"Taking selfies all the time stems from a desire to make time stand still. [...] It is a kind of protest against your own insignificance and mortality." – Liv Strömquist

Who or what is beautiful? What significance does beauty have for us? Why do we spend so much time, money and energy trying to achieve an ideal? And what is the tragic connection between beauty and marriage, success and transience?

We spend hours on Instagram looking at photos of ourselves and others. Through these images, we communicate and unavoidably arrive at one of life’s most existential questions: Am I worthy of love? Because beauty is a valuable resource. It is both insurance and a way to get on in life. This constant barrage of media images means that we are constantly comparing ourselves to others. The TikTok trend “Be that girl” encapsulates it all: Improve yourself!
Unfortunately, physical beauty and prospects for success have been inextricably linked for millennia, particularly for those who read as women. Or are selfies a form of protest against body marketing?

Seven young people who read as female and who are experts on the topic appear on stage for the premiere of the latest graphic novel by feminist comic artist and political scientist Liv Strömquist, directed by Katharina Bill. This fast-paced lecture performance examines the European discourse on beauty over the last 2,000 years using wry language and sublime images, goofy gestures and high emotions.

The entire production team stands in solidarity with all worldwide feminist movements that aim for freedom and self-determination for all people. Due to the current protests in Iran, we would like to say to the protesters on the ground: We hear you, we see you, we admire you, we fear for you, we are by your side.