Remote   

This will be the third of three courses on Tolkien’s novel The Lord of the Rings and will focus on The Return of the King. This is a masterwork, and Richard is prepared to build the case from a literary perspective and also to share how Tolkien drew from other great myths of the world: Celtic, Norse, Anglo-Saxon, Finnish, Greek, and Indian. His goal was to create a myth for his “northern” people, and he did so borrowing from many other traditions. This is not unlike what “Homer” and other great writers of the past did with their great myths. This will be a page-by-page examination, like you might experience in graduate school. (It is essential that students have the same edition as the instructor. See below) New remote course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

REQUIRED BOOK: The Return of the King, J.R.R. Tolkien, ISBN 9780547928197 (pbk.), Mariner Books

Aren’t dysfunctional families fun! From a distance perhaps. But some cultures accept, let’s say, the eccentric uncle, while others put him on a bus to the shrink’s office for further review. Let’s look at films from Asia, Europe, and America — as well as some “behind the scenes” movie making and cultural peculiarities — while we’re entertained by movies with a high IMDb rating. I’ll send you questions that serve to highlight significant plot points each week for the films.   We'll choose from: "Ordinary People," "Kramer  vs. Kramer," "Squid & the Whale," "Moonstruck," "Fancy Dance," "So Long My Son," "Everything Everywhere All at Once," "Shoplifters," "Marriage Story," "The Judge" & "What's Eating Gilbert Grape"  -- or any you suggest & we vote on. We can never learn too much about our international neighbors. Maybe, it will make us humbler. New remote course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

We will study and evaluate the democratic electoral institutions, identify weaknesses, and propose possible remedies including Electoral College, gerrymandering, voter fraud and suppression, effects of social media and AI, effects of parties and primaries, and effects of unlimited campaign expenditure. Emphasis placed on current events of this election season. An extensive resource guide will be provided. Repeat in-person course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

Use your natural speaking voice for commercials, films, and more. Learn a unique way to break into the lucrative voice-over industry on your own terms. Concludes with a professional voice evaluation with your instructor.

Repeat remote workshop. Format includes lecture and discussion.

Reading a story in translation is an invitation to step into a different consciousness, shaped by distinct landscapes, histories, and cultural rhythms. This course will explore the art of the translated narrative, examining how world- class authors use fiction to tackle universal themes — time, mortality, justice, and the delicate threads of human connection. From the fjords of Norway to the Trans Siberian railway, we will navigate works that help define the global literary landscape, including masterpieces by two recent Nobel Prize laureates. Together we will explore what is gained in translation, and how these “foreign” voices help us better understand our own world. Guided by experienced facilitators, we will read and discuss two novels and four novellas in eight weeks. The class is highly participatory so come prepared to immerse yourself. Please read The Ferryman and His Wife for the first class. New remote course. Format includes discussion.

REQUIRED BOOKS: The Ferryman and His Wife, Frode Grytten, translated by Alison McCullough, ISBN 9781643757452; On the Calculation of Volume Book 1, Solvej Balle, translated by Barbara J. Haveland, ISBN 9780811237253; Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-George, ISBN 9780525541332; Eastbound, Maylis De Kerangal, translated by Jessica Moore, ISBN 9781953861504; The White Book, Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith, ISBN 978 0525573074; Kafka on the Shore, Haruki Marakami, translated by Philip Gabriel, ISBN 9781400079278

It’s now time to enjoy and to learn how this epic and this play spin magic and instill wisdom. We become like kings and queens hearing Homer’s beautiful and deadly story. With Oedipus we join Athenian citizens watching the trauma and healing of a civic life much like our own. These ancient authors make us feel brilliant as they open familiar pathways that lead us to deep social understanding. Class sessions will feature lectures, video from very recent productions, and our own responses shared in full-group and Zoom breakout group discussions. Repeat remote course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

REQUIRED BOOKS: The Odyssey, Homer, Robert Fitzgerald, translator, ISBN 0374525749; Three Theban Plays, Sophocles, Robert Fagles, translator, ISBN 10:0140444254

This class continues our friendly, non-judgmental approach for students who completed Improving Beginner Bridge Skills I or who are somewhat advanced as beginners. We will learn some simple bidding conventions, improve our declarer play techniques, and explore how to defend more effectively. Students will be encouraged and enabled to play online and face-to-face games. Students may not have mastered, but should already be familiar with, the following terms and point requirements: “opener,” “responder,” and “overcaller.” As responder, they should be able to determine if game is certain, impossible, or possible and what to bid accordingly. Repeat remote course. Format includes hands-on learning.

SUGGESTED BOOKS: Modern Bridge Conventions, William Root and Richard Pavlicek, ISBN 9780517884294; Bridge Basics I, Audrey Grant, ISBN 9780939460908; Bridge Basics II… Competitive Bidding, Audrey Grant, ISBN 9780939460915

Today, armed conflicts are ongoing around the world. At times, it may seem that there are no rules in war. Fortunately, there are rules in war, and they can make a difference. “Even War Has Rules” is a dynamic discussion of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and how it governs armed conflict. It will address topics such as the sources of law and rules that apply to armed conflicts; the fundamental principles of IHL that guide the devel opment of these rules; and how IHL protects people and places during armed conflicts. By the end of the class, participants will achieve a general understanding of IHL and will be better able to evaluate the actions of parties to armed conflicts. Repeat remote workshop. Format includes lecture and discussion.

In this age of increased world conflict, we want to high- light the work of cooperation and understanding among groups and individuals featuring the diverse religions. We will focus on the example of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict where existing groups of diverse religious adher ents work toward achieving peace between the warring parties. We will have presentations by members of these three monotheistic religions to emphasize the possibility of cooperation in the interest of peaceful outcomes. New remote course. Format includes lecture.

What really changes when we read beyond the abstract? In this interactive course, we will open real research papers (many in health and nutrition) and explore what scientists actually look for. We will explore how small design choices can dramatically shape a study’s meaning, and why headlines rarely tell the full story. No technical background is required – just curiosity. By the end of the course, we will never read “studies show…” the same way again.

In this course, we will explore the three fascinating realms of the cosmos: nearby planets and moons; the stars; and the galaxies (the great island of stars that turn out to be the building blocks of the universe.) Our discussion will be in everyday language, without any math, and will be accompanied by remarkable color images from the latest space probes and the world's largest telescopes, including the latest breathtaking images from the James Webb Space Telescope.

This course traces Apple’s fifty-year history and its massive impact on personal computing, design, product culture, platforms and ecosystems, and daily life. Each session focuses on a different decade in Apple’s history, from the birth of the PC in the late 1970s to the latest Apple silicon, VR headsets, and future iPhones. We will learn how Apple reshaped not just technology, but how people live, work, and communicate.

The public often sees the art world as the domain of wealth, trendsetters, and high rollers, yet deception lurks behind the façade. After weapons and drugs, art is the third most lucrative illicit trade, with reports suggesting that more than half of artworks are fake or misattributed. In this course, we will ask: When is a copy simply a copy, and when is it a forgery? What techniques do master forgers use? Does a collector hold true title, and how important is provenance? What can science tell us about art authenticity? We will uncover riveting stories of criminal art activity, gallery closings, and master forgeries.

August Wilson was the first African American playwright to have a Broadway theater bear his name, a fitting tribute to a dramatist who brought African American culture and lived experience to the stage. In this course, we will read, watch, and examine the first five plays in Wilson’s American Cycle, a ten-play series representing each decade of the African American culture’s 20th century. We will explore Wilson’s life and the influences behind his work while focusing on Gem of the Ocean, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Seven Guitars, tracing his powerful interpretation, celebration, and perseveration of African American culture.

This course introduces the scientific study of life, with an emphasis on real-world applications and the societal, social, ethical, and legal consequences of biological advances. We will place key biological principles within the context of issues that affect individuals and society, highlighting the connection between biology and everyday life. Designed for non-scientists with little or no recent college-level science experience, the course encourages discussion and reflection. Many topics are at the leading edge of scientific discovery, and we will examine the ongoing ethical and legal debates surrounding how and whether these advances should be applied.

America has provided fertile ground for new and alternative religions to sprout and grow. Some prosper and eventually become accepted as part of the normal religious landscape, some wither away and are forgotten, and some detonate, creating public scandal and in the worst cases, national tragedy. This course will examine New Religious Movements, popularly known as "cults", within the US context. We will examine these religious movements both from insider perspectives and outsider perceptions. We will analyze the history, practices, and beliefs of these organizations to better understand them and deconstruct misconceptions. This course covers the 18th and 19th centuries.

Journey into the vibrant world of early 20th century art and witness the birth of abstraction. This transformative period reshaped the cultural landscape, from the bold colors of Fauvism, the fractured forms of Cubism, to the dreamlike realms of Surrealism. Each session focuses on the movements’ leading artists including Matisse, Kandinsky, Picasso, Mondrian, Duchamp, and Dali. We will explore their aesthetic goals and the social and cultural currents that influenced them.

From its emergence amid rapid cultural change in the early 20th century, country music has resonated with people who feel left behind by a shifting world. A key genre of American roots music, it captures hardships of modern life while intentionally evoking emotional response. Whether facing troubled relationships, unemployment, homelessness, loneliness, or spiritual bereft, there is a country song for you. This course traces the history of country and American roots music through the stories and artistic developments of influential performers. Each session highlights key figures including the Carter Family, Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, and Dolly Parton.

This course is a history class with a laugh track. We will analyze the significant periods and players of the 20th and 21st Centuries against their historic context and legacy, using humor as the platform. We will discuss how comedy was shaped by and responsive to American society, and how comedians influenced and shaped American life. We will cover Silent Films, Vaudeville, Radio, Screwball and Romantic Comedies, Comedy Teams, and the Golden Age of Television. We will study how America laughed in each generation, and how the change in American character and persona shaped how they laughed and what (and whom) they laughed at.

Mexicans celebrate a remarkable diversity of peoples, music, food, festivals, and historical traditions, expressed through fiestas that bring communities together across the calendar year. In this course, we will explore Mexico City as a cultural and historical crossroads shaped by centuries of continuity and change. We will trace the legacies of Indigenous civilizations, the transformations of Spanish colonial rule, the struggles for independence and revolution, and the emergence of modern democratic politics, culminating in the 2024 election of Mexico’s first woman president. We will see how culture, power, and celebration remain deeply intertwined in the life of this extraordinary city.

A low-angle, black and white shot of a modern building with many horizontal lines against a sky with wispy clouds. From sleek new industrial materials to innovations in housing, mid-20th-century designers faced the challenge of shaping an aesthetic that reflected the ideals of post-World War II America. In this course, we will explore the optimism that defined the relationship between design and lifestyle during this period, particularly through the emergence of open living spaces in architecture. We will examine the influence of the Case Study Program and the work of leading designers, including Charles and Ray Eames, John Lautner, Eero Saarinen, E. Fay Jones, and Donald Wexler, while considering these developments within the broader context of rapid social and cultural change.

The American Experiment began with the Declaration of Independence and led to the creation of the federal judiciary, one of the country’s greatest experiments. In this course, we will trace the evolution of the courts from their English roots to their formal establishment in the Constitution. We will explore how the Supreme Court, lacking the power of the purse or military, derives its authority from its ability to connect with the people of the US and protect democracy. We will examine creation of the federal judiciary and the power of the Marshall Court, the Court’s evolution through the New Deal, the Vinson Court, the Warren Court’s “Rights Revolution,” and the role of today’s US Supreme Court.

People throughout time and across cultures have looked to the mountains as powerful symbols. The Buddhists of the Himalayas, the Inca of the Andes, the Inuit of the far north, and the Romantics of Europe all created unique stories of what mountains mean and how they are to be approached. This course will provide an interdisciplinary exploration of the beliefs, traditions, and mythologies that have been inspired by the world’s mountains. Through richly illustrated lectures, short readings, and open discussion, this course will open a window into the world’s sacred mountains and encourage exploration of our relationship with the Earth’s high and wild places.

In this course, we will step inside the fascinating world of kit homes and explore their history and cultural impact across North America, especially during their peak from 1905 to 1945. We will learn how to identify these mail-order houses and understand their cultural impact. We will dig into the industry’s rise and decline, industrial developments of kit homes, and their connections to race and gender in the early 20th century. By examining both the kit home industry and the people who lived in them, we will uncover why they remain an important part of the architectural and cultural landscape.

In this course, we will examine the dramatic circumstances that gave rise to the Beat Generation in the 1940s. Together, we will examine three famous Beat works: Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg, On the Road by Jack Kerouac, and Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs. We will focus on historical events involving Beat writers, important passages of Beat literature, and the literary movement that spawned the 1960s counterculture.

This course examines royal succession through acclaimed British films that explore power not as ceremony, but as moral and political crisis. We will trace the monarchy’s evolution from personal rule to institutional authority, beginning with the Plantagenet struggles in Becket (1964) and The Lion in Winter (1968). We will then examine the moral costs of kingship and the performance of national leadership through two Shakespeare adaptations: Chimes at Midnight (1965) and Henry V (1989). The course will conclude with the Tudor rupture: A Man for All Seasons (1966) and the consolidation of legitimacy Elizabeth (1998).

Route 66 is as much an idea as it is a place. Since its creation in 1926, America’s most famous highway has evolved from a 2,400-mile transportation corridor into a powerful symbol of nostalgia, travel, and the American road. Today, it functions as a kind of pilgrimage route, marked by neon signs, roadside attractions, and preserved motels, cafés, and gas stations. In this course, we will explore the history, cultural meaning, and enduring appeal of Route 66. Together, we will examine its origins, rise and decline, late-20th century revival, the role of nostalgia and car culture, preservation efforts, and the possible futures of this iconic highway.

We often only notice the global supply chain when it breaks. Yet, for millennia, the movement of goods has been the silent engine of civilization. In this course, we will track the evolution of trade from an executive’s perspective. From the sunken treasures of Bronze Age merchant ships to the high-tech intermodal systems of today, we will explore the vessels that carried the world’s wealth and the complex networks that keep our modern shelves stocked.

This course continues our journey into how music becomes the emotional engine of film. This is not film school—it is a celebration for film lovers who want to experience how music shapes story, character, and unforgettable moments. We will explore how instrumental scores and songs with lyrics work together to drive narrative, define identity, and capture cultural shifts. We will focus on films where songs take center stage, from iconic franchise themes to pop- and rock-driven storytelling. Spanning genres and eras, we will see how composers, songwriters, and performers expanded the language of film music.

Since the 1890s, when Americans were beginning to develop their own traditions in classical music, composers have recognized the dilemma of creating the American sound. We will explore how classical musicians, and Broadway and Hollywood composers, most of them Jewish, followed parallel paths in creating sounds that reflect these lands and its people. Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, William Grant Steel, Florence Price, Alex North, Elmer Bernstein and others will be the protagonists of this lecture.

Harry S. Truman once described the presidency as “the most peculiar office in the world.” In this course, we will explore how the Founding Fathers left the office for future presidents to define, creating conditions for a dramatic expansion of executive power. We will examine how the presidency has come to dominate the three co-equal branches, with Congress and the Supreme Court at times ceding authority. We will consider how and why this shift occurred, how This peculiar office is won or lost, how they have exercised power, and how the rise of the administrative state has reshaped the balance envisioned by the framers.

We will examine the prominent effects of Supreme Court opinions on all aspects of American life including individual rights and standards for government procedure. Focus on judicial review, judicial principles of textualism, originalism, pragmatism, judicial activism vs. restraint, precedent, and procedures. Close examination of landmark cases. Emphasis on the current activities of the Supreme Court and consideration of efforts to reform the court. A substantial resource guide will be provided. Repeat in-person course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

Interested in sharing life stories? Curious about learning to write better? We all have stories waiting to be written. How do we choose them, share them so they flow, sound authentically like us, and draw in readers? We will write and read rough drafts, share strategies to improve our writing — give feedback in a supportive environment. No previous writing experience necessary — only curiosity and willingness to write. Homework: Weekly writing and some reading. New remote course. Format includes discussion and hands-on learning.

We are on the cusp of a new age in science. The tools and concepts of cognitive science are being applied to biological and computational systems. Intelligence, as the ability to solve problems, appears to be more broadly descriptive than usually assumed. The course will survey some of the pioneering work from the Levin Lab at Tufts University. The discoveries being made in biology bring light and hope to the understanding of our world in an unusual and profound framework. I invite you to explore this ground- breaking work and share a fresh view of nature and the nature of mind. New remote course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

Students learn the art of writing memoir. They are encouraged to submit a written memoir for each monthly workshop and receive constructive comments in return.

The workshop meets via Zoom once a month between October and May.

Repeat remote course. Format is discussion.

This introductory course teaches the basics of the Zentangle Method of pen & ink drawing. It is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. This course will explore the basics of the Zentangle method, and provide instruction in fundamental pen strokes, multiple tangle patterns, and simple shading techniques. We will explore basic components of design and ideas for embellishment.
 

Repeat remote workshop. Format includes discussion and hands-on learning.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: Course Materials Kit is $15 + postage and will be mailed directly to the registrants. Payment can be made directly to the facilitator via Venmo or a check.

Shading could be said to be the most exciting component of the Zentangle method! After your tangles have been placed on your tile, it is your shading techniques that make your overall design “pop.” In this class, you will explore shading basics, and how to apply these skills to the original white, black, Renaissance, and grey Zentangle tiles.

New remote workshop. Format includes hands-on learning.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: Beginner materials ($15) can be mailed directly to the registrants and payment is made directly to the facilitator via Venmo or a check.