Associate Professor Melanie White
PhD (Carleton University) MA (Carleton University) BA (University of British Columbia)
Melanie is a Sociologist who specialises in classical and contemporary social theory. Born and educated in Canada with a PhD from Carleton University in Ottawa, Melanie teaches into the Sociology program for the School of Social Sciences in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture. She was Deputy Head, School of Social Sciences from 2020-2023 where she held the Education (Learning & Teaching) portfolio.
Melanie has always been fascinated by what we mean by the 'social.' HerÌýcurrent research considers how competing ideas of sympathy helped to distinguish the social from the biological in the development of the discipline of sociology in 19C France. She has a particular interest in the social theories of Emile Durkheim, Gabriel Tarde, Henri Bergson, Michel Foucault and Georges Canguilhem.Ìý She is interested in questions about the relations betweenÌýhabits & creativity, error & uncertainty, and in finding the point atÌýwhich the ordinary becomesÌýextraordinary in everyday life.ÌýShe also enjoys rediscovering lost and forgotten thinkers and considering how they contribute to contemporary debates in social theory and our understanding of everyday life.ÌýÌý
She has published in high-ranking international journals such as , Ìý²¹²Ô»å . HerÌýbook Ìýco-edited with Alexandre Lefebvre (University of Sydney) is published with Duke University Press.Ìý
Melanie is also Adjunct Research Professor in the .
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of CanadaÌý- Postdoctoral Fellowship, York University, Canada
Canada Research ChairÌý- Postdoctoral Fellowship, York University, Canada
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2023 ÌýÌýAward for Excellence in Educational Mentorship, Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture, Staff Awards, UNSW Sydney
2022 ÌýÌýAward for Excellence in Educational Leadership, Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture, Staff Awards, UNSW Sydney
2019Ìý ÌýSenior Fellow of the Higher Education AcademyÌý(SFHEA), UK
2019Ìý ÌýThe Michael Wearing Memorial Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Research Supervision, UNSW Sydney
2018Ìý Ìý UNSWÌýScientia Education Academy Fellow
2017Ìý ÌýÌýVice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence (General Category), UNSW Sydney
2016Ìý Ìý Excellence in Postgraduate Research Supervision Award,ÌýARC Postgraduate Student Council, UNSW Student Life and Dean of Graduate Research School, UNSW SydneyÌý
2015Ìý Ìý Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence (General Category), Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, UNSW Sydney
2006Ìý ÌýÌýNominated,ÌýSymons Award for Excellence in Teaching,ÌýTrent University, Canada
2002Ìý ÌýÌýTeaching Excellence Award,ÌýCarleton University Students' Association, Carleton University, Canada
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Research Areas:ÌýÌýClassical and contemporary social theory, political theory, citizenship studies, sociological theory
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Current Research Projects
Bergson's Social and Political Thought
In collaboration with , this project develops the political, social and religious philosophy of Henri Bergson, an early twentieth century French philosopher.Ìý
The Animal Question in Society
This project considers how social thinkersÌýsuch as Auguste Comte, Jean-Marie Guyau, and Alfred Espinas understood the relation between human and nonhuman animals in order toÌýinterrogate how the social and the biological were conceptualised in 19C France.
Unsentimental Sympathies
Through rich everyday examples, this project demonstrates how the idea of 'fellow-feeling' is easily converted into an unsentimental sympathy.
Future Research Projects
Life, Vitalism and Society
This project considers the underpinning vitalism of three 20C sociological thinkers in the German tradition: Georg Simmel, Alfred Schutz and Max Scheler.
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Affiliations and Membership
Adjunct Research Professor, Carleton University,
Member de laÌýSociété des amis de Bergson
Adjunct Research Professor, Carleton University,
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My Research Supervision
Nell Whittaker (PhD Social Sciences)ÌýLove as a Moral Emotion.Ìý(Primary Supervisor:ÌýMelanie White:ÌýSeondary Supervisor: ÌýProfessor Jan Breckenridge). Sociology, UNSW Sydney.
Ruth Waterman (MRes Medicine)ÌýOperator experiences of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA point-of-care testing in AustraliaÌý(Primary Supervisor: Dr. Lise Lafferty; Secondary Supervisor:ÌýMelanie White). Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney.
Connie Byrne (PhD Social Sciences) Social (Re)Production: Theories of Value in a Financialising NeoliberalismÌý(Joint Supervisors:ÌýMelanie WhiteÌý²¹²Ô»å Dr. Andrew Clarke). Social Sciences, UNSW Sydney.
Octaviano Arruda (PhD Social Sciences, Politics) The Democratic Forest: A Psychopolitical Study of the Concept of the PoliticalÌý(Primary Supervisor: Melanie White; Secondary Supervisor: A/Professor Helen Pringle).ÌýPolitics and International Relations, UNSW Sydney.
Dovi Seldowitz (PhD Social Sciences, Sociology) Emancipatory Inclinations of a Religious Elite: Toward a New Sociology of the SermonÌý(Primary Supervisor: Melanie White; Secondary Supervisor: A/Professor Geoffrey Levey).ÌýSociology, UNSW Sydney.
Rickie-Lee McLauren-Smith (PhD Social Sciences, Sociology) Human Value, Children and Environmental CareÌý(Joint Supervisors: Melanie White and Dr. Andrew Clarke).ÌýSociology, UNSW Sydney.
Roxarne MoonÌý(PhD Social Sciences, Sociology)ÌýFolktales and the Sociology of BelongingÌý(Primary Supervisor: Melanie White; Secondary Supervisor: Dr. Yao-Tai Li).ÌýSociology, UNSW Sydney.
Madelene Veber (PhD Social Sciences, Sociology)ÌýThe Sociology of ErrorÌýÌý(Joint Supervisors: Professor Timothy O'Leary and Melanie White),ÌýSociology, UNSW Sydney.
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PhD completions
Chelsea Van Deventer (PhD Social Sciences, Anthropology) The Question of Origins and the Ontology of the 'Individual'ÌýÌý(Primary Supervisor: Professor Vicki Kirby; Secondary Supervisor: Melanie White) Sociology, UNSW, Sydney.
Roberta Pala (2023) Ìý(Joint Supervisors: Professor kylie valentine and Melanie White; Secondary Supervisor: Professor: Matthew Kearnes), Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Sydney.
Joe Alizzi (2021)ÌýÌý(Primary Supervisor: Professor Claudia Tazreiter; Secondary Supervisor: Melanie White), Sociology, UNSW Sydney.
Mary CantrillÌý(2020)Ìý(Joint Supervisors: Professor Elizabeth Fernandez and Melanie White),ÌýSocial Work, UNSW Sydney.
Hawthorn James King (2019)ÌýÌý(Primary Supervisor: Melanie White, Secondary Supervisor: Professor Paul K. Jones), Sociology, UNSW Sydney. Nominated: Best HDR publication, Dean's Research Awards (2018).
Megan Catherine RoseÌý(2018)ÌýÌý(Primary Supervisor: Melanie White, Secondary Supervisor: Professor Paul K. Jones), Sociology, UNSW Sydney.ÌýRecipient:ÌýArts & Social Sciences Dean's Teaching Award - Rising StarÌý(2018),ÌýRecipient of the Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Excellence AwardÌý(2020).
Jacqueline Dalziell (2018) (Primary Supervisor: Professor Vicki Kirby; Secondary Supervisor: Melanie White), Sociology, UNSW Sydney. Recipient: Best HDR publication, Dean's Research Awards (2018).
Na'ama Carlin (2016)ÌýÌý(Primary Supervisor: Melanie White;ÌýSecondary Supervisor: Professor Miguel Vatter) Sociology, UNSWÌýSydney, Recipient of the Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Excellence Award - Early CareerÌý(2019).
Catherine TueyÌý(2015)Ìý(Joint Supervisors: Professor Alan Hunt, Carleton University, and Melanie White, UNSW Sydney), Sociology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.
Daniel Braun (2014)Ìý(Joint Supervisors: Professor Bruce Curtis, Carleton University, and Melanie White, UNSW Sydney), Sociology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.
Will Johncock (2013) Ìý(Primary Supervisor: Professor Vicki Kirby; Secondary Supervisor: Melanie White) Sociology, UNSW, Sydney.
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My Teaching
Teaching Areas
Classical and Contemporary Social Theory
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Current Teaching
ARTS1870ÌýRethinking the Social(T1Ìý2024 & T2C 2024)
ARTS2876 Understanding the Self (T1 2024)
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Honours Supervision (Completed Projects)
Nell Whittaker (2023)ÌýA Feminist Engagement with Masculinist Critiques of Marriage (Sociology and Anthropology, UNSW Sydney)
Paige Ayton (2021) Farming with Dogs:ÌýA qualitative study about how Australian male farmers reflect on working with dogs (Sociology and Anthropology, UNSW Sydney)
Zara Khan (2020)ÌýOrder your essay today! InvestigatingÌýthe relationship between contract cheating services and student behaviours (Criminology, UNSW Sydney)
Dovber Seldowitz (2020)ÌýWomen’s Leadership in the Contemporary Hasidic Community: Its Prevalence, Development, and Relation to Hasidic Religious DiscourseÌý(Sociology and Anthropology, UNSW Sydney), UNSW Medallist
Maya Ghattas (2019)ÌýIn the Image of Death: A Nature Not Equal to Nature.Ìý(Sociology and Anthropology, UNSW Sydney), UNSW Medallist
Ellen Jacobs (2019)ÌýDisciplined Autonomy: A Synthesised Concept and its Holistic Analysis of Crime Prevention Techniques.Ìý(Sociology and Anthropology, UNSW Sydney)
Ida Ioannou-Marsh (2017)ÌýPolitical Purity and Innate Politics (Sociology and Anthropology, UNSW Sydney)
Victoria Rae (2017)ÌýWhere have all the experts gone?Ìý A sociological consideration of post-truth and non-traditional news outlets (Sociology & Anthropology, UNSW Sydney)
Yvette Kiddle (2016)ÌýImitation to Educate Children: ÌýWhat Happens to Liberty?Ìý(Sociology & Anthropology, UNSW Sydney)
Roxarne Moon (2015)ÌýIn Defence of HomeÌý(Sociology & Anthropology, UNSW Sydney), Recipient of The Australian Sociological Association (TASA)ÌýHonours StudentÌýAward
Nicholas Langley (2014)ÌýThe Festival of Distraction: The Search for CommunityÌý(Sociology & Anthropology, UNSW Sydney)
Rickie-Lee McLauren-Smith (2014)ÌýUprooting Apathy: Towards Environmental Ethics of CareÌý(Sociology & Anthropology, UNSW Sydney)
Holi Birman (2012)ÌýStillness and Remembering the Self (Sociology & Anthropology, UNSW Sydney), Recipient of The Australian Sociological Association (TASA)ÌýHonours StudentÌýAward
Paula Houseman (2012)ÌýThe Cancer MythÌý(Sociology & Anthropology, UNSW Sydney)
Na’ama Carlin (2010)ÌýÌý(W)riting the Body and the Circumcised Text (Sociology & Anthropology, UNSW Sydney), Recipient of the Sol Encel Honours Thesis Prize
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