Stadt für Manche
My Diploma thesis examines how feminist street art can be used as a form of expression of political resistance in public space to make the perspectives of marginalised groups of people visible and to criticise patriarchal structures. Through visual design, it is shown that the street can be transformed into a discursive space that allows feminist perspectives and needs to be communicated by FLINTA*. Street art is considered an anonymous mouthpiece that can be employed as a powerful tool in the fight against epistemic injustice in order to bring about political change. The potency of art can be used to trigger emotions and create public awareness of feminist issues. The examples from different major global cities show that street art can offer diverse expressions of artistic resistance that respond to cultural conventions. Linking art and activism can be an effective strategy to make feminist issues visible to the public and raise awareness about them.
Knickfabrik
In children’s books, stories and facts are often presented in a simplified manner. In the process, outdated stereotypes and clichés, for example of gender roles, are often replicated. Moreover, the stories in children’s books sold in Germany usually contain white characters from a Eurocentric perspective. However, in a diverse society, it is important for children to have diverse opportunities for identification so that they can see themselves represented. Hence, an increasingly popular range of children’s books aim to counteract this with diverse children’s books, although they are often designed like textbooks. They usually involve simple visualisation. My aim was to illustrate children’s books that portray children with different physical behaviours, characteristics and attributions. They should not reproduce stereotypes, present diverse role models and represent marginalised characters and diverse family constellations. I did not want to write an anti-racist textbook, but rather a picture book in which diversity occurs naturally, while the story being told is in the foreground.
This idea gave rise to two books that tell a story from the emotional world of children. I underlined this visually by showing facial expressions. The typeface emphasises and differentiates the characters. To make the books easily accessible, I have made the print file and instructions for printing available on a website.
