Thursday AM   

This will be the first of three courses on Tolkien’s novel The Lord of the Rings and will focus on Part One, otherwise known as The Fellowship of the Ring. Needless to say, this is a masterwork, and Richard is prepared to build this 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. Frankly, 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.

New remote course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

REQUIRED BOOKS: The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien, ISBN 9780547928210 (Mariner Books) It is essential that students have the same edition as the instructor.

Most conversations about aging focus on lifespan, but brainspan (how long our mind stays sharp) matters more. In this course, we will explore how the brain ages and what science reveals about protecting memory, balance, and clarity. Topics include normal changes versus early dementia, neuroplasticity, nutrition, sleep, stress, social ties, and purpose. Each session blends accessible science with self-tests and take-home practices. We will also build a personalized Cognitive Health Scorecard to track habits and strengthen resilience.

AI is everywhere. If you watch the news, use the internet, use your smart phone, or use Zoom, etc., you know it
to be true. AI has been used in sci-fi movies for decades, with both positive and negative outcomes. So, let’s watch some sci-fi movies related to AI and talk about them! We will watch eight films from the 1960s to the 2010s including 2001: A Space Odyssey, Terminator 2, and Her and discuss how they differ and what, if anything, they say about us. We will watch the films before each class and discuss during our time together. New remote course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

REQUIRED FILMS: (rent, borrow, or buy) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968); Blade Runner (1982); Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991); Ghost in the Shell (1995); The Matrix (1999); A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001); Her (2013); Ex Machina (2014).

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.

Repear in-person course. Format includes discussion.

Anti-Semitism has been much in the news and become very controversial. Accusations, punishments, and retribution make news on a regular basis. Where did Anti-Semitism come from and how did it come to become an established part of society? In this course we will look at its beginnings in early Christianity and how it spread in Europe and become an ingrained part of society.

Repeat in-person course. Format includes lecture