Love is an accessible concept - it needs no introduction. However, that doesn’t mean that all people experience or understand it in the same way. Our individual stories and emotions colour our conceptions, for better or worse.
But what does love mean to you?
I've been working alongside Director Paul Plett and Audio Technician Dave McDowell of Ode Productions asking this very question. Our inquiry has taken the form of a film entitled "A Documentary About Love," which asks four main questions:
1) Can you define love in one sentence?
2) What experiences have led you to this definition?
3) Has your own definition ever changed?
4) In your opinion has the concept of "love" ever changed throughout history?
Pretty intense questions to ask a total stranger, eh? Well, we decided that they were important enough to merit investigation. So, we set out in my '96 Ford Taurus to cross this big ol' country of ours, examining the meaning of love within our Canadian context. Our goal through this film was to reclaim "love" from its increasingly narrow and often meaningless cultural boundaries.
We began on the first of November where we left Toronto, traveled though Prince Edward County, and ended up in Halifax. We went south to Peggy's Cove and then began our journey west through Quebec City, Sudbury, Winnipeg, Banff, Abbotsford, and wrapped things up in Vancouver. It has been an amazing experience in so many ways: the new ideas and concepts we've heard, the wonderful people who have demonstrated their love through their generosity, and the gorgeous Canadian backdrop we've traversed.
We are currently filming in Toronto but the project should be done around late March. In the meantime I would encourage you all to take some time to ponder your own understanding of what love is, whether a definition or some example of how you've felt it in your own lives. If you feel so inclined you could write some of your thoughts up and pass them on to us. They might even make their way into the final project. You can contact me at john@ode-productions.com.
Thanks for your interest, I wish you all the best.
Sincerely,
-Johnny
John Wideman lives in Stouffville, Ontario and works at Willowgrove as the Peace Program Director where his job is to introduce children to themes of peacemaking, sustainability and other important ideas from their mission statement.
I'm sure everyone agrees that Love is many things.
ReplyDeleteLove is standing by a loved one through thick and thin, good times and bad, success and failure, even when that love is difficult or impossible to return.
Love is opening yourself, being honest and truthful, and at least sometimes, putting your loved one's needs above your own.
Love is sometimes being brutally honest when your loved one needs to hear what others perhaps are afraid to tell them, being willing to risk their being upset or angry.
Love is feeling passionate about someone or something. Love is sharing in your loved one's passions even when they are not really your own.
Love is taking time to do something for someone or better yet, with someone, that you know they will appreciate, will enjoy.
Love is these things, and many more!