Passages Seminar

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FALL 2011

PASSAGES SEMINAR - SERIES I
Coordinated by Leona Hoelting
The Passages Seminar is a potpourri of lectures designed for the person who wasn’t born yesterday.
Lectures meet on Tuesdays, 1-2:30 pm, Room A145-152.
HUM S09-40, OC/SK, 6 Tue., 9/6-10/11, 1-2:30 pm, $30 in-district residents age 60 and above, CRN 61313
HUM S09-41, OC/SK, 6 Tue., 9/6-10/11, 1-2:30 pm, $45 out-of-district residents or those under age 60, CRN 61314

Tuesday, September 6
Visualizing Our World
Reference and road maps are familiar to most of us, but the world of cartography goes far beyond these traditional maps. With cartographer and educator Valerie Krejcie as your guide, explore the history of thematic mapping and how maps can help us understand the geographic distribution of population, disease, and climate.

Tuesday, September 13
A Musical Sampling of the ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s
Sing along with Elizabeth Ury, CJE Senior Life, as she takes you on a musical journey through the ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s on her ukulele. Along the way there will be trivia and memorabilia from different time periods, and clips of your favorite stars.

Tuesday, September 20
Eisenhower: An Underrated U.S. President
Join Harris Kohn, veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, and learn more about the “warrior lion” who led the U.S. through years of peace and prosperity after World War II but warned Americans to beware of the “military-industrial complex.” What advice would Eisenhower give about today’s wars and defense budget?

Tuesday, September 27
Poetry
“What oft was thought but ne’er so well expressed.” That’s how 18-century poet Alexander Pope defined poetry. Poetry is a way of “catching sparks flying in the wind,” encompassing everything from nursery rhymes with a message to phrases—or even words—that stay with us. Explore a wide range of verse with Dominic Doherty, poetry aficionado.

Tuesday, October 4
The Maghreb: A Look at the History of Lybia, Tunsia, Algeria, and Morocco
From wandering bands of Berbers to the great commercial empire of Carthage destroyed by the Roman Empire, from the Barbarian invasions out of Spain to the Muslim conquest, this class provides a comprehensive history of the area. Les Paul, Great Books discussion leader, will explore the commercial urban centers along the Mediterranean, the desert wastes, the romantic cities of Marrakesh and Casablanca, the rebel city of Benghazi, and the Kingdom of Morocco. Topics will include the dictatorships of Libya, Tunsia, and Algeria; the rule by France; the war with Fascist Italy; World War II; and the newest “Arab revolt.”

Tuesday, October 11
Film as Visual Art
Film is one of our greatest art forms. But how does it fit in with the other graphic arts and how do set designs, costumes, and photography create its visions? Join art historian Edith Lee, author of numerous essays on film and design, to explore the origins of moving pictures.

PASSAGES SEMINAR - SERIES II
Coordinated by Leona Hoelting
The Passages Seminar is a potpourri of lectures designed for the person who wasn’t born yesterday.
Lectures meet on Tuesdays, 1-2:30 pm, Room A145-152.
HUM S09-43, OC/SK 6 Tue., 10/25-11/29, 1-2:30 pm, $30 in-district residents age 60 and above, CRN 61456
HUM S09-44, OC/SK, 6 Tue., 10/25-11/29, 1-2:30 pm, $45 out-of-district residents or those under age 60, CRN 61457

Tuesday, October 25
Elder Rights in Illinois
Learn about the Illinois Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, and how it protects senior citizens from abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Patricia Handlin, elder rights attorney, will explain how to designate someone to assist with decision-making during periods of disability and review Medicare and Medicaid rights. If time permits, she will discuss her work representing agencies designated by the Illinois Department on Aging to investigate elder abuse complaints.

Tuesday, November 1
Genealogy Via the Internet
The Internet has revolutionized genealogy research. It’s easier than ever to find out who your ancestors were, where they came from, details about their lives, and more. Paul Davidson, computer programmer and genealogist, demonstrates how to access the billions of records now available on-line. Tap into numerous historical databases, as well as family trees shared by thousands of other genealogists.

Tuesday, November 8
Proposed Military Cuts Fall 2011
Deficit reduction is at the top of Congress’ agenda and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is expected to step down in mid-2011. Join Julie Strauss, Ph.D., and learn more about the next Secretary of Defense, the Department of Defense budget, how funding is allocated, and the debate over proposed military cuts.

Tuesday, November 22
The Sephardim: Spanish and Portuguese Jews
More than 300,000 Jews were expelled from Spain just before Columbus sailed for the New World in 1492. How is this connected to the many current-day Hispanic Catholic New Mexicans who have Jewish roots? Why did Spain’s royal treasurer, Don Isaac Abravenel, plan to send his family out of the country even as he arranged financing for Columbus’ expedition? Join Barbara Johnson as she surveys the history, language, culture, and Diaspora of the Sephardim.

Tuesday, November 29
The Sublime Music of Wagner and Strauss
Many people who aren’t familiar with the music of Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss believe they will dislike the “heaviness” or “darkness” of these composers’ operas. Bob Dahlin, filmmaker and composer, sets out to change this opinion by introducing the hidden beauty of this music: some of the most sublime ever composed.

Tuesday, December 6
Berlin 50 Years after the Rise of the Wall: Metropolis and Myth
The Berlin Wall, erected in 1961, turned Germany’s capital into an occupied and divided symbol of the Cold War. Half a century later, Berlin is once again the cultural hub of Germany and a great European center. It’s a fast changing metropolis, pulsating with energy, which boasts three opera houses, eight symphony orchestras, over 150 museums and galleries, and four universities. But Berlin also faces a severe budget deficit and notoriously high unemployment. Join Anette Isaacs, German historian, for this fascinating lecture about Berlin’s cultural, political, and social evolvement over the past 50 years. If time permits she will examine how Berlin addressed her severe deficit.


SPRING 2012

PASSAGES SEMINAR – SERIES  I
Coordinated by Leona Hoelting
The Passages Seminar is a potpourri of lectures designed for the person who wasn’t born yesterday.
Lectures meet on Tuesdays, 1-2:30 pm, Room A145-152. Registration is by series only.
HUM S09-40, OC/SK, 8 Tue., 1/17-3/6, 1-2:30 pm, $40 in-district residents age 60 and above. CRN 40931
HUM S09-41, OC/SK, 8 Tue., 1/17-3/6, 1-2:30 pm, $55 out-of-district residents or under age 60. CRN 40932

Tuesday, January 17
How Painters Paint
Take a step-by-step journey with American impressionist painter and Emeritus favorite Bill Nelson as he transforms a sheet of white paper into a work of art.

Tuesday, January 24
From Snow Bird to Song Bird: The Art of Phoebe Snow
Phoebe Snow’s (1950 - 2011) eclectic career encompassed jazz, rhythm and blues, folk, gospel, popular song, and show tunes—including the hit single, Poetry Man. Her soaring four-octave voice inspired a new generation of singers such as Aretha Franklin, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, and Joni Mitchell, who redefined the meaning of “torch singer” for a 1970s feminist generation. Blending words and music in a jazzy conversational style, Snow made her sophisticated vocal technique seem easy. Yet her life was hard, leading her to near collapse. David Chack, theater producer, curator, and educator, explores pays tribute to Snow’s legacy.
 

Tuesday, January 31
Israel Now: Art, Architecture, and Parks
Join Linda Rubin, M.S., for a virtual tour of Israel’s newest museums, art, and architecture. Explore the newly-reopened Israel Museum, the Tel Aviv Art Museum, and park renovations in this land where modern skyscrapers stand alongside ancient treasures.

Tuesday, February 7
Les Miserables
This Victor Hugo novel charts the fortunes of ex-convict Jean Valjean and his ultimate redemption. Herb Grinell, musical aficionado, reviews how this classic book examines the concepts of law and grace; France’s politics, moral philosophy, justice, and religion; and the nature of romantic and familial love. Discussion will include the popular musical adaptation, which has captured hearts and imaginations around the world.
 

Tuesday, February 14
George Orwell: Writer and Fighter
George Orwell, best-known for his novels 1984 and Animal Farm, was also a famous political commentator, essayist, and activist. Join John Binder, Emeritus instructor, for a look at Orwell’s Homage to Catalonia, which describes his experience as a journalist and fighter in the Spanish Civil War of the late 1930s. Orwell used this work to express his disillusionment with communism and totalitarianism. His remarkable personal story highlights one of the 20th century’s greatest and most destructive conflicts.

Tuesday, February 21
Alexander: The End of Empire
At the age of 33, Alexander the Great ended his journey and his life in Babylon between the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers—an area of Iraq now familiar to us from recent wars in the region. Tricia Kessie, educator, discusses Alexander’s retreat from India, his questionable death and lavish funeral, his heirs, the final division of his empire into today’s recognizable political regions, and how Cleopatra fits into the picture.

Tuesday February 28
Poetry: The Warp and Weave of Life
Think you just can’t understand poetry?  Retired Oakton professor Toni Rowitz may change your mind as she shares a wide variety of poems from past and present.  Relax and enjoy this special language that helps us express emotions, ideas, and life.
 

Tuesday, March 6
Modern China’s Architecture
China’s recent economic boom has resulted in a fast-growing demand for new architecture. Z.J. Tong, president of the Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute, showcases and discusses some of China’s most important new architecture. Are the Chinese architectural traditions being respected and preserved in this architecture? Is the fusion of Western and Chinese designs a success? How is the Chinese general public responding to the new buildings? Where is building trend headed?

PASSAGES SEMINAR - SERIES II
Coordinated by Leona Hoelting
The Passages Seminar is a potpourri of lectures designed for the person who wasn’t born yesterday.
Lectures meet on Tuesdays, 1-2:30 pm, Room A145-152.
HUM S09-43, OC/SK, 8 Tue., 3/13-5/1, 1-2:30 pm, $40 in-district residents age 60 and above. CRN 40933
HUM S09-44, OC/SK, 8 Tue., 3/13-5/1, 1-2:30 pm, $55 out-of-district residents or under age 60. CRN 40934

Tuesday, March 13
The Mysteries of Film Noir
A shot in the night, a cynical detective, wet city streets, a femme fatale, a pattern of shadows pouring through the venetian blinds: these are some of the images we associate with Film Noir. Join film/art historian Edith Lee as she traces the origins and highlights of this great American film genre.

Tuesday, March 20
Regional Accents on German Food
When you think of German food, do bratwurst, sauerkraut, and beer come to mind? Expand your horizons! There is so much more to German cuisine. Join German historian Anette Isaacs, M.A., as she takes you on a fascinating, fun, and delicious journey through the culinary wonders of her native country.

Tuesday, March 27
Empty Space: Creating a Theater in Your Church or Synagogue
Jerry Miller, producer, director, and Chicago actor, shares step-by-step guidelines for creating a theater in your religious institution that can help address social issues. Miller has launched three theaters in Chicagoland churches: the Lincoln Square Theater (which recently received two Jeff Award recommendations), the James Downing Theater, and Passion Theater. 

Tuesday, April 3
Castles of the Rhine and Danube Rivers
In May 2011, Paul Davidson, computer science teacher, sailed from Amsterdam to Budapest on the Rhine and Danube Rivers. Join Davidson as he shares pictures and stories of the magnificent castles and medieval towns along the way. Many of the towns destroyed during the 30-Years War (1618-1648) and World War II have been restored to their pre-war glory.

Tuesday, April 10
Unlucky Lindy: Inside the Mind of a Tragic Hero
Charles Lindbergh was one of America’s greatest heroes. Join Jerome O’Connor, journalist and historian, for a look at this pioneer, the character flaws that nearly destroyed his reputation, and his greatest accomplishment: a solo flight across the Atlantic in 1927.

Tuesday, April 17
Hemingway: From Oak Park to the World
Follow the development of Ernest Hemingway’s writing from its Midwestern roots to its international crown. Redd Griffin, educator, lecturer, author, and friend of the Hemingway family, explores the breadth and depth of this great author’s most famous works.

Tuesday, April 24
Elder Wisdom
Your children don’t listen. The grandchildren are just as bad. But advice from a stranger? That’s always appealing. From “Letters to the Lovelorn” to “Bintel Briefs,” people have poured out their hearts in advice columns. As a senior, what life lessons could you share? Beverly Friend, Ph.D., reviews the romantic, economic, and psychological facets of this opportunity.

Tuesday, May 1
Our Favorite Movies Shape Us
Our favorite movies often shape our responses to life—and we’re happy to watch them again and again. Casablanca is surely at the top of many people’s “favorites” list: join Jim Rooney, Emeritus film instructor, and enjoy this film once more.  Discussion follows. Extended session runs 1 - 3 p.m.

Tuesday, May 8
Taste of Emeritus
Join us for a preview of Emeritus teachers and classes for summer 2012.

Tuesday, May 15 - Free lecture
The Allure of the Art Institute of Chicago
Join Jean Merczak, Art Institute docent, for a look at just one of the reasons why this museum is one of Chicago’s most popular places. Generously sponsored by the Hilda B. and Maurice L. Rothschild Foundation.