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Writing the Body

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In our daily lives, we’re flooded with images and ideas of how our bodies should or shouldn’t be. Many of us struggle with self-acceptance, and when our bodies deviate from what’s considered ‘normal’, we often also struggle with the attitudes of others.

Carly Findlay and Lee Kofman are both authors of new memoirs that examine how our bodies shape who we become, and what it’s like to look different.

Findlay lives with a rare skin condition, ichthyosis; in Say Hello, she provides an honest, thought-provoking account of her daily life, and a manifesto on disability and appearance diversity. Kofman underwent several major operations as a child – for a defective heart, and after a bus accident – which left her with a collection of scars. Imperfect describes how her markings have influenced her life and pushed her to question prevailing beauty myths.

Together, they’ll reflect on their writing about their own bodies, the space between body and self, and the challenges of representation and self-acceptance in a world that’s often skin deep.

This event will be Auslan interpreted.

Readings will be our bookseller for this event.

Featuring

Carly Findlay

Carly Findlay OAM is an award-winning writer, speaker and appearance activist. Her first book, a memoir called Say Hello, was released in January 2019. Carly edited the anthology Growing Up Disabled in Australia with Black Inc Books. It’s in stores now. She writes on disability and appearance... Read more

Lee Kofman

Dr Lee Kofman is a Russian-born, Israeli-Australian novelist, short story writer, essayist, memoirist and former academic based in Melbourne. She is the author of three fiction books (published in Israel in Hebrew) and the memoir The Dangerous Bride (Melbourne University Press 2014). Lee is also t... Read more

Kelli Jean Drinkwater

Kelli Jean Drinkwater is a filmmaker, artist and activist recognised internationally for her creative practice and voice in radical body politics. Kelli Jean uses the body as a site to explore themes of identity, queer and feminist theory and society’s obsession with ‘perfection’. Ofte... Read more

Location

The Wheeler Centre

176 Little Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria 3000

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