In this day in age, society is all about the passion...or is "lust" the word I'm looking for? Sex is thrown in our faces in every television show, movie, and book; one can't even open a magazine without seeing half naked models posing scrumptiously on a sandy beach, complete with a horse mid-stride behind them. To go from "we have to take our clothes off to have a good time" (Clothes Off!!, Gym Class Heroes), to "no, we shouldn't even be in the same room together" is quite the leap. Although I would agree having thirty-one rules for "Courtly Love" is a bit excessive (especially the bit about public love never endures). I mean, c'mon.
My first reaction upon finishing Andreas Capellanus' The Art of Courtly Love, was one of confusion and surprise. His position on blind men confuses me more than anything. Why did he feel the need to mention this at all? I can see where he, being a member of the church, would feel the need to state homosexuality is a no-no(of which I, along with a large portion of the world today, would not agree with), but stating a blind man can't love because he can't see? That's superficial and also incredibly false(could be the point?). Why include it though...a question perhaps my fellow classmates have some insight to. I can see how this would fit into the theory of this reading being pure satire, but maybe there's more to it than that?
The rest of the reading was somewhat enjoyable, from a comedic standpoint. I enjoy the fact women hold complete power in these types of relationships and I'm sure the women of the time got a smidgen of happiness too. In a period where women had no say in their lives, this was probably a main factor as to why these stories were read; knights proving their love to their ladies, grand quests, romance, the authors really understood their audience.
In today's world, we view "love" in a vastly different way. I believe people(especially the young padawans) don't see the beauty in love. I would argue the media is largely responsible for this. As I stated earlier: everything is sexualized. The exact opposite of Courtly Love. These stories, according to the second study guide, were taboo. It wasn't probable in actual society; love didn't exist. Where our media gives the notion that relationships revolve around sex, Courtly Love was used to mold proper gentlemen and inspire love.
Although society was vastly different in medieval times(duh), romance is still incredibly popular now. The idea of knights and quest for love are appealing to women(and men, don't deny it). We aren't so different in that aspect after all.
Cites
Capellanus, Andreas. The Art of Courtly Love. New York: Columbia Univ Press, 1960.
Schwartz, Debora B., Dr., and Elnora Supp. "Backgrounds to Romance: Courtly Love."
Backgrounds to Romance: Courtly Love. English Dept., Caifornia Polytechnic State
University, 1998. Web. 22 Jan. 2015.
Stump, Patrick. Clothes Off!! Gym Class Heroes. Rec. 27 July 2007. S*A*M & Sluggo, 2007.
CD.
Thompson, Diane. "Courtly Love." Courtly Love. North Virginia Community College, Extended
Learning Institute, 15 July 1998. Web. 24 Jan. 2015.
