Sensory Engagement in Anthropology: Ethnographic Insights from Kashmiri Wazwan and Pakistani Art

Abstract

This paper emphasizes the importance of sensory dimensions in ethnographic research and their critical role in cultural transmission and anthropological comprehension. It explores how sensory experiences extend beyond biological functions to influence cultural practices and artistic expressions. Using Kashmiri cuisine, particularly Wazwan, and fieldwork on body and drape in Pakistani art as key examples, the paper highlights the multifaceted nature of sensory engagement. It traces the historical evolution of sensory anthropology, noting a shift from a focus on visual culture to a broader inclusion of all sensory modalities, influenced by scholars such as Claude Lévi-Strauss and Michael Taussig. The study argues that both literal and metaphorical sensory experiences are essential for a thorough understanding of culture. Through examples of Kashmiri food culture and the male gaze in art, the paper demonstrates how engaging with sensory aspects enhances the grasp of cultural practices and artistic expression, asserting that a nuanced cultural understanding necessitates an engagement with all sensory dimensions.