Dianne Rodger

Dr Dianne Rodger

Senior Lecturer

School of Social Sciences

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Dianne Rodger is a Senior Lecturer in Anthropology. Her research focuses on music (Hip-Hop), youth culture, digital media and health. These research threads are connected by her interest in popular culture (in particular, the socio-cultural impacts of new technologies) and her commitment to qualitative / ethnographic research. She has published widely in high quality journals and edited books in anthropology, ethnomusicology, popular music studies, health communication and midwifery.

Dianne has held a number of research and teaching positions at the University of Adelaide and began a full-time course co-ordination role in 2015. From 2016 to 2018 she was employed as a Scholarly Teaching Fellow. She was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2019.

Her research has made significant contributions to the study of Hip-Hop in Australia, including work that explores processes of globalisation and localisation through lenses such as ‘authenticity’, race and nationality (Rodger 2012; 2016; 2019; 2020). Her co-authored work with Associate Professor Suzi Hutchings (RMIT) examines how First Nations Hip-Hop artists in Australia use Twitter (Hutchings and Rodger 2018) and the significance of the album ‘Reclaim Australia’ by Hip-Hop group A.B.Original (Hutchings and Rodger 2020).

In 2022, she completed a pilot project exploring the design and delivery of Hip-Hop workshops for First Nations youth. The project explored the motivations of Hip-Hop mentors and the benefits of Hip-Hop education from their perspective (see project outputs including report below). This research builds on her experience working on applied projects with industry, including employment as the Senior Research Fellow on the ARC linkage project ‘Health-e Baby’ (2012-2014) with an Adelaide hospital.

In 2023, she published a book exploring the Hip-Hop album The Calling (2003) by the Hilltop Hoods in the Bloomsbury Press 33 1/3 Oceania series (eds Jon Stratton and Jon Dale). The ebook can be purchased here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/hilltop-hoods-the-calling-9781501392689/

Forthcoming projects:
- An edited collection with Sudiipta Dowsett, Lucas Marie and Grant Saunders working title 'Hip-Hop Cultures in Australia' under contract with Routledge Press.

Research Highlights (Most recent first)

Hip-Hop Histories and Futures / The Calling: In 2022 she started a new project exploring the histories of Hip-Hop in Australia. This project included research for a book in the 33 1/3 Oceania series about the Hilltop Hoods album, The Calling (2003). The ebook is now available from Bloomsbury Press.

She is continuing to conduct interviews with Hip-Hop practitioners about their memories of Hip-Hop / experiences in the Hip-Hop subculture or scene overtime. If you are interested in participating in this research please email for more information. 

WOMADelaide x Northern Sound System Artist Academy Evaluation (2021 - 2022): In 2022, she completed an evaluation of the WOMADelaide x NSS Artist Academy with Dr. Johnny Karanicolas. The Academy is a training & development program for emerging SA First Nations and multicultural artists, developed by WOMADelaide in collaboration with the City of Playford’s Northern Sound System. The evaluation of the Academy included participant observation at Academy events and interviews with artists and staff. This material and other project documents were analysed to produce a practical report for NSS that explored the benefits of the program, core factors that contributed to program success, and, program challenges / future recommendations. In particular, the report included tools to assist NSS in defining and measuring 'artistic growth' and encouraging artists to set 'SMART' goals. 

  • If you are interested in viewing the report please contact me via email. 

Hip-Hop Workshops for First Nations Youth: In 2018 she received funding from the Mountford Award with Dr. Margaret Becker to examine Hip-Hop workshops that seek to engage First Nations young people. This pilot project was a small-scale qualitative research project exploring the design and delivery of Hip-Hop workshops for Indigenous youth in greater Adelaide. A core aim was to produce practical guidelines to support effective Hip-Hop focused workshops for Indigenous youth. 

  • A full project report can be accessed here: [CLICK LINK]
  • A two page summary paper can be accessed here: [CLICK LINK]

Health-e Baby: From 2012-2014 she was the Senior Research Fellow on the ‘Health-e Baby’ project (ARC Linkage grant) which explored the health communication and media preferences of pregnant women and led to the production and evaluation of a tailored pregnancy smartphone application. Further information about the Health-e Baby project can be found on the project website (click here).

Communication for Development: In 2011 she worked as a Research Assistant on a joint project with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), the Department for International Development (DFID), 3ie & AusAID. This project resulted in the publication of a Systematic Review exploring the factors that facilitate and constrain C4D (communication for development) interventions in fragile states.

PhD Research: (2006 - 2012)

Dianne completed her PhD on Hip Hop culture in Australia in 2012. Her PhD thesis titled ‘Living Hip Hop: Defining Authenticity in the Adelaide and Melbourne Hip Hop Scenes’ can be accessed through the UoA library catalogue (click here). Her thesis makes a significant contribution to the study of Hip Hop culture outside of the United States of America and reflects her specialisation in the areas of youth culture and subcultural research.

  • Divisional Scholarship, Humanities and Social Sciences, The University of Adelaide 2006 - 2009.
  • Mountford Award with Dr. Margaret Becker ($7,958).

Dianne is a passionate teacher who has co-ordinated a broad range of Anthropology courses. In 2016 her teaching expertise was recognised when she was employed in a continuing position as a Scholarly Teaching Fellow. In 2019 she was promoted and began a teaching and research role, however, she remains committed to teaching excellence and continues to actively participate in professional development.

She typically teaches: 

  • Introduction to Anthropology: Society and Culture (ANTH 1104 - 1st year course)
  • Pop Anthroplogy: Music, Media and Material Culture (ANTH 2041 - 2nd year course)

Note: Staffing arrangements and availability of these courses may change from year to year. 

Other roles:

She has been the Undergraduate advisor for Anthropology since 2018.

She was the Anthropology Honours Co-ordinator (2021, 2022 - Sem 1). 

Teaching Highlights

Awarded a ‘Faculty of Arts Prize for Excellence in Teaching’ in 2018.

Participation in formal and informal teaching workshops (e.g. Facilitator ‘Tutoring in the Social Sciences’ at the Annual SA Gender, Sex, & Sexualities Conference for Postgraduates & ECRs, September 25th, 2019). 

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Co-Supervisor Dissonant embodiments: understanding the phenomenological, sensory, and temporal dimensions of neurodivergent embodiment and the constraints of normativity. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Lila Wolff
    2022 Co-Supervisor They Whine, I Wine - Identifying and Understanding a wine-mom habitus Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Janine Aujard
    2021 Co-Supervisor Disruptive Bodies in Discursive Spaces: Radical Fat Acceptance and Fat Bodies on Instagram Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Tarmia Klass
    2021 Co-Supervisor Towards a cashless economy: Exploring the concept of economic democracy through cashless monetary instruments in the lives of Adelaide's elderly during COVID-19. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Seenying Lau Meaney

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2022 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Modern Dharma: The Moral Worlds of Newar Middle-Class Families in Bhaktapur, Nepal Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Paola Tine
    2018 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Art and Crisis on the Streets of Athens Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Johnny Damien Karanicolas
    2017 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Theatre of the 4th Dimension: Making Meaning in a Digital Space Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Michael James Allen
    2016 - 2019 Principal Supervisor People, Platforms, Practice: The Social Mediation of Electronic Music Production Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Paul Henry Chambers
    2016 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Strategies for Effective Antenatal Education for Socio-economically Disadvantaged Women Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Julia Dalton
    2014 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Cosplay in Australia: (Re)creation and Creativity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Claire Langsford
    2014 - 2019 Principal Supervisor The F... is Goth Anyway: Classification, Dynamic Practice and Goth in
    Adelaide    		 Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Briony Erin Lynette Kate Morrison
  • Position: Senior Lecturer
  • Phone: 83135931
  • Email: dianne.rodger@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Napier, floor 1
  • Org Unit: School of Social Sciences
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