Perfection: a definition
The goal here is to induce students to explore the notion of perfection as an "absolute" which is, in reality, relative to the perspective of a given observing group or individual. Thus the documents to be integrated will include illustrations from various types of medium which articulate either a religious or a secular understanding of the notion.
Perfection as performance
The focus here is on the manifestations of perfection: in terms of physical achievements (e.g., in sports), or mental ones (e.g., in science), or intellectual ones (e.g., in philosophy), or practical ones (e.g., as inventions).
The integrated documentation seeks to elicit students' questions about the relative value of perfection as performance: how it entails the witnessing of an observing presence; how it can only be measured in the face of other, lesser types of achievements; what does it signify in the context of a meritory culture.
Perfection as excellence
The focus here is on the superlative and hyperbolic character of perfection, when it designates an unsurpassable, extra-ordinary, inimitable kind of achievement.
Some issues at work in the documentation presented: how does this view of perfection entail transgression of the norms and customs of ordinary humanity; what criteria can be used to distinguish between a benevolent and a maleficent form of "transgression"; and, how does society tend to treat such "transgressors."
Perfection as purity
This part of the course begins to address the notion of perfection as understood in a religious perspective. A first issue to be considered is the extent to which this view differs from the secular perspective on perfection.
The principal source of documentation will be the cult of the saints in the Christian tradition, for purposes of elaborating a definition of "sanctity," of considering the evolution of that concept throughout the centuries, and of assessing its function in reflecting the fears and hopes of society at a given moment of its history.
Perfection as altruism
The last part of the course will induce students to examine current views on "sanctity" on the basis of specific examples from the twentieth century, either dead or still living, who are admired as "saintly" individuals.
Students will be encouraged to seek information on those individuals and to present the result of their research in the form of integrated, multi-media, presentation.
GOAL: The purpose of this interdisciplinary exploration of "perfection" is to contribute to an understanding of the highly variable, rather than absolute, significance of the concept. Documents presented will highlight this variety from a cultural, historical, and genre- as well as gender-related perspective.
An example that can be cited as emblematic of the goal of this course is Francis of Assisi. At issue is: his exceptional "performance" as the first-known individual to have received Christ's stigmata; his significance as "transgressor" of the norms and customs in his society; a quest for purity that induced him to have mystical experiences; his role and ideals as the founder of the Franciscan order; the transformation of the Franciscan order after the saint's death, consistent with the conservative view of the world order according to the contemporary Roman church; and the transformation of Francis's image throughout the centuries. (Documents to be shown will include: images of Francis in paintings; Franciscan art; excerpts from popular movies inspired by Francis and Clare; holy "courtly love" in Francis's writing; contrast between Francis's altruistic approach to the poor, and Francis Xavier's missionary works in India and Japan; Francis's participation in, and reaction to the Holy Crusade; Francis's mysticism and the Muslim tradition).