Friday   

American Roots Music series and is appropriate for both new and returning students. From the popular press to concert promotional materials to Grammy Awards categories, terms like “roots,” “Americana,” “folk,” “traditional,” and “bluegrass” are often thrown around with little distinction or context, yet these words carry specific meanings, histories, and legacies. In this course, we will study the genres of American roots music both as commercial categories and culturally specific musical practices. We’ll begin by examining how these terms have been used and applied to specific genres at different points in their development. As the course progresses, we’ll move beyond identifying what makes each genre unique to uncover the many ways they connect. 

This is a viewing and discussion program. We will watch the documentary together in class and then share our thoughts about the film.  Did we grow as we discover the value and/or purpose of what we watched. We can critique the quality of the film; indicate our enjoyment of or our displeasure with it; say if we learned anything new; tell if you were surprised at anything. A full list of the documentaries will be provided at the first class. 

What secrets and stories are hidden in song lyrics? What about songs which call back sharp memories? Songs offer gifts of comfort, inspiration, and amusement. In this writing workshop we will study a variety of song lyrics and use their lines and images as a starting point for creative writing.  Give yourself the gift of time to consider lyrics as a path into your own writing. Through writing prompts and writing sessions, your imagination will be invited to the page. Participants will be encouraged to share their work and offer positive comments to others. Prior creative writing experience is not necessary. Please come ready to write, please keep camera on during sharing and prompts to encourage our special community.  

A recent issue of the Hedgehog Review (tagline: Critical Reflections on Contemporary Culture) explores the meaning of character and the causes and consequences of its apparent decline in today's world.  Drawing on the works of thinkers as diverse as Aristotle, Nietzsche, Emily Dickinson and Samuel Beckett, the readings explore our current moral climate and speculate on its future trajectory, providing us with food for thought and some new perspectives.  We will read from the Spring 2024 issue of the Hedgehog Review, titled "Missing Character," available for $14 from https://hedgehogreview.com/order. 

In this 11th Exploring Longevity series, we will continue to explore human posture, an evolutionary miracle that enabled our species to evolve from quatrupedalism to bipedalism. We will explore how the S-shaped spine and upright posture have distinguished humans from other primates during our prolonged history of evolution. We will also examine how human posture, embedded in our social, cultural, and technological evolution, has played a critical role in our longevity and quality of independent living. This course has been enriched by the shared wisdom and insights from our participants’ lived experiences.