James McHugh USC Academic Profile: Groundbreaking Research In South Asian History And Sensory Studies
At the University of Southern California (USC), Professor James McHugh remains a leading voice in South Asian religious studies, Sanskrit philology, and sensory history. Serving in the Department of Religion at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, the scholar's innovative work on james mchugh usc faculty initiatives continues to draw international acclaim for reinterpreting pre-modern Asian cultural history.
| Metric / Detail | Profile Information |
|---|---|
| Faculty Member | Dr. James McHugh |
| Institution | University of Southern California (USC Dornsife) |
| Academic Role | Professor of Religion |
| Specializations | Pre-Modern South Asia, Sanskrit Literature, History of Odors, Material Culture of Alcohol |
| Major Publications | Sandalwood and Carrion (2012), An Unholy Brew (2021) |
| Current Status (2026) | Active Faculty Member, Research Scholar, and Academic Mentor |
Redefining Sensory History Through Ancient Sanskrit Texts
Dr. James McHugh joined the faculty at USC after earning his Ph.D. in Sanskrit and Indian Studies from Harvard University and completing advanced research at Oxford University. His scholarship stands out in the humanities for its creative synthesis of rigorous philological translation and historical anthropology. Rather than treating ancient texts purely as abstract theology, McHugh examines how physical senses and material goods shaped everyday religious and social practices in ancient and medieval India.
His highly influential monograph, Sandalwood and Carrion: Smell in Indian Religion and Culture, established a new benchmark for sensory history. The book explores how olfactory concepts—ranging from divine perfumes to noxious decay—influenced Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain rituals, medicine, and courtly etiquette. Following this success, McHugh released An Unholy Brew: Alcohol in Pre-Modern South Asia, a comprehensive study detailing how ancient Indian societies produced, regulated, and conceptualized alcoholic beverages across diverse religious and medical frameworks.
Classroom Impact, Campus Leadership, and Course Offerings at USC
Within the USC Dornsife College, Professor McHugh plays a vital role in expanding the university's Asian humanities curriculum. He offers specialized courses that attract students from religion, history, anthropology, and language departments, fostering cross-disciplinary scholarship across campus.
Key academic and instructional contributions include:
- Sanskrit Language & Literature: Guiding undergraduate and graduate students through classical Sanskrit syntax, poetic meters, and textual criticism.
- World Religions & Sensory Studies: Teaching popular courses that examine how taste, touch, and smell inform global religious traditions and ancient ritual spaces.
- Graduate Mentorship: Advising doctoral candidates pursuing advanced dissertations in South Asian religions, material culture, and pre-modern Asian history.
- Campus Lectures & Symposia: Hosting departmental talks and collaborating with visiting international scholars to elevate USC's status as a top-tier center for Asian studies.
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Research Trajectory and 2026-2027 Academic Outlook
Heading into the 2026-2027 academic year, Professor James McHugh continues to push the boundaries of pre-modern material history. His current research initiatives focus on expanding translations of neglected Sanskrit texts and exploring early trade networks that distributed aromatics, spices, and luxury goods across the Indian Ocean world.
USC students and visiting researchers can engage with Dr. McHugh's ongoing work through scheduled departmental seminars and public faculty lectures throughout the coming year. As academic interest in sensory history and material religion grows worldwide, McHugh's work at USC stands as a prime example of how classical languages can unlock fresh perspectives on human culture.
