Journal Entry for week of January 17-21

This week in class we were discussing female icons our time, and particularly how the concepts of femininity have evolved over time to reflect different cultural norms of any given time period. When asked to send in examples of women we thought would fit the bill of a modern female "icon," I sent in a figure I quite admire: author J.K.Rowling.

In choosing her as my example, I began reflecting on just how much our choices are a reflection of the time we live in and our own backgrounds. Like the castles of Minoa reflected people who valued security, grandeur and light, my choosing J.K. Rowling reflects my time; I live in a century where the concept of the feminine-thankfully-has slowly evolved from being a purely physical idea to something more intellectual in nature. Women no longer necessarily admire those slim figured caricatures of women in magazines as their ideal; The new-age woman wants someone who emodies female intelligence, success, and an independence removed from strictly the merit of physical beauty. J.K. Rowling certainly fits all of these bills. She is a self-made literary enigma, an inspiration to young strugging mothers that their lives can change. J.K. Rowling is the intellectual world's Venus, the literary rendition of that female figure women aspire to be, and a woman who reflects our odern cultural idea of what feminity is: the feminine is no longer detached from the intellectual tradition, and if there were a modern day Michelangelo setting out to represent our ideal of modern feminity, J.K. Rowling would certainly be a credible muse.