DrRebecca Trelease

Dr Rebecca Trelease (Te Āti Haunui a Pāpārangi) is a Senior Lecturer in the Critical Media Studies Department. Her research field lies primarily in television, with her PhD thesis conducting case studies into four global entertainment reality television formats. Her thesis explores how the hybrid nature of the reality television genre allows formats to incorporate characteristics of neighbouring genres (namely; liveness, soap-opera narratives, regionality, and digital engagement). Because of this range, her research often expands into wider film and television critical media analysis. As an academic, fan, and former participant, Rebecca offers a unique viewpoint into the reality television genre.

Rebecca instigated the Swiftposium 2024, a three-day hybrid academic conference held in Melbourne Australia, before Swift's sell-out concerts in the city. Swiftposium was a multi-university collaboration funded by AUT School of Communication Studies, University of Melbourne, and the Gender Research Network at Curtin University, with support from RMIT, University of Sydney, and Monash University. Rebecca was awarded a Research Grant from the School of Communication Studies to contribute funding, as well as the 2023 Department of Critical Media Studies Innovation Award.