Sixteenth Minute (of Fame): The Smell Doctor Who Was 'Too Woke' – Dr. Ali Lukes
Episode Release Date: April 8, 2025
Host: Jamie Loftus
Produced by: Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Introduction
In this compelling episode of Sixteenth Minute (of Fame), host Jamie Loftus delves into the tumultuous experience of Dr. Ali Lukes, a Cambridge University supervisor and expert in olfactory studies. Dr. Ali’s journey from academic niche to becoming an unexpected target of online harassment offers a profound commentary on the intersection of academia, social media algorithms, and societal biases.
Dr. Ali Lukes: An Academic Journey
Background and Education
Dr. Ali Lukes embarked on her academic path with a passion for English Literature, earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Exeter. Her interdisciplinary approach, incorporating philosophy and sociology, laid the foundation for her specialized focus on smell studies—a field she initially explored without a formal designation.
Dr. Ali Lukes [51:14]:
"I'm doctor Ali Lukes. I'm currently a supervisor in English Literature at the University of Cambridge and I work on smell."
Developing a Niche: Smell Studies
Her fascination with the role of smell in literature blossomed during her master’s degree at UCL, where she delved into cultural studies. It wasn’t until her doctoral studies at Cambridge that Dr. Ali formalized her expertise, authoring her thesis titled "Olfactory Oppression: The Politics of Smell in Modern and Contemporary Prose." This groundbreaking work examines how olfactory representations in literature influence and reflect social hierarchies related to gender, race, and class.
Dr. Ali Lukes [56:21]:
"This thesis studies how literature registers the importance of olfactory discourse, the language of smell and the olfactory imagination it creates and structuring our social world."
The Viral Incident: From Academia to Online Harassment
The Catalyst: Sharing Her Achievement
On November 27, 2024, Dr. Ali shared a celebratory tweet announcing the completion of her PhD. Her selfie, adorned with her bound thesis, was intended for a small academic audience but unexpectedly spiraled into a viral phenomenon.
Jamie Loftus [03:50]:
"She wears a simple red sweater and smiles, captioning the photo, ‘Thrilled to say I passed my Viva with no corrections and am officially PH done grad student lingo. Don’t worry about it.’"
Algorithm-Driven Backlash
Unbeknownst to Dr. Ali, the new Twitter algorithm—introduced post-Elon Musk’s acquisition—favorably amplifies emotionally charged content and prioritizes replies from paying subscribers. This mechanism inadvertently thrust her post into the feeds of users prone to anti-intellectual and misogynistic commentary.
Jamie Loftus [04:30]:
"It's the 2024 Twitter X algorithm, one that, as we discussed in our Hayley Welch Hawk to a series, is conditioned to boost emotionally driven content and most importantly, elevate the replies of paying subscribers."
Nature of the Harassment
The backlash ranged from dismissive critiques of her academic pursuits to outright threats and misogynistic slurs. Some commenters mocked the perceived irrelevance of her study, while others taunted her academic legitimacy.
Dr. Ali Lukes [05:50]:
"The replies were coming in way faster than I could read them, which was stressful because I like to have the full picture."
Notable Threat [12:34]:
"You are the dumbest fucking bitch I have ever seen on the Internet... Your dues to society are many and me and the boys will rape them out of you."
Understanding Online Harassment: A Broader Context
Comparison with Previous Incidents
Jamie draws parallels between Dr. Ali’s experience and a prior incident involving Daisy Miller’s benign tweet about morning coffee rituals, which similarly succumbed to algorithmic amplification of negative feedback.
Jamie Loftus [06:20]:
"The similarity between daisy's story and Dr. Ali Luke's story is that these were posts made by women for a very specific audience, but the criticism that they received was a result of the algorithm pushing these posts into the feed of people who would probably hate it."
Statistics Highlighting the Escalation
The episode references studies indicating a surge in online harassment, particularly among marginalized groups. For instance, Pew Research Center data showed an increase in reported harassment from 16% in 2020 to 28% by 2021, with women experiencing even higher rates.
Jamie Loftus [07:45]:
"After reports of online harassment had scaled up significantly, 16% of respondents told the Pew Research center that they had been harassed online in 2020... This number increased to 28% by 2021."
The Impact on Dr. Ali Lukes
Emotional and Professional Toll
Despite the severity of the harassment, Dr. Ali maintained her composure, choosing to engage thoughtfully with her critics. Her resilience is evident as she navigated the onslaught without allowing it to derail her academic pursuits.
Dr. Ali Lukes [69:04]:
"I do think there's something to be said about the insulation of academia... It's not possible to tell based on a picture of someone what their background is."
Seeking Support and Moving Forward
Dr. Ali received support from her students and the initial wave of positive feedback helped mitigate some of the negative experiences. Her commitment to her work remained unshaken, and she began leveraging her new audience to further disseminate her research.
Dr. Ali Lukes [74:53]:
"I think if people are interested in the ideas, then they're going to love the trade book."
Dr. Ali Lukes' Continuing Work and Future Aspirations
Expanding the Field of Smell Studies
Dr. Ali is now developing a postdoctoral project focused on the effects of smell disorders, an area profoundly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her research aims to explore the psychological and social ramifications of diminished olfactory senses, especially within marginalized communities.
Dr. Ali Lukes [77:06]:
"There are globally so many people who have been affected by smell disorders and they are dramatically understudied."
Advocating for the Humanities
Beyond her research, Dr. Ali is passionate about championing the humanities, arguing against the prevailing notion that they lack practical value. She emphasizes the interdisciplinary potential of literary studies and sensory analysis as critical tools for understanding societal structures.
Dr. Ali Lukes [78:02]:
"I think there's work to be done in just advocating for and championing the value of the humanities and trying to get away from this idea that the humanities and the sciences are in competition."
Concluding Reflections
Jamie Loftus underscores the significance of Dr. Ali Lukes' experience as a lens through which to examine the broader implications of social media algorithms on academic discourse and individual well-being. The episode serves as a poignant reminder of the vulnerabilities academics face in the digital age and the resilience required to continue meaningful scholarly work amidst adversity.
Jamie Loftus [84:11]:
"It's so frustrating that academics like Ali Lukes are always the first to absorb this absurd amount of vitriol from the worst faith people on the planet with Internet connections."
Final Thoughts
Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) not only highlights Dr. Ali Lukes' personal ordeal but also invites listeners to reflect on the broader societal dynamics at play. It advocates for greater recognition of underappreciated academic fields and calls for a more empathetic and informed online discourse.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps:
-
Dr. Ali Lukes [51:14]:
"I'm doctor Ali Lukes. I'm currently a supervisor in English Literature at the University of Cambridge and I work on smell." -
Dr. Ali Lukes [56:21]:
"This thesis studies how literature registers the importance of olfactory discourse, the language of smell and the olfactory imagination it creates and structuring our social world." -
Jamie Loftus [06:20]:
"The similarity between daisy's story and Dr. Ali Luke's story is that these were posts made by women for a very specific audience, but the criticism that they received was a result of the algorithm pushing these posts into the feed of people who would probably hate it." -
Dr. Ali Lukes [69:04]:
"I do think there's something to be said about the insulation of academia... It's not possible to tell based on a picture of someone what their background is." -
Jamie Loftus [84:11]:
"It's so frustrating that academics like Ali Lukes are always the first to absorb this absurd amount of vitriol from the worst faith people on the planet with Internet connections."
About the Hosts and Producers:
- Jamie Loftus: Writer, host, and producer of Sixteenth Minute (of Fame).
- Executive Producers: Sophie Lichterman and Robert Evans.
- Supervising Producer and Editor: Ian Johnson.
- Theme Song: By Sad13.
- Voice Acting: Grant Crater.
- Pet Shout Outs: Anderson (dog), Flea and Casper (cats), Rockford (pet rock).
Follow Dr. Ali Lukes:
For more insights and updates on Dr. Ali Lukes' work, listeners are encouraged to follow her through the links provided in the episode description.
Listener Note:
This episode sheds light on the challenges faced by academics in today's digital landscape, emphasizing the need for supportive and informed online communities that respect and value scholarly contributions.