Hélène Cixous
Hélène Cixous is a French writer, philosopher and feminist. The comic illustrates her career and refers to her work “The Laughing of Medusa”, in which she shows the concept of “female writing”. It’s created as an addition to a friend’s bachelor thesis.
Hélène Cixous was born in Oran, Algeria in 1937.
Her mom and grandma, both born in Germany, didn’t speak German with her. They had trouble identifiying as Germans, because of World War II.
In school Hélène was insulted for being Jewish.
When Hélène Cixous was 13 years old, she was send to England on a boat.
In her young age she read „Le Deuxième Sex“ by Simone de Beauvoir and couldn’t understand, why Simone calls women the second sex. Why not the first?
In 1955 Hélène moves to Paris and takes part in the french student riots in 1968. She demands „Education for everybody, including women.“
Together with Michel Foucault und Gilles Deleuze she founds the Centre Universitaire Expérimental de Vincennes (today: Universität Paris VIII).
There she founds the University’s center for women’s studies and teaches as a professor.
She criticises women are writing – but only in secret. The written word needs to become public, so women can become part of the history.
Hélène recommends to write with the whole body.
She criticises women are writing – but only in secret. The written word needs to become public, so women can become part of the history.
The text „Le rire de la Medusa“ was published in 1975 and has sparked controversy.
But Hélène Cixous is not ashamed of her word or being herself. Her hope is that more women starts zu write and publish to bring a more female perspective into history.
