Simona Koutná

The main character is the stereotypical symbol of femininity (a rose) through which I am mapping the process of self-discovery, across visual culture, and personal identity. In the story, the Dalmatian Rose grows spontaneously and thus becomes a ubiquitous body and image. While she copes with her growth, she shares the experience of losing power over her body and the feeling of alienation. This story serves as a fictional reflection on the pop culture image of women. Since we cannot erase this image, we must learn how to consciously deal with it. The aim of this thesis is to challenge femininity as an idealized motif and to create space for a more nuanced female narrative.