Josh Nelson has worked as an academic since 2002 (The University of Melbourne and Victoria University) in the fields of Visual Arts, Philosophy and Cultural Studies and also has significant experience lecturing to secondary school students. Josh is a former co-host of the long-running 3RRR (102.7FM) film criticism show Plato’s Cave and was the resident film critic on the afternoon Drive show with Rafael Epstein on ABC 774 Melbourne from 2012 until 2016.
In 2008, Josh successfully completed his PhD thesis entitled, ‘Ruptures & Regenerations: Violence, Trauma, and Male Subjectivity in American Cinema (1976-2004)’ which was nominated for a Chancellor’s Prize at The University of Melbourne by examiners Susan Jeffords and Yvonne Tasker, two prominent academics in his field.
Josh has also written and directed a number of short films, including ‘Libido Ex Machina’ (Desire in the Machine) which he co-wrote and directed with Rohan Spong, and which premiered at the 2009 Melbourne Underground Film Festival.
In 2013, Josh was awarded the Ivan Hutchinson Award for Writing on Australian Film for his piece, ‘God in all things’: Amiel Courtin-Wilson’s Hail, which follows his AFCA Writing Award for ‘Best Review of a Non-Australian Film’ for his work on Uncle Boonme Who Can Recall His Past Lives the previous year.