OLIVIA J. BENNETT

Hello! I’m an arts writer, researcher and critic based in Brisbane, Australia.

I've reviewed and written about art, film, music, and digital culture in Australian and international publications. I’ve also played a pivotal role in the programming, digital production, and successful delivery of numerous projects within Australia’s film and music industry.

I'm fascinated by how global trends intertwine with personal stories, revealing the impact of cultural issues on our daily lives. In my work, I prefer to experiment with non-linear storytelling, multiple perspectives, and mixed media to capture the intricacy of modern cultural tensions.

I’ve been honoured to participate in Gertrude Contemporary’s Emerging Writers Program and the Melbourne International Film Festival’s Critics Campus.

I'm also a freelance copywriter, content writer, and strategist whose work is driven by principles of complexity and interconnectedness.

With five years of freelancing, three years in agency environments, and two years navigating Melbourne's strictest COVID-19 lockdowns, I've faced real tests of resilience and adaptability in my career. This experience has enriched my ability to develop copywriting, content, and strategy for various sectors, including tech, health, lifestyle, retail, design, construction, hospitality and (of course) the arts.

I completed a Bachelor of Art History and Curating at Monash University, majoring in Film Studies. For my BA Honours thesis in Screen and Cultural Studies at Melbourne University, I argued that the documentary films of Harvard University’s Sensory Ethnography Lab are hyperobjects. Applying Timothy Morton’s concept through poetics, I explored their capacity to provoke a transgressive experience of ecological thought and feeling.

On a personal note, I'm on track to pass the DELF B2 French exam in 2025, and I am currently working on launching new business ventures that will further leverage my expertise and passions.

Souhaitez-moi bonne chance!

SPACE HEAVY

King Krule

Written by Olivia J. Bennett
Edited by Isabella Trimboli
Published in print by The Big Issue AU
Issue #691 | 12 July 2023

It's almost three years since King Krule's previous album Man Alive!, and Archy Marshall's signature sound remains steeped in nostalgia. His latest offering, however, teeters on the edge of self-parody, with Marshall doling out his guttural croon and take on the blues. In 'Pink Shell', he spins a superficial tale of missed connections forged in dimly lit dive bars, confessing, "Spilling my guts to many fools and pleading their lusting/All over the world, I've seen so many things”, amid shimmering electric guitar melodies. In 2011, 'Out Getting Ribs’ was the catalyst for Marshall's career. Rooted in an era where cryptic lyrics and indie jazz-rock flourished, reflecting a blissfully detached ethos, this sound now feels like overcompensation, and a little stale. For example, on ‘Tortoise of Independency’ - a rolling track about longing - Marshall softly sings a hollowed cliche: “See those figures wait alone/On the park bench of memories." But so many of the songs blend together, and the listener is left to trudge through worn motifs of space, sea and self-flagellation.