BENJAMIN HARRIS
M.Soc.Sci (Sociology)
Research Interest: Anthropology of the Senses, Sound Studies, Phenomenology, Social Activism in Southeast Asia, Critical Theory
My name is Benjamin (he/they) and I am Master’s by Research candidate in Sociology at the National University of Singapore, where I have been awarded an NUS Research Scholarship. I am also a first generation university student. Prior to my foray into the social sciences, I graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Hons) with a Highest Distinction from the YST Conservatory of Music, NUS.
My current research interests include sound studies, the senses, and social movements. These are issues I look at through the lens of critical theory. In this vein, I believe that no body of research can truly be “neutral”. For my Master’s thesis, I aim to study how low-wage migrant workers in urban Singapore make “sense” of living as raced/gendered/othered bodies in the public/private sphere. This project will be supervised by Associate Professor Kelvin E.Y Low.
Keywords/Areas of Research:
Anthropology of Sound; Senses; Social Activism and Change; Ethnography; Critical Theory
Publications/Presentations:
- Harris, B. (2022). Dismantling Privilege, Widening Access: -Renegotiating Art-making In a Post-pandemic World. Esplanade Offstage.
https://www.esplanade.com/offstage/arts/dismantling-privilege-widening-access - Harris, B. (2024). The Thirdspace of Transient Migrant Music-making [Conference presentation]. 14th Asian Conference on Cultural Studies. Kyoto, Japan.
- Harris, B. (2023). Phenomenologies of Transient Migrant Music-making [Conference presentation]. Performers(‘) Present International Artistic Research Symposium 2023, Singapore.
Research and writing:
Listed Research Experiences
Research and Writing Assistant (August 2023 - Present)
Lepak Conversations
- Researching Malay-Muslim race relations in Singapore
Conducting literature reviews and writing social content based on research findings - Conducting semi-structured interviews for research study on the state of Malay Male Mental Health inSingapore
Intensive Music Engagement Practicum (August 2021 - December 2022)
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore
- Wrote a capstone paper entitled Strains of Migration: Phenomenologies of Transient Migrant Music-
making - Conducted ethnographic fieldwork for a period of 6 months in a variety of field sites
- semi-structured interviews with 5 interlocutors
- Extensive experience navigating IRB applications, and coding fieldwork data independently
Geographies of Social Life (AY21/22)
Department of Geography, National University of Singapore
- Wrote a final paper in a group of 4 on the lived experiences of the elderly in public spaces in Singapore.
- Conducted fieldwork and interviews with interlocutors at Kampung Admiralty
- Coded fieldwork data along with a team
Qualitative Research Communication Methods (AY20/21)
Department of Communication and New Media, National University of Singapore
- Wrote a final paper on the online behavior of fans of 2SetViolin
- Gained research experience conducting digital ethnography
- Gained experience conducting and embarking on qualitative research projects
Biomedicine and the Singapore Society (AY20/21)
University Town College Programme, Tembusu College
- Conducted and embarked on a research project in a group of 3, exploring the role of the arts in mitigating
mental health issues among students at pre-tertiary institutions in Singapore - Formulated questions and subsequently conducted semi-structured interview questions
Education:
2024-2026
- M.Soc.Sci (Sociology), National University of Singapore
Proposed Thesis Key Words: Senses, Sound, Phenomenology, Migration
Supervisor: Associate Professor Kelvin E.Y. Low - BMus (Hons) National University of Singapore, Highest Distinction
Capstone Paper: Phenomenologies of Transient Migrant Music-making
Supervisor: Associate Professor Ho Chee Kong
Contact Info
Email ID: e0418221@u.nus.edu