Aristophanes says human beings were initially round (their sides and backs formed a circle), had four arms and legs, and one head with two faces which looked in opposite directions. As such, humans were very powerful. So Zeus decided to “cut them in two [so] they will be diminished in strength.
Plato: The Symposium, Aristophanes gives the origin of soulmates story
We are searching for our other halves.
In Ancient Chinese philosophy, yin and yang, two halves that together complete wholeness, a concept of dualism. Seemingly opposite forces may be complementary and give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another – dark and light, sun and moon, male and female. Generally speaking, yin is characterised as an inward energy that is feminine, earth, darkness, passivity, and absorption. On the other hand, yang is characterised as outward energy, heaven, maleness, light, activity, and penetration.
Even if we were to assume the essence of romantic love is universal and refers to the same thing today as it did many years ago, evidence suggests romantic love was often much less important in the past. Romantic love became important during the new economic realities of the 19th century together with the ideas that emerged from the Enlightenment about individual rights and the pursuit of happiness resulted in a new Age of Romanticism.
Spoken word
William Shakespeare: Sonnet 116 Festival of Love (read by Juliet Stevenson)
Music
Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman & Jamie Allen: Elephant Love Medley
Florence + the Machine: Cosmic Love
Deee-Lite: Bring Me Your Love
Daft Punk: Digital Love
Gorillaz: On Melancholy Hill
Röyksopp: Something In My Heart
Carrie Cleveland: Love Will Set You Free
Koop: Strange Love
Grady Tate: And I Love Her
Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg: Je T’aime Moi Non Plus
Four Tet: Gillie Amma, I Love You
Community radio midnight show Through the Bohemian Looking Glass is aired every night at midnight (GMT). A new episode is aired every Friday midnight on Wirral Wave radio or AirTime. Later on SoundCloud for some time.
Suggestions, opinions and comments welcomed at veronika(at)wirralwave(dot)co(dot)uk.
Through the Bohemian Looking Glass 