The Art of Love
The Art of Love
(22) The Art of Love - Peter Pozefsky, Department of History
What is love? Is the definition different for men and women, for members of different cultures, for diverse individuals within a culture? Does it change over time or is there a universally applicable definition? Is love a product of free will shaped primarily by culture or is it in some way beyond our control, determined by biological impulses and physiological processes? There are many different types of love, including the love people feel for friends and relatives and for places and things. This seminar will focus on romantic love, which it will explore through the depictions of love in works of literature, philosophy, and film. In addition to examining various definitions of love, the seminar will also attempt to identify the key questions that arise in relation to romantic love. While these questions vary significantly from person to person and author to author, there are some that seem to recur frequently: Why do people seek lovers? What do they expect from them? Does true love exist? If so, what kinds of obstacles typically stand in its way?