The modern woman stepped onto the stage of 1920s Berlin and became an icon of modernity. She graced the streets of the metropolis, participated in the workforce outside of the home in unprecedented numbers, went to the movies, sat in cafés or went to dance halls. She was viewed as modern precisely because of her modern attitude, newly-acquired range of motion and her new look – short hair cut or Bubikopf, athletic body and short hemlines. Historically, she may have been a secretary, receptionist or typist, or among more visible boundary-breaking women like avant-garde artist Hannah Höch, photographer Germaine Krull, film star Marlene Dietrich or Bauhaus designer Marianne Brandt. As a figure in representation, the modern woman made her appearance in films, advertisements and art.
This talk by Head of German Studies Barbara Kosta explores the emergence of the modern woman in a time of political and social upheaval, of dramatic urban development, technological advancements and cultural innovation that turned Berlin into a laboratory of modernity and one of the most interesting cities in Europe. It is presented in conjunction with the UAMA exhibition A New Unity: The Life and Afterlife of Bauhaus.