FROM SCRATCH

Live performance in Hilbertraum for 48H Neukölln and B-LA-M

"“From Scratch” it’s a bold statement to society. Over the past few months, our digital landscape has been flooded with thousands of short, seemingly meaningless videos generated by algorithms. Amid this digital noise, a peculiar trend has emerged. Young female influencers are creating videos where they prepare recipes from scratch for their partners, often presented from a disturbingly archaic perspective. This trend is unsettling as it harkens back to times when women were expected to be submissive and obedient, roles that are re-emerging in the backdrop of current political tensions.

Elena Sohmen’s “From Scratch” is a satire that addresses this modern-day phenomenon. It challenges the regressive narratives being subtly perpetuated through these seemingly innocuous videos. By highlighting and exaggerating these trends, the performance aims to provoke thought and spark dialogue about the role of women in contemporary society and the ways in which media and algorithms influence our perceptions and behaviors.

This performance is not just an artistic endeavor but a form of agitation against the algorithm-driven content that shapes our digital experiences. “From Scratch” seeks to disrupt the passive consumption of such content and encourages the audience to critically engage with the underlying messages. " Raquel Victoria

Team:

1. Elena Sohmen: performer, creative director, stylist, sound design, director and original idea

2. Raquel Victoria: performer, creative consultant and text

3. Amel Baccouche: performer, script assistant, creative consultant

4. Keny Chan: performer, creative consultant

5. Xavia Parson: hair and make-up

6. Niels Gercama: video and photo

7. Sara Omar: video and photo