Urs Stäheli

Although it is central to the social sciences, the notion of the collective has been elaborated primarily in fields of study which are concerned with deviant behavior, and then only in the sense of »collective behavior.« In order to consider the emergence of collectivity, the present paper suggests a re-reading of this sociology (especially of Herbert Blumer). By means of a reading of Walt Whitman, who was important as a lyrical and journalistic source of inspiration to early American sociology, a concept of material and medial infrastructures (particularly transport media such as the ferry) is obtained, which is also significant for the current theoretical interweaving of collectivity and infrastructure.

Die 2016 gegründete »Kulturwissenschaftliche Zeitschrift«, herausgegeben von der Kulturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft, versteht sich als ein offenes Forum der kulturwissenschaftlichen Debatte, [...]

The paper discusses different types of fragrance lists and their importance in contributing to olfactory popularity. While sales-based best-seller lists are crucial, they remain hidden from consumers unlike other areas of popular culture. Instead, social media lists based on indicators such as views have become important for the public perception of perfumery, creating a shift from sales figures to often viral social media communication. These lists are complemented by ›subjective‹ lists created by influencers and perfumistas, such as ›compliment getter‹, ›expert‹ and ›iconic‹ lists. The paper examines these lists in terms of the everyday life of perfumes and how they address the material olfactory dimension of success. The interplay between these different types of lists demonstrates hints at competing and interwoven ideas of popularity. The paper demonstrates that the classic high/low distinction, which originated in luxury perfumery, continues todominate an olfactory understanding of popularity, in contrast to a purely quantitative approach.