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!

DON’T GET TOO CLOSE

Skrillex




After an eight-year hiatus, Skrillex – dubstep icon and fixture of the 2010s club scene – makes a triumphant return with two albums. Quest for Fire is a mature return to his signature wobbly basslines, aggressive drops and frenetic beats, while companion album Don’t Get Too Close leans into the hypnotic deliverance of emo, trap and hyperpop’s recent reign. The album features figureheads of the chronically online – Yung Lean, Bladee, Trippie Redd, Chief Keef, PinkPantheress and Corbin – injecting a Gen Z touch to the producer’s millennial sounds. Marked by melancholic autotune vocals and the uneasy sparkle of minor-key scales, the album transforms the trap-laden, manic doldrums of today into an easier palette for the unconverted. Kid Cudi’s and Justin Bieber’s features are sure to draw numbers, but it’s the album’s foundlings that bring a brighter future to Skrillex’s career. His versatility on this album and its counterpart has reignited respect for his talent and set the stage for a new mainstream.