Newly Added Classes   

Optics is a branch of physics that studies light: how it behaves, how it moves, and how it interacts with matter. We will explore its more than 3,000-year-old history – first studied by Indian scholars, followed by the Greeks, the Islamic Golden Age, the European Renaissance, and to the present. Optics' effects are visible in our everyday life, from space telescopes to eye surgery to fiber optics and lasers. We will also touch on the powerful influence that optics has on fine arts via the interplay of light and objects.

Six Exciting Lectures: Ansel Adams in the West, Rodeo Photography, 8 Great Female Photographers, Hemingway: A Life In Pictures, 50 Years of Rolling Stone Magazine, and Must Love Dogs.

This class uses a group study of the book Complete Spanish Step by Step, Premium 2nd Edition, by Barbara Bregstein, beginning with chapter 10.

This class uses a group study of the book Complete Spanish Step by Step, Premium 2nd Edition, by Barbara Bregstein, beginning with chapter 5.

The natural world can be a very dangerous place, especially living in an evolving planet 66 to 220 million years ago. Over a period of nearly 160 million years, dinosaurs evolved from relatively small omnivores to fast carnivores with bigger, sharper teeth and claws and tremendous bite strength and to herbivores with defenses of more and bigger horns and spikes, thicker armor, and incredible size. Other survivor adaptations including behavior, camouflage coloration and intelligence are inferred from recent scientific discoveries. Other creatures which evolved and competed with the dinosaurs grew to incredible sizes and ornate skeletal features which are still topics of much discussion. This class will examine many of these evolutionary changes that may or may not have been beneficial.

No composer did as much as Franz Joseph Haydn to create and develop the Classical symphony and quartet. "Papa" Haydn had a wonderful nature and a great sense of humor, which shows in his music. Using a series of lectures by Robert Greenberg as core material, we will explore the life and the music of this foundational composer whose 104 symphonies, 68 string quartets, and 62 piano sonatas are widely played today. (His 123 baryton trios are not popular, but we will sample one.) We will have a live music presentation with performers from the Eastman School of Music. Join us for this broad introduction to the life and the creations of this giant of Western music.

This is a video montage class of the greatest and most impossible sports scenes. Watch great moments from the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, golf, bowling, tennis, soccer, and boxing. See and hear the most unbelievable March Madness buzzer-beaters, great sports calls made by the original announcers, the best walk-off wins, and original network TV sports themes from the '60s, '70s, and '80s. Let's see if some of the class leader's memories match yours. This is a class for your enjoyment, so just sit back and watch.

This introductory class will provide an overview of Hinduism, the religion of India that originated about 3000 years ago. It will include a brief history about the origin of Hinduism and the contributions to it from different sources, the religion of Hinduism and its many components, the different philosophies that underpin the religious practices, including the non-dualism of Vedanta; and the interactions between Hinduism and Judaism, Christianity, Islam. Also covered in the class are the rituals, practices, customs, and festivals related to Hinduism.

Ireland is well known for its great writers, from Jonathan Swift to W.B. Yeats, James Joyce, Samuel Becket, Seamus Heaney, J.M. Synge, and George Bernard Shaw, among many others. Today that tradition is carried on by a growing list of excellent modern Irish writers. We will read and discuss one book by each of four authors. We will also examine the social, political, and economic environment that shaped their writing. Reading these authors will provide a useful introduction to Irish literature today and hopefully spark your interest to explore more Irish writers and their works.

World War II was the first modern mass media war. Radio, newsreels, and movies were heavily censored, or actually produced, by governments. This mass media was generally accepted as news rather than the propaganda it actually was. Many misconceptions have persisted and been reinforced by movies, documentaries, and "skewed" official "histories." For example, to this day, we don't often admit that we missed Nagasaki. Stop by and get the details.

Have you ever found yourself wanting to be an author? Join our discussion as we begin with your initial idea and follow various routes to publication. We will consider many different genres and formats (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, textbook, technical, essays). By the end of our interactive session, you will have the tools to research your idea and transform it into words. We will discuss various avenues to get published, and the challenges associated with each. There will also be discussion about marketing your work. Bring your ideas, your problems, and your enthusiasm to write!

The Constitution of the United States, established in 1787, created the government that we have today. There were many flaws in this document, and over 200 years there have been many attempts to amend the Constitution, beginning with the Bill of Rights. Currently there are 27 amendments, and they all deserve investigation from an historic perspective.

The Basque people have lived in northern Spain for thousands of years. Who are they and where did they come from? Why did they settle there? What makes them unique? We will discuss these questions, and more, as well as the unique culture and attitudes of these people today. The presentation will include photos from a recent visit to Spain.

Socrates spent his life "examining" men in public places: the agora (marketplace) and Lyceum (a gymnasium). He became a celebrity and was, at the age of 47, rudely caricatured by the comic poet Aristophanes in Clouds. In his 60s, Socrates met a handsome young nobleman, Plato, then in his late teens, and convinced him to give up poetry in favor of philosophy. In 399 BC, Socrates was convicted of impiety and corrupting the youth and sentenced to death. After the death of Socrates, Plato wrote some 26 dialogues, four of which touch on the last days of Socrates.

Movies like The Thomas Crown Affair portray art theft as ingenious and sophisticated. Reality is usually quite different. We will examine thefts that have occurred over the last 100 years and attempt to answer a number of questions: How common is art theft? Is it profitable for the thief? If not for profit, why do people steal art? Do thieves act alone or are more thefts accomplished by teams? Are most stolen artworks found? And, of course, what do the Mona Lisa and The Scream have in common?

In this class we will look at what research in neuroscience is teaching us about how the brain and mind work. We will also learn about using that knowledge to provide better care for patients. The role of AI, brain imaging, immunology, and genetics will be included. Selected topics on health, medicine and biotechnology may also be discussed.

Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son. Hundreds of Americans frequently gathered to watch Black people lynched. Tens of thousands of Germans helped to implement Hitler's Final Solution. Police and prison guards are known to abuse their authority. Why? Two experiments deal with two possible answers: the late Stanley Milgram at Yale addressed "following orders" in 1961, and the late Phillip Zimbardo at Stanford addressed "going along with the crowd" in 1971. We'll look at both experiments (which could be a wee bit scary) in an attempt to answer the Why question.

This all-new sequel to The Magic of Film Scores shifts the spotlight from the score to the songs, dance and lyrical storytelling that gave film musicals their unforgettable sparkle. From the nimble tread of the feet of Fred Astaire to the hip hop history of Hamilton, we'll journey through nearly a century of toe-tapping, heartstring-pulling movie magic. Explore the evolution of musicals on screen, from the glamour of MGM to bold, socially conscious stories. We'll also trace rock's rise in cinema, including a session on The Beatles films, spotlight pop and jukebox musicals of the 21st century, and dedicate a session to jazz in biographical and noir-inspired films.