Performance “Deeper” directed by Małgorzata Wdowik at Festival Theaterformen

Performance “Deeper” directed by Małgorzata Wdowik is part of the series Selected Polish performances at European theater festivals.

For a long time, even before the internet and probably for as long as patriarchy has existed, the deliberate objectification, exploitation, violation and shaming of women's bodies has served to intimidate women and girls and to oppress and control them, their sexuality, sexual rights and sexual development. For generations, women and girls have experienced sexual violence and abuse of power, which has impacted their relationships with their bodies, sexuality and social life. These continuities - with the recent development and rapid spread of readily available artificial intelligence technologies affect women of all ages, which can be the basis for intergenerational solidarity. How do teenage girls' feelings of fragility and sexual alienation differ from those of previous generations? What is needed to process and possibly overcome these effects?

In her next theater project, scheduled for 2025, Gosia Wdowik intends to explore the issue of gender-based digital violence and non-consensual deep fakes in a conversation with teenagers. While teenagers are perhaps the most vulnerable group exposed to deepfake technology, they are also often the first to find the language and know-how needed to resist and debunk harmful new technological trends. Many teenage activists are currently campaigning for regulations against this form of abuse so that they can protect themselves from this form of digital violence that permeates their social lives, education and careers.