Tuesday PM   

This eight-week course invites you on a thoughtful journey through the American Civil War, pairing pivotal moments in history with unforgettable films. Together, we’ll explore how Americans fought, feared, hoped, and redefined freedom during the nation’s greatest trial. In class, we’ll watch selected movie clips to spark lively discussion, while those who wish may enjoy the full films on their own. Offered in connection with OLLI’s upcoming Civil War Field Trip — but open to all who are drawn to this defining chapter of our past—it’s a chance to see how story and history shape a nation divided.

New hybrid course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

US Poet Laureate Ada Limón claims, “poetry is the place where we can go to break open.” We’ll explore what she means by reading a variety of mostly contemporary poems and discussing how they work through voice, language, sound effects, imagery, metaphor, and other elements. As we discover the how, we’ll reflect on our encounters with our own poetic selves. Suffer from poetry anxiety? No worries — this is a great class for you. No books required; all of our poetry will be found free and online at the Poetry Foundation and other websites. Bring paper to write on.
New in-person course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

Evolution, genetics, and embryology were separate branches of biology. But, now they come together in a 21st century science called Evodevo — evolutionary developmental biology — a discipline that focuses on how changes in embryonic development lead to the evolution of new traits and new species. In this class you will see how the interaction of genes in the embryo explains not only how an individual organism develops, but also how it evolved. Then, by comparing the development of different species, you will see how features like limbs, eyes, and other complex structures evolved over time.

New in-person course. Format includes lecture and discussion

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REQUIRED BOOK: Some Assembly Required, Neil Shubin, ISBN 9781101972687

Fun, creative, and lively, this evidence-based movement class helps participants build stamina, strength, and confidence, all while moving to music in a joyful and non-judgmental atmosphere. No prior dance experience is necessary, and attendees are invited to take the class at their own pace and slow down or rest at any time.

Repeat in-person workshop. Format includes movement.

Note: this class will meet in Gorham, room location TBA.

Their lives stand for much more than acting and directing. Let’s appreciate their contributions to American life. Briefly-referenced film schedule we’ll choose eight from: Africa; Condor; Candidate; Philadelphians; Perdition; Color; Verdict; Luke; Hud; Hustler; Summer; Cat; Fool; Sting; Butch. The script for class is to consider emailed questions on each week’s movie and wide-open discussion of aroused concerns — about both movies and life. No need to critique at the level of Ebert’s critical eye. But we’ll have some fun.

New remote course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

Comics (blending words and pictures to tell stories) stretch from cave paintings and the Bayeux Tapestry to today’s Batman and Spider-Man. Far more than superhero tales, comics are a versatile literary artform, capturing intimate and epic stories, social issues, and cultural moments through panels and word balloons. In this course, we will trace their history, explore their power, and read and discuss works including Understanding Comics, Watchmen, Maus, Fun Home, and Persepolis.

Frank Lloyd Wright designed nearly 1,000 buildings and helped define modern architecture. This course explores highlights of his practice, from Prairie houses to Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum, alongside lesser-known projects like affordable housing and city planning. We’ll examine how Wright’s work reflected cultural shifts in technology, science, and politics, offering a deeper understanding of his lasting influence on architecture and modern design.

The death of Pope Francis and the election of the first US born Pope have been in the news repeatedly in the last few months, capturing the imagination of many people, including non-Catholics. Who are these men? What are their life stories? How were they similar to and different from each other? In this course, we will discuss the lives and dominant perspectives of the last ten Popes, exploring their most significant positions and their influence on world affairs.

How much of who we are is shaped by the places we live and experience? This course invites reflection on the psychological and emotional relationships between people and their environments. Drawing on psychology, geography, architecture, and design, we will explore environmental psychology and how physical environments shape behavior, cognition, identity, and memory. Using place-based methods, we will discuss concepts such as place attachment, identity, and cognitive maps. We will reflect on memory, home, trauma, displacement, and nature’s role in well-being.

The Yang 24 Form is the most widely practiced Tai Chi routine in the world. It consists of a sequence of slow, flowing movements, each leading gracefully into the next. It is often described as “meditation in motion.” In this course, we will study the basic movements of the 24 Form. Continued, regular practice helps you refine the movements and experience great health benefits including reduced stress, an enhanced sense of well-being, and improved posture and balance. We spend most of the classroom time on our feet and in motion, so please take this into account in deciding whether this class is right for you.

Repeat in-person course. Format includes discussion and movement.