Abstract
ABSTRACTThe essay reflects upon the function of images within the love encounter, drawing on the personal experience of the author and his partner, visual artist Stense Andrea Lind-Valdan. Mixing personal experiences, diaristic notes and academic reflections, the essay moves beyond conventional scholarly style and experiments with more personal and anecdotal modalities, thus creating a text that re-enacts the fascination and imaginary entrapments involved in the love encounter while simultaneously reflecting upon these aspects of love.
Highlights
I received a dare from Andrea in 2013
“The loved one is desired because another or others have shown the subject that such a being is desirable: particular, amorous desire is discovered by induction,” Barthes claims
He even explicates this with a reference to mass culture, which seems of pertinence in a contemporary context where algorithms increasingly influence or even determine our choices: “Mass culture is a machine for showing desire: here is what must interest you, it says, as if it guessed that men are incapable of finding what to desire by themselves.”2 In this sense—if Barthes is correct—amorous love is pre-shaped as a cultural ideal before it is experienced as a personal affect
Summary
I received a dare from Andrea in 2013. In an email she encouraged me to be courageous.
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