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Explore how societies have yearned for the perfect citizen, the perfect energy source, even the perfect toilet.

Explore paradigm_shift: perfection by ANU College of Asia and the Pacific and dive into diverse projects of perfection that shape lives in Asia and the Pacific.

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Explore the chapters
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Perfection: an introduction

Dr Shameem Black, Associate Professor Matt Tomlinson & Dr Jack Fenner
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The perfect pose

Dr Shameem Black

Part of yoga's growing popularity among both women and men may be linked to the way the practice helps document and quantify progress towards ideal bodies.
Outside wall of a concrete toilet building with Latrine written on the side

The perfect toilet

Professor Assa Doron

Privilege, power and poo seem to have always been connected. Our modern hygenic repertoire had to be carefully crafted.
Mask on a brick wall

The perfect learning journey

Bianca Hennessy, Aidan Myatt, Oliver Lilford & Associate Professor Katerina Teaiwa

Wayfinding is the practice of voyaging reliant on understanding the world around you and your place within it.
Grey atomic orb on black background

The perfect genie

Dr Adam Broinowski
Crowds outside an apple store

The perfect technology

Grazia Scotellaro
Former Captain of the Australian Cricket Team, Steve Smith. Mitch Gunn/Shutterstock.

The perfect pitch

Dr Jane M Ferguson
Crowd in Nanjing Road, main shopping street of Shanghai, China

The perfect world of the Chinese state

Dr Fengyuan Ji
Traditional Philippines fishing boats

The perfect scholar

Dr Deborah Cleland
Plane in front of blue sky

The perfect hijack

Dr Jane M Ferguson
Car back windscreen with family stickers

The perfect family

Gita Nasution
Malara (Anuru Bay A) and other archeological sites in Wellington Range, Arnhem Land (map produced by CartoGIS ANU).

The barely adequate site

Dr Jack Fenner
Tongariki Island, at the centre. Chris Ballard (2017)

The perfect island

Associate Professor Chris Ballard & Dr Nicola Van Dijk
reddees/Shutterstock.

The perfect human being

Dr Ananth Rao
Chat Singh Ghat, oil on board 24x36, 1982

The perfect painting

Associate Professor Peter Friedlander
Muslim man praying in a mosque

The perfect place

Simon Theobald
The Fox Sisters: Margaretta (Maggie), Catharine (Kate) and Leah

The perfect spirit

Associate Professor Matt Tomlinson
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