A brief introduction of yourself?
Gm! I’m Benoit, based in Tokyo, and I <3 ramen, 90s anime, and Internet subcultures.
As a digital and web culture producer, I’ve worn a bunch of different hats—project coordinator, creative strategist, editorial contributor, and growth. I’ve had the chance to collaborate with some companies like MUTEK, VICE, i-D, WIRED, to name a few.
In the Web3 space, I’ve freelanced for SuperRare, GALLERY, and a few other projects, and I’m currently doing some editorial work for Lens. On the other hand, my side curatorial activity has taken me onchain, online, and offline, exploring internet-based art and net-subcultures — things like Y2K, technostalgia, net.art, URL niche communities, and decentralized networks—for over a decade.
When I’m afk, it’s probably because I’m at the beach or in a cat cafe. That’s a bit about me for now. =)
What topics and genres do you write about?
I love writing about anything related to Internet culture — The network has been my thing since mIRC, Myspace, ICQ, and OG online games and metaverses, and since then, I’ve never really logged off. I’m all about the systems, the aesthetics, and the philosophical, conceptual, and semantic side of the Internet. These aspects have totally shaped my taste and how I approach my curatorial practice, for example. It’s super interesting for me to explore how the Internet influences culture.
Y2K vibes in a broader context have also been highly attractive to me: all those li’l plastic transparent and translucent hardware, 90s video games, and super weird internet-born music subgenres—basically all the gems from the 90s and 2000s. They might not be related to the Internet itself, they’re directly linked to it from a cultural POV. Of course, I enjoy writing about more conventional digital art too, especially because of my academic background, but the Internet? That’s my true love, and my tattoos can back that up.
What inspires you to write?
Writing has been my creative outlet since my days at the Sorbonne and even before that. It’s a brain-triggering exercise that lets me disconnect from the world and tap into my most autistic state (lol). It’s brought me joy and, at times, even sadness, but overall, I’m hooked. It’s not just part of my daily work; it’s also one of my hobbies, which is pretty cool. Plus, most of the time, when crafting a text, I get to do research, read, or learn something new, which I really enjoy. And, of course, seeing something with your name published feels like an adrenaline rush.
What's your goal as a writer?
As a writer, my goal is to enjoy the process first. It might sound selfish, but I believe that when I’m fully engaged, the writing turns out better. After that, I love sharing knowledge with others just as much as I enjoy learning from what they have to say—it’s a fair exchange.
How do you see technology impacting writing and publishing?
With all the new internet tech and onchain platforms, I’m super excited about getting my texts to live on the blockchain forever. I’m sold on this idea after seeing my contributions slowly disappear on Web2 platforms and online media. The concept of post-authorship is also gaining traction with the decentralized philosophy and new ways of owning and tweaking + refining content over time — this will definitely impact the way we write and publish.
What are you writing now? What project are you currently working on?
Right now, I’m working on a few texts for Lens, with some guidance from MP on what to focus on. I also recently co-founded LAN Party, a research and curatorial unit with Paris-based curator and fren Vienna Kim, dedicated to internet subcultures, technostalgia, and gaming within the onchain and Web3 ecosystem. We’ve got a lot in the pipeline, including our branding, curations, editorials, and community activations, and we’re super excited about everything coming up.
Additionally, I’m gearing up for the upcoming edition of MUTEK Japan later this fall, a freelance contract I've been doing for the past four years as a digital content strategist.
What makes you write on t2?
I started writing on t2 because the team at Lens introduced me to the platform, but it quickly became apparent that embracing and publishing on these kinds of platforms is crucial for my work today. Now, I’m used to it, enjoying the community, and learning how to maximize these new publishing and editorial distribution tools.
What’s your favourite feature on t2?
I really like how user-friendly it is—super intuitive, even a child could use it. I love how you can classify your text into different territories (channels), and once published, it spreads quickly across the entire Lens ecosystem. But my favorite feature is probably the Time Points (t.p.) system, which reflects engagement and how reputation works on the platform. I’m not into competition, but seeing your name in the top rankings can definitely be motivating! Right?
Use one sentence to describe the writing communities on t2.
The vibe here is just cool—passionate, welcoming, and focused on building the new internet with a strong sense of togetherness. A great example is how people help each other polish their writing skills, highlighting the supportive and collaborative atmosphere.
What articles would you recommend reading to understand you as a writer?
I’ve been deeply involved in my project with Vienna (LAN Party) lately, and our co-authored article, “Curating Technostalgia Beyond Aesthetics ♡ ༘ ⋆”, perfectly captures what we’re about as curators and writers. It gives a good sense of our interests, research, and critical perspective on technostalgia.
You might also want to check out two other pieces I wrote — one on post-authorship and another about raving in the Web3 space.
