Friday   

This course will explore the iconic Lizzie Borden murder case of 1892, one of the most sensational true crime stories in American history. To get a full picture of the events surrounding the unsolved and gruesome murders of her parents, we will use a multimedia approach. Literary texts will include Sarah Schmidt’s novel See What I Have Done (2017) and Angela Carter’s short story “Lizzie’s Tiger.”   We will also watch the film “Lizzie” (2018), a psychological thriller. Lastly, we will embark on a ghost hunt and tour of the Lizzie Borden house in Fall River as well as her final resting place at Oak Grove cemetery. Perhaps we will be the ones to finally crack the case!

This course will provide an overview of mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and other types of dementia, including the signs, symptoms, and stages of illness. We will explain how a diagnosis is made, describe current treatments, consider the impact of the disease on the family, and examine long term care options, among other issues. We will also discuss several initiatives people can take to lessen their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other serious cognitive disorders.

Reading a mix of this legendary writer’s fiction and nonfiction will serve as a fitting introduction to his powerful oeuvre. Go Tell it on the Mountain, The Fire Next Time, and If Beale Street Could Talk.  Less a lecture course and more of a mediated discussion, this course will give students a chance to learn and share their ideas about Baldwin’s major themes, rhetorical approach and fictional technique. Additional readings and some video selections will be recommended.

This is a follow-up to previous classes; structured so that new participants can join the class and fully participate.  Designed for either those who use smart phones or dedicated cameras. It isn’t a class on how to use any specific camera but how to compose and create pictures that POP. We will review fundamental photographic principles and what qualities make a “good” image. Students will be asked to submit photos for critiquing and constructive criticism. Although the goal is to get the best possible image right out of the camera, I plan to demonstrate how to improve images by post-processing in the “digital darkroom.”  I’ll be using Photoshop Elements but it’s not essential that participants have this software on their computers. Students are encouraged to ask questions and participate in critiquing.