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Some merry mischief was afoot during the first three weeks of this semester鈥檚 Honors Program class Love, taught by Dr. Linda Dove of the Writing Department, which explores one of the most powerful forces in human life. Guest faculty rotate into the class nearly weekly to offer their own perspectives from the fields of philosophy, psychology, architecture and design, film, fashion, art history, and urban studies. Starting with a close read of Plato鈥檚 Symposium鈥攁 text based on a famous Athenian party in 416 B.C. where a debate about the true definition of love takes place鈥攖he class then met with philosopher Dr. Rossen Ventzislavov, who discussed Socrates鈥檚 definition in the text, challenging students to think about love as more than a feeling, since feelings are merely 鈥渟ymptomatic鈥� of love.

The third week studying the text involved creating a class Symposium, complete with costumes, definitions of love shared on the board, an ivy crown for the 鈥渨inner,鈥� and a buffet of figs, dates, goat cheese, lavash breads, honey pavlova, and sparkling ciders to simulate the Greek fare of the original feast. Definitions varied from 鈥渓ove is selflessness鈥� (Taylor Ramcharitar) to 鈥渓ove is introspection鈥� (Jeremy Barretta) to 鈥渓ove is mutual effort鈥� (Jacob Abraham) to 鈥渓ove is a consensual fiction鈥� (Professor Ventzislavov). Some of the students dressed up to match their definitions鈥擠ara Levardo came dressed in a top of mirrored fabric with mirrored discs swinging from her ears to match her definition that 鈥渓ove is a mirror,鈥� and Jahruneel Rai dressed up in a swirl of gold silk and a multi-tiered necklace of pearls and gold to represent her idea that 鈥渓ove is long-lasting,鈥� since, in her culture, gold is passed down as a sign of intergenerational love and caretaking. Professor Dove dressed as Agathon, the original host of Plato鈥檚 Symposium, who wore聽gilded laurel leaves (the sign of a poet) around his head.

Enjoy these pictures of the festivities!

Last Updated February 13, 2024