elder amazon

Joseph Campbell talks of the process of becoming an elder as a bit of a lost art in our current society. We age, but we don't necessarily seek wisdom or receive recognition for our life's work. Elders are segregated, through choice and through circumstance. That is really strange when you think of past generations when all ages took it for granted that they would and should live together. The older body is rarely seen in art or the media, and even more rarely, the older female body. I also wanted to explore what happens when a true athlete's body comes into her later life. What about all those Olympic gymnasts? What does a rock climber look like when she's retirement age? In art and in the media, the female bodies we see are generally young and idealized; after 30, it's time to cover up.

I also love the Amazon myth: the young women warriors would cut off one breast in order to ensure steady aim with the bow. It's a harsh and horrific idea if you take it literally, but it captures the level of dedication and sacrifice necessary to mature in one's chosen work.