste? Through autoethnography, I examine taste as practice, using my body as a self-experiment.

Long abstract:

Taste transcends mere physical reaction; it encompasses a rich sensory-aesthetic experience that extends beyond the palate. This paper explores taste beyond mere flavor perception, delving into questions of its onset, duration, sensory aspects, composition, and factors influencing alterations. Through autoethnography, taste is examined as a dynamic practice, illuminating sensory experiences.

Central to this exploration is the notion that the body plays a pivotal role in either rejecting or accepting taste, underscoring the intimate relationship between sensory perception and bodily engagement. Through the stimulation of the senses, taste experiences are intricately woven into the fabric of everyday life.

Moreover, this paper underscores that experiences are not passive occurrences but rather actively practiced. By engaging in intentional sensory experiences and individuals shape, contributing to the dynamic interplay between perception and action.

This study offers a nuanced examination of taste as a sensory phenomenon, emphasizing the role of embodiment, sensory stimulation, and practice in shaping our lived experiences. Grounded in the perspective of taste as a practice, the paper adopts an autoethnographic approach, considering the author's own body as self-experimentation. Through this methodological lens, the paper provides insights into the personal and embodied dimensions of taste, enriching scholarly discourse on sensory experiencess.

1. Reckwitz, A. (2015) Sinne und Praktiken. Die sinnliche Organisation des Sozialen.

2. Reckwitz, A. (2016) Praktiken und ihre Affekte.

3. Vannini, P. (2012) The senses in self, society, and culture. A sociology of the senses.

4. Vannini, P.(2012) The senses in self, society, and culture. A sociology of the senses.

Combined Format Open Panel P136
The makings and doings of food ways in STS research: cooking, tasting, speculating with care
  Session 2