Olivia Dean’s ‘The Art of Loving’ Inspired by bell hooks

UK pop sensation Olivia Dean is making waves, and she’s making sure to give credit where credit is due. After a triumphant sweep at the recent MOBO Awards, where she snagged Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best Female Act, Dean dedicated her major wins to the influential feminist writer bell hooks and other Black feminists who have shaped her perspective.

A Dedication to Love and Black Feminism

During her acceptance speech for Album of the Year for her sophomore album, ‘The Art of Loving,’ Dean shared the profound impact these figures have had on her. “This album was really just born out of me wanting to write something about love, and really what it means to me and us loving each other,” she explained. She continued, “And I want to just dedicate this, actually, to bell hooks and all the black feminists that inspire me to love better and love the people in my life.”

This dedication isn’t just a passing comment; hooks’ influence is woven directly into the fabric of Dean’s album. The intro track, ‘The Art of Loving (Intro),’ even features the lyric, ‘gotta throw some paint,’ a direct nod to hooks’ metaphor for love requiring action and bravery.

The ‘Art of Loving’ as a Response to Hooks

Dean herself confirmed that ‘The Art of Loving’ was conceived partly as a dialogue with bell hooks’ seminal work, ‘All About Love: New Visions.’ She told Rolling Stone UK, “It’s in response to bell hooks’ All About Love, which I’m a huge fan of.” The album’s title itself was inspired by a passage in hooks’ book about the ‘craft of loving one’s own life.’

Published in 1999, ‘All About Love’ critiques the modern lack of a clear definition of love in contemporary culture. Hooks proposed a ‘love ethic’ grounded in care, respect, commitment, and trust, challenging readers to actively practice love rather than just feel it. Dean’s album explores these themes, delving into her personal understanding of love and how she expresses it towards others.

A Legacy of Love and Action

hooks’ work, which gained renewed attention in the early 2020s, continues to resonate deeply. Her ideas about love as an active, intentional practice, rather than a passive emotion, clearly struck a chord with Dean. The singer expressed a desire to understand love more deeply, inspired by hooks’ suggestion of incorporating ’emotional studies’ into early education to teach care and connection.

Dean’s connection to hooks highlights a lineage of powerful Black feminist thought, influenced by figures like Audre Lorde, Patricia Hill Collins, Angela Davis, and Roxane Gay. By dedicating her award to these inspirations, Olivia Dean not only celebrates her own success but also amplifies the enduring legacy of Black women writers and thinkers who champion love as a radical act.