The History of Love

Introduction

The “History of Love” project is an occasion to visually convey your insight and understanding. Think about some abstract concepts and ideas. Things we cannot see, but we know well and often use as metaphors. One of the abstract concepts is love. Thus, we can think about love that occurs at many levels – personal, self-oriented, or group-oriented toward a common benefit. Love is a power that let people survive, understand, and preserve the natural world, and protect values. Think of love as force and building material, the enigmatic force that pushed the members of the United Nations international committee to adopt “The Millennium Development Goals” and put forward a target: “Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation” (MDG, 2008). Think how love made people stronger, nurtured them, cured, healed, and resolved conflicts over centuries and across the globe. There have been so many obstacles threatening mankind, from natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcano actions, through fires, floods, to disease outbreaks, wars and crime with violence. Bacteria and viruses mutate, adjusting themselves to newly designed treatments and prevention shots, thus forcing people to constantly modifying them. Show a metaphorical portrayal of the power of love seen as a force that gives the whole humanity strength and motivation to perform both heroic and everyday deeds: develop knowledge, produce medicine drugs and vaccines, initiate social changes, and enhance communication networks to share and exchange information.

Figure 1, “History of love as a building power against dark forces” presents a polyptych that reflects a story of actions in a good cause. Chapters of this work:

Figure 1.

Anna Ursyn, “History of Love as a Building Power against Dark Forces” (© 2006, A. Ursyn. Used with permission)

• 1.

  Death of a Crow

• 2.

  Double Duties

• 3.

  A Life of a Rabbit

• 4.

  Job Hunting

• 5.

  The Next Year

A series of figures show the works of students from the computer art classes. One can see different types of reactions inspired by this theme: some choose to present real scenes, other preferred imaginary, symbolic, unrealistic presentations. There are also iconic images and symbols used to convey a synthesized meaning. Yet another works are emotionally loaded, sometimes under the cover of mockery; we laugh even as we empathize with the author’s discomfort.

Figure 2a and b show two student works. Sam Dailey (Figure 2a) presents in metaphorical way human concern about water environment. Jael Esquibel (Figure 2b) shows the artist’s personal approach to values shared by the whole community.

Figure 2.

a. Sam Dailey, “Love” (© 2011, S. Dailey. Used with permission); b. Jael Esquibel, “History of Love” (© 2011, J. Esquibel. Used with permission)

Many Ways Of Picturing The Idea Of Love As Force And Power

Some stories introduce black or white characters. In the Star Wars movies, characters possess a great deal of love toward their goals. “May the Force be with you” is an important imperative, working on a psychological level and beyond. But Darth Vader sends out sounds that may stop any action. Figures 3a and 3b present students interpretations of this theme.

Figure 3.

a. Zach Britton, “History of Love” (© 2012, Z. Britton. Used with permission); b. Michael Fenton, “History of Love” (© 2010, M. Fenton. Used with permission)