Dialogue forum with Dr. Stefanie Eisenhuth (Fellow of the Alfried Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg Greifswald / Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History Potsdam)

What role did beauty play in everyday life in the GDR? What shaped the ideas of attractiveness, how did people find out about fashion and what options were there to make yourself look chic? These and other questions are the focus of the event "Good morning, beautiful". We would like to talk to you about ideals and practices of beauty under socialism - about fashion and cosmetics, patterns and hairstyles.

Historian Dr. Stefanie Eisenhuth will provide insights into her research on beauty in everyday life in the GDR. She is a research associate at the Leibniz Center for Contemporary History Potsdam, a post-doctoral candidate at the University of Greifswald and currently a Junior Fellow at the Alfried Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg. For her research, she looked through journals, guidebooks and files. However, personal memories are particularly important to her: "The sources in archives primarily reflect the view of the state. I want to make the perspectives of the people themselves visible - and learn how they remember their everyday lives."
Despite the widespread image of a gray, uniform society, beauty also played a central role in the GDR. Those who wanted to be particularly fashionable benefited from a good income, contacts in the West or their own initiative. Attractiveness was also a question of creativity, pragmatism - and a sense of style.
After a short talk, we cordially invite you to join us for a discussion: Share your memories, tell us about fashion experiences or bring along memorabilia - photos, clothes or cosmetics. We look forward to your stories and a lively evening.