Rate My Professor Rachel Gunn

Dr Rachael Gunn is a lecturer in Media and Creative Industries within the Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Literature and Languages at Macquarie University in the Faculty of Arts. She has been affiliated with the university since her undergraduate years, completing a BA (Hons) in Contemporary Music in 2009 and a PhD in Cultural Studies in 2017, both from Macquarie University. Her doctoral research focused on gender dynamics in Sydney's breaking scene. Gunn teaches units such as professional practices in media and has delivered guest lectures on representation and the history of hip hop culture. Her academic career integrates theoretical analysis with practical experience as a practitioner in breaking.

Gunn's research specializations encompass the cultural politics of breaking, including gender, race, identity, representation, and the sportification processes associated with its Olympic inclusion. She examines challenges faced by women breakers, such as stereotypes around physicality and visibility, and explores how all-style battles queer hip hop culture to foster inclusivity for LGBTIQ+ participants. Key publications include 'The Australian breaking scene and the Olympic Games: the possibilities and politics of sportification' (Global Hip Hop Studies, 2024, with Lucas Marie), 'Where the #bgirls at? politics of (in)visibility in breaking culture' (Feminist Media Studies, 2021), 'Dancing away distinction: queering hip hop culture through all style battles' (2019), 'Nocturnal paradox: how breakdancing reveals the potentials of the night' (book chapter), and 'Dance and Protest Special Issue Editorial' (2023, co-edited). Her scholarship draws on cultural and feminist theory, interviews, and autoethnographic insights, contributing to understandings of hip hop's community aspects, self-expression, and evolving inclusivity. Gunn represented Australia in breaking at the Paris 2024 Olympics, reflecting the interplay between her research and practice.