A Feast for the Senses
Our senses are the conduit to how we experience and learn about the world — how it feels, tastes and smells, what it looks like and how it sounds. In this issue, we explore our principal senses through the lens of our scholars’ teaching and research. But we don’t stop at five. Neuroscientists and philosophers now think we may have up to 33! We explore some of these lesser-known senses, along with the so-called “sixth sense,” altered states and visions.
Our hope is that this issue provides you with an eye-opening feast for all your senses.
A beloved Los Angeles landmark, the Nayarit fed the senses, not only with its acclaimed Mexican cuisine but also by providing a haven where the marginalized could feel seen and find belonging.
Sight allows us to explore our world, to orient ourselves within it and to find joy in its myriad manifestations of beauty and wonder.
Whether it takes the form of a rock concert, a greeting or the buzz of cicadas, sound holds the power to energize us, to cheer us, to soothe us and — above all — to connect us.
From sautéed grasshoppers to fusion food, USC Dornsife scholars use taste as a passport to explore diverse cultures, histories and identities.
From aiding romance to communicating with God, scent has long been attributed near mystical abilities.
From cradle to grave, touch brings us comfort, pleasure and sometimes pain, reminding us of our countless connections to the world and to humanity — including our own.
If we think of our senses as limited to only five, we might be missing out.
For some people the senses pair up and produce inspired results.
Tania Apshankar, a senior majoring in creative writing, wins the inaugural USC Dornsife Magazine Creative Writing Contest.
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Contact Us
USC Dornsife Magazine
c/o Crisann Begley-Smith
1150 S. Olive Street, Fl. 24
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Senior Associate Dean for Communication and Marketing
Jim Key
Editor-in-Chief
Susan Bell
Art Director/Production Manager
Letty Avila
Writers and Editors
Margaret Crable
Darrin S. Joy
Meredith McGroarty
Videographer and Photographer
Mike Glier
Senior Web Specialist
Michael Liu
Audience Engagement Editor
Christopher Ortiz
Communications Assistant
Crisann Begley-Smith
Contributors
Tania Apshankar, Maddy Davis, Greg Hardesty, Stephen Koenig, Rachel B. Levin, Paul McQuiston, Nina Raffio, Vanessa Roveto, Grayson Schmidt