Wednesday AM   

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.

Every major change in humanity’s time frame has a
specific character. This course will explore contemporary
artists worldwide and their work created at the turn of
the new millennium. It will survey the social and cultural character in the artwork of this new international generation confronting global ecological change. This course follows The Metropolitan Museum curated tour format encouraging classroom dialogue by posing questions and answers while viewing works by outstanding artists in this new generation. This is in a seminar “shared inquiry” dialogue where knowledge of Art History is not required. It is about viewing art and having a discussion for all levels and backgrounds.
New in-person course. The format includes lecture and discussion.

This course on Japanese women’s lives investigates the historical diversity in the operations of gender in social and cultural life through an interdisciplinary approach drawing on anthropological and historical studies as well as popular cultures. Everyone in this course is required to read the assigned article (usually 20 pages) before coming to the class. This is not a lecture course, but a discussion-based course. New in-person course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

In 1899 the City of Deering became part of Portland. Originally a suburb of Portland, it was created as a town in 1871 from what was originally a part of Westbrook. It contained several prominent villages including Deering Center, Deering Highlands and Stroudwater. In this series of six walking tours off the Portland peninsula, we will explore the history of these neighborhoods and learn about some of their interesting residents. Repeat in-person course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and movement.

Aging creates gradual physical and mental challenges. We all make both informed and uninformed choices daily that can have a significant impact on our future health. If you are willing to change old habits, accept new challenges, and travel outside your comfort zone, this course is for you. Join me in exploring scientifically backed principles of movement, nutrition and habits that can directly impact the effect on many diseases. Learn and sample movement and nutritional “hacks” you can use daily to improve your ability to move, increase energy levels, decrease pain, and create better mental health. If you are up for the challenge, you can optimize your health and thrive!  

New in-person course. Format includes lecture, hand on learning, and movement.

MATERIALS: Dress comfortably in exercise clothes. 

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.

If you find pleasure and beauty and wisdom in poetry and would like to share your experience with like-minded classmates, this class is for you. Each week we will bring a favorite poem, recite it, and discuss it. There’s no one correct interpretation and no one superior type of poem. We will be guided by what our fellow students are most moved by. From Rumi to Pound, from the psalms to Dr. Seuss, your favorites are welcome. No one’s an expert. We’re just sharing what we love. Repeat in-person course. Format includes discussion.

This will NOT be your typical movie course! Yes — you will be asked to watch a different movie each week as preparation. Yes — we will BRIEFLY discuss the movie and your reactions to it. But then we will use specific scenes or overall themes to learn about countries or events leading up to and following the movie timeline. For example, in A United Kingdom you will learn what Churchill did trying to crush independence in Botswana — and how he failed. In Disney’s Queen of Katwe,we will discuss African culture. After watching Hotel Rwanda, we will spend two classes learning what lead up to the genocide, and its impact on other countries. We will also focus on South Africa watching two movies about Nelson Mandela — Invictus and Long Road To Freedom. This course will include one foreign film with subtitles and will NOT discuss current events. Repeat hybrid course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.