Trotula’s plate features a birthing image, as well as serpentine imagery that resembles the caduceus, a symbol for medicine and doctors that is now used as the symbol for the American Medical Association. These serpentine forms also reference the Aztec fertility goddess who served as the patron of midwives. Chicago chose the snake motif “because of its historical association with feminine wisdom and powers of healing” (Chicago, A Symbol of Our Heritage, 74).

The latter, the Salvator Mundi, frequently depicted Christ with his left hand holding a globe surmounted by a cross, represented him as the Savior of the World. It also was frequently used by rulers as a sign of Christian authority and dominion. This combined visual image seems to indicate her knowledge as a form of Christological cure and salvation, unusual for a woman who was not a religious saint or political sovereign.

-Summer

-Summer

Callie

Callie

Julianna

Julianna

-Max

Lizzie

-Lily

- Lily

Monastic life appealed to many in the Middle Ages, particularly women. As these monasteries grew in number and wealth, demand subsequently rose for devotional objects and books. Books were also needed for everyday use in the liturgy: for mealtimes, prayer, and other meetings (Sorabella, 2013). Thus, a large part of monastic life was reading but also book production and copying texts. This process of medieval copying was no easy task, it required great skill and training, and finishing a single copy could take several weeks. Monastic scribes worked long days in small, quiet, and isolated rooms within the monastery (Corwin, 2016). Thus, the effort required for medieval copying reflects the highly specialized process that is comic book creation. When making a comic book, dozens of people perform precise roles: penciller, inker, colorist, letterer, editor, and printer. Multiple artists work together to produce the comic according to the writer’s script (Larson, 2014).

Finally, it is important to note that this particular manuscript, to which the Initial V belongs, functioned differently from something like the books of hours. The books of hours were handheld books intended for individual devotion; however, this Bible and others like it were created on a much larger scale to accommodate shared, communal worship (Boehm, 2009). A comic book, while perhaps more similar in size to a book of hours, functions more like the Bible as a book for public consumption. In comparison, after a comic is printed, it goes through a marketing process involving press releases, advertisements, and social media. Then, the comic goes through a distribution network to ensure it reaches retailers and, soon, the buying public (Larson, 2014).

Claire

-Shannon Gear

-Shannon Gear

-Emma

Elden Ring, while allowing any player to assume the role of the knight, also holds a mirror to this historic gender dichotomy through its narrative and characters. In the game, male figures often embody the archetype of the knight or a deity’s champion, representing and protecting their beliefs with sword and armor. In contrast, the prominent female characters are depicted as consorts or maidens, roles steeped in service and guidance. They exist in relation to the Tarnished—chosen warriors—bestowing wisdom and transforming rune fragments into strength, fulfilling a promise of unity and support preordained by grace. However, beyond this supportive role, much about them remains shrouded in mystery, echoing a historical lack of narrative for women beyond their relationships to men.

While the Gothic Armor is a relic of its time, representing the male-dominated martial culture of the 15th century, the Tree Sentinel Armor from Elden Ring perpetuates certain gendered archetypes under the guise of fantasy. Men are the visual symbols of strength and divinity, while women, though revered for their guidance and wisdom, are cast in roles of ancillary support, much like the unseen forces that bound and guided knights of old.

By examining these artifacts side by side, they display the persistence of traditional gender roles within Elden Ring, a reflection of the same values encapsulated by the Gothic Armor of Germany and Italy. Yet, the game also diverges from reality by offering an egalitarian approach to who can don the armor, challenging historical constraints. It’s a narrative choice that both acknowledges the gendered traditions of the past and opens a dialogue for modern interpretations, encouraging players to question and perhaps redefine the roles that have been long established by history and culture. -Jack

In the sculpture, Mary holding Jesus depicts idealized motherly love that all mothers are supposed to have as a result of procreating. Mothers are supposed to protect their children from harm and nurture them to grow up to be strong and successful. Women have started wearing gold jewelry adorned with images of the Virgin Mary and Jesus as an expression of their devotion to their children as well as to their faith. Women, but mothers specifically, are often thought to be beautiful and elegant, the Virgin Mary is the epitome of this. By curating golden jewelry that has both the Virgin Mary and Jesus on it, men and women are using it as an expression of grace as well as aestheticism.

Saint John, and the Virgin Mary, from left to right. The dynamic between the man and the woman made this piece catch my eye. The women are seen to be distraught, overcome with sadness, and overwhelmed by their emotions, so much so that the Virgin faints, and Mary must cover her face. Meanwhile, Saint John is looking upward, seeming sad but more contemplative, perhaps stoic. Saint John also supports the Virgin as she faints in his arms. The Virgin fainting and the other woman covering her face suggest a sense of inactivity, merely being empathetic

witnesses of Christ, while the man seems more active. This piece speaks on gender roles and dynamics at the time, which juxtaposes nicely with the second piece, by famous artist Louise Bourgeois.