1. Rehearsals

The first rehearsal started with a little introduction about what my piece is going to be about.
For the main topic of failure I wanted to start with the definition of the words "perfect" and "imperfect". Since for me they have a close connection cause they mutually depend on each other.

Perfection:

• perfection is, broadly, a state of completeness and flawlessness. The word "perfection" derives from the Latin "perfectio", and "perfect" — from "perfectus." These expressions in turn come from "perficio" — "to finish", "to bring to an end." "Perfectio(n)" thus literally means "a finishing", and "perfect(us)" — "finished". (Wikipedia)

• 1. which is complete — which contains all the requisite parts;
  2. which is so good that nothing of the kind could be better;
  3. which has attained its purpose

• in Aesthetics the ancient Greeks viewed perfection as a requisite for beauty and high art. The Pythagoreans held that perfection was to be found in the right proportions and in a harmonious arrangement of parts. The idea that beauty and art were characterized by perfection, was subsequently embraced by Plato, who believed that art ought to be "apt, suitable, without deviations" — in short, "perfect." (Wikipedia)

• perfection is also seen as the completion or accomplishment of something, which is not able to be further upgraded.

• it is the pursuit of the ideal conception

I also read some quotes to them to get a better idea of how far "perfect" goes:

• "Perfect the Will, the Mind, Feeling, their corporeal organs and their material tools; be useful to yourselves, to your own ones, and to others; and Happiness, insofar as it exists on this earth, will come of itself."
  Bolesław Prus, The Most General Life Ideals

• There is but one true good for a spiritual being, and this is found in its perfection. Men are slow to see this truth; and yet it is the key to God's providence, and to the mysteries of life. William Ellery Channing, reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 449.

• It is a union with a Higher Good by love, that alone is endless perfection. The only sufficient object for man must be something that adds to and perfects his nature, to which he must be united in love; somewhat higher than himself, yea, the highest of all, the Father of spirits. That alone completes a spirit and blesses it, — to love Him, the spring of spirits.
  Archbishop Leighton, reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 449.

• That is the true perfection of man to find out his imperfections.
  Augustine of Hippo, reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 449.
  
  
• Do not aim for perfection for if perfection is attained then what other goal is there.
  Anonymous (possibly Chinese philosopher)

• Have no fear of perfection, you'll never reach it.
  Salvador Dalí

• Practice makes perfect but no body is perfect, so why practice?
  movie Ang Tanging Ina Ninyong Lahat character Ina Montecillo.
  
• Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
  Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in Wind, Sand and Stars

• Know that even the greatest of men fail, but hard work and determination will earn one perfection.
  Filipino proverb

• Perfect only in her imperfection
  Jon Mclauglin

Together we discoverd following about "the perfect":

• it´ll always bring me dissapointment
• it paralyses me
• new experiences don´t have space
• no relaxation, constant exhaustion
• it is focused on the weakness not on the strength
• doesn´t allow development
• it can destroy all selfconfidence, dry out emotions an isolate you in longer terms
• failure is preassigned, cause of the reach of something unreachable
  
  

I also asked everybody to bring an object which defines or represents perfection for them and then to write down what exactly makes it perfect for them personally.



First Object: Babyshoe
From: Mareike




Her thoughts:





Second Object: pictures of Models
From: Mirjam





Her thoughts:




Third Object: wooden figure
From: Sarah

Her thoughts:

Then we started having a look at the "imperfect".

Herefore I read a little text to them:

The imperfect

learning your whole life to be perfect.Perfect define as the beautiful.The perfection to survive your own imperfection.

What is it about the boredom of the perfect.How can be failure be beautiful?

Is the connection through failure, cause of an identification with each other, more worthed than my own ego?

How can I define beauty for myself and be responible for it.

Letting go of the tension, trying hard.
Why do we chase the beauty?

Don´t we all in end want to see it?Just so that we know everything is fine.Doesn´t it all give us a feeling of something we´re all missing.Why not following the call for something we all want to have and be?

The moment I fail, there will always be people who despise me for that. Failure starts to work as an certification of immaturity, laziness and undiscipline.

Saying no to all the things the world is trying so hard to reach for.

Break it.The beauty of the broken.What is there to be ashamed of.There will always be those who appreciate and those who don´t.Why do we care so much about our credit?

Don´t we perform all the time?

I believe in the beauty of the purity of the human beeing, the pure unhidden me and you.

Failure is just an expression of honesty, pretending to be perfect always fails.be open for the unknown.beauty doesn´t mean perfect.

(lisa)

Together we discovered following about the "imperfect":

• the realisation of the nonexistence of the perfect
• Once we realize that imperfect understanding is the human condition there is no shame in being wrong, only in failing to correct our mistakes
• failure is the actuall victory

At the end of our first rehershals I came to the conclusion, that the topic of failure is close by the following topics:

• beauty
• perfection
• imperfection
• longing
• shame
• revelation
• risk