Forgotten Goddesses: A Look at the Role of Women in the Ice Age
Ulli Lust's new non-fiction comic, "Woman as a Human", explores art from early history and the role of women in the Ice Age.
Forgotten Goddesses: A Look at the Role of Women in the Ice Age
With her new work "Woman as a Human. Volume 1: At the Beginning of History", the renowned Austrian comic artist Ulli Lust presents a remarkable non-fiction comic that deals with early history. Lust, known for her acclaimed comics such as “Today is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life,” has studied the art and social structures of people thousands of years ago. This latest work is the result of years of research in which Lust addresses the changing view of early societies and the role of women during this time, such as Small newspaper reported.
With almost 250 pages full of impressive drawings and in-depth information, Lust paints a picture of a society in which being a woman played an important role. Her findings contradict common clichés about women in the Stone Age: “They are always women who stand alone, appear relatively confident, self-confident and at peace with themselves,” she explains. This paradigm shift is reflected not only in Lust's narrative, but also in the scholarly discussion about the largely unknown social dynamics of early humans, which were often viewed only through the lens of male dominance Berliner.de.
The comic aims to portray an egalitarian social model of the early days and to provide insights into the nuances of human relationships. Lust emphasizes that survival was not characterized by aggression but by empathy and care: “We are hypersocial creatures.” This approach contrasts with today's societal challenges and encourages us to highlight the power of caring. Her work is not only about the past, but also speaks to current issues and the urgent need to re-evaluate the idea of sharing and a shared lifestyle.