Just like Taylor Swift, can you "draw a cat eye sharp enough to kill a man"? Than we've got the perfect program for you!
If you are a fan of make-up or microhistories, learn about the rich cultural history beneath eyeliner, from author Zahra Hankir. Join the library for this engaging presentation about her book Eyeliner: A Cultural History, followed by a Q&A at the end.
Questions? Contact Kerry: keodonnell@somervillema.gov
RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded.
About the Book:
From the distant past to the present, with fingers and felt-tipped pens, metallic powders and gel pots, humans have been drawn to lining their eyes. The aesthetic trademark of figures ranging from Nefertiti to Amy Winehouse, eyeliner is one of our most enduring cosmetic tools; ancient royals and Gen Z beauty influencers alike would attest to its uniquely transformative power. It is undeniably fun—yet it is also far from frivolous.
Seen through Zahra Hankir’s (kohl-lined) eyes, this ubiquitous but seldom-examined product becomes a portal to history, proof both of the stunning variety among cultures across time and space and of our shared humanity. Through intimate reporting and conversations—with nomads in Chad, geishas in Japan, dancers in India, drag queens in New York, and more—Eyeliner embraces the rich history and significance of its namesake, especially among communities of color. What emerges is an unexpectedly moving portrait of a tool that, in various corners of the globe, can signal religious devotion, attract potential partners, ward off evil forces, shield eyes from the sun, transform faces into fantasies, and communicate volumes without saying a word."
About The Author:
Zahra Hankir, a Lebanese British journalist and the editor of Our Women on the Ground, writes about the intersection of politics, culture, and society, particularly in the broader Middle East. Her work has appeared in publications including Condé Nast Traveler, The Observer Magazine, The Times Literary Supplement, BBC News, Al Jazeera English, Bloomberg Businessweek, the Los Angeles Times, and The Rumpus. She was awarded a Jack R. Howard Fellowship in International Journalism to attend the Columbia Journalism School and holds degrees in politics and Middle Eastern studies.
This program is presented in partnership with the Cary Memorial Library and other MA libraries.
Registration will remain open until the program start time. When you register for this event, you'll receive an email confirmation with the Zoom link sent from the Cary Memorial Library. Please make sure to check your spam folder if you don't see it initially.
