History & Current Events   

A scintillating review of current themes in the media will be discussed in each class. Class members present a topic, discuss it, then open the floor for discussion and debate. Poetry, literature, scientific discovery, and educational progress are examples of the issues addressed. Special guests are welcome to present.

In this class, we will look at old tales, their tellers, and transitions from spoken to written literature. Fairy tales, a.k.a. magic tales, are very old and both stable and shapeshifting. People have enjoyed them in cartoons, Victorian nurseries, peasant huts, and even courts like Versailles. The original, oral forms of magic tales are violent, coarse, and sexually explicit. Sometimes governments, priests, or schoolmarms compelled changes. Sometimes, writers. There will be nine tellers with at least nine tales sent to class members.

Since 1966, North Georgia has been the home of Foxfire, a magazine, book, and museum acting as a blend of education and living history centered on Appalachia. Foxfire explores how our past contributes to who we are and what we can become; how the past illuminates our present and inspires imagination. This class will explore Foxfire's practical approach to student-centered teaching and learning; its unrivalled collection of artifacts, archives, and oral history; and, ultimately, its influence on popular culture and our understanding of Appalachia.

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.

Representatives from various local news organizations will join us to discuss their processes and the challenges and opportunities for local news agencies. Bring your questions!

To understand the arts is to know the mind and spirit of the people. In this class, we will explore Japan's artistic history through its profound and elegant creations. We will explore Japan's best contributions to the visual arts from prehistory, the earliest Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and sculpture and paintings until the time of the last feudal ruler. In so many creative fields, Japan's artistry has greatly influenced artists in our modern world. It is important to identify and credit those absorbed influences.

Signed into law in 1965, the Older Americans Act aims to support older Americans living independently in their homes and communities. Join us for an engaging overview of the Older Americans Act, designed for individuals unfamiliar with the law and its services. This class will provide insights into the bill, discussing key provisions, benefits, and services offered under the Act. Participants will understand how the law is applied in Arizona, how the Act impacts their lives, and the resources available to them.

It was a time of radical change, a time of violence. England was under siege internally and externally. Being on the wrong side, politically or religiously, could result in torture and death. Into this confusing and disordered world strode a young married man who had left his home of Stratford-upon-Avon to attempt his hand at playwriting for the London stage. His name was William Shakespeare. Join us for a discussion of the TV show Will, described as "Shakespeare on sex, drugs, and rock and roll."