by Anna Maja Spiess
TheArtGorgeous partnered up to co-create an event for TikTok in their #CreatorsForDiversity series. Initially, we started out around the idea of Body Positivity as a working title but soon discovered that amongst other critique points the idea that body positivity is mostly centered around appearance does not sit right with us. So we moved on and landed at “The Art and Culture of Self Love”. We invited a wonderful group of speakers to join us for a breakfast high above the city of Berlin on the occasion of Art Week to discuss and exchange ideas:
Self Love is tied to the Other we found out. If we had no idea what other people did or thought (of us and themselves), other bodies looked like we would not have to reaffirm that we are loveable, deserve care and attention.
Daniel Zillmann, actor, writer & musician framed it as a balance between the love of others, an audience, our friends, and the general public and the returning to oneself, for a few days, shutting out the outside world and indulging in whatever makes one feel good, may it be food, television, a good book or an extended stroll around the social media platforms.
In the conversation with our stellar speakers, we learned about the addictive aspects of Social Media, Dopamine release in response to dark patterns such as Meatball notifications by Dr.Ramona Grainer.
The francophile scholar Prof. Dr., Ph.D. Barbara Vinken pointed out that a lot of the critique we now hear around social media has been around in a similar form when novels came up, alas the physical response to a good book, while undeniably possible, is certainly less addictive than the one to social media.
Veo, who works as an educator and gathered a 700k+ following on TikTok, dealing with topics like autism, body shaming, and gender identity pointed out how her work creates visibility and a sense of community for as she lovingly calls them her trans-boys, trans-girls, and non-binaries out there who need someone to talk to and to cheer them on. Social media can also be a place of belonging and finding an inspirational model of what life can look like.
Linus Giese, a feminist bookseller & journalist who published 2020 his book ” Ich bin Linus – Wie ich der Mann wurde der ich schon immer war” about his journey into his male body also chimed in on the topic of finding representation in social media and learning to love and accept oneself by finding examples of a path one might choose.
We all agreed that there is a lot to learn when it comes to self-love, self-appreciation, self-worth. In recent years marketing has discovered the term and things as banal as a shower gel can come with the high goal of upping one’s self-worth. In the end, the bottom line attempting to stay true to oneself and ideally not getting distracted by what society tells us we ought to do ( self-optimization mixed with unrealistic expectations) seems to be the key for most. Be kind. Be honest. Be yourself and ask for help, we all need it!
