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- Art and Crime Part 2: Thieves
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Speaker: Nora Hamerman
Dates: 10/17/2024 - 11/14/2024
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
These lectures will deal with theft, including the theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in 1911, the theft of three paintings from the Gardner Museum in Boston, and the theft of a Caravaggio in Palermo in 1969. The course will document two large-scale looting sprees, that of the Napoleonic armies from around 1795 to 1815, and that of the Nazis, including the heroic saga of the Monuments Men (the American soldiers deployed to find and recover Nazi loot). The ongoing debate about repatriating works of art that were wrongfully seized by colonial powers will also be discussed.
This course will meet online October 17, 24, 31, November 7, and 14.
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- Book Club: Poverty in America
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Speaker: Ralph Bangs
Dates: 10/15/2024 - 11/19/2024
Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 5
Modality: Hybrid
Fee: $0.00
Poverty is a serious problem for all racial groups in America. In this course, each week will feature a different recent book on poverty conditions, causes, and solutions. The books are White Poverty (Barber and Wilson-Hartgrove), Poverty, By America (Matthew Desmond), Injustice of Place (Kathryn Edin et al.), Poverty in the Pandemic (Zachary Parolin), and Broke in America (Goldblum and Shaddox). The class will be asked to read each week’s book or at least a book review and participate in the discussion.
NOTE: This course will be hybrid, meeting in the Community Engagement Center in Homewood and on Zoom.
This course is hybrid and will meet October 15, 22, 29, November 12, and 19. There is no class November 5th.
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- Broadway Now!
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Speaker: Ken Gargaro
Dates: 10/16/2024 - 11/13/2024
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This is a survey course for the person who wants to know what’s buzzing on Broadway for the 2024 season and what shows coming to Pittsburgh are worth seeing. Classes will revolve around reviews, trailers, and insider comments. With ticket prices at the highest level in history, it is best to do a bit of reconnaissance to inform one’s decisions. Promising shows for the upcoming season include Water for Elephants, a revival of The Who’s Tommy and The Great Gatsby. Pittsburgh is likely to see & Juliet, MJ the Musical, and Hamilton.
This course will meet online October 16, 23, 30, November 6, and 13.
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- Color by the Masters
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Speaker: Ann Rosenthal
Dates: 10/17/2024 - 11/14/2024
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:50 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
In this course, we will analyze the color strategies of one or more master artists each week. We will then apply what we learn to our own artwork. A range of art periods, styles, subject matter, and media will be explored, including still life and landscape, watercolor and acrylic. This course builds on the instructor’s prior Color Deep Dive class, but it will be equally valuable for those who did not attend that course.
This course will meet online October 17, 24, 31, November 7, and 14.
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- Darkness and Light: Lincoln's Depression and Leadership
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Speaker: David Fetterman
Dates: 10/17/2024 - 11/14/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: Th
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This course will explore Abraham Lincoln’s life and how his experience of melancholy (a name for depression in the 19th century) influenced his leadership and legacy. We will explore societal attitudes toward mental health in the 19th century and today. Finally, we will consider the impact of Lincoln’s melancholy on several of his leadership traits (e.g., empathy, resilience, and visionary thinking). A key text will be Joshua Wolf Shenk’s Lincoln’s Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness.
This course will meet online October 17, 24, 31, November 7, and 14.
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- European Politics and Government in the 21st Century
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Speaker: Paul Adams
Dates: 10/16/2024 - 11/13/2024
Times: 3:15 PM - 4:45 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This course is designed as an introductory survey that briefly but concisely describes political institutions, political cultures, issues, and trends in different European countries over the past 25 years. It will also focus on the roles of the European Union (EU) and NATO. The course will cover big countries like France and Germany but many smaller ones, too, like Ireland and Switzerland.
This course will meet online October 16, 23, 30, November 6, and 13.
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- Exploring the World of Food and Nutrition
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Speaker: Judith Dodd
Dates: 10/16/2024 - 11/13/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: W
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
Food is an ongoing and important part of our lives. How it is grown, processed, prepared, and stored are critical to both availability and our health. Aging is another factor that affects both the product and the host, and the results can be instant and long-lasting. This course will help explore food, diets, and health needs with the focus on the past, present, and maybe the future. Participants should bring questions but also understand that this course is not a personal prescription; it is an exploration of food and healthy nutrition.
This course will meet online October 16, 23, 30, November 6, and 13.
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- Five Element Qigong- Principles and Practice
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Speaker: Laura Budde
Dates: 10/16/2024 - 11/20/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
Qigong translates to cultivating life energy. In this course, participants will enjoy theory along with active qigong: gentle movements, stretching, acupressure, self-massage, breath awareness, and visualization to encourage the flow of energy. Five-element theory encourages awareness of our connection with the rhythms of nature. This practice requires no props and can be enjoyed either standing or seated in a chair.
This course will meet online October 16, 23, 30, November 13, and 20. There is no class November 6th.
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- Forward to the Past: 70s Popular Music
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Speaker: David Crippen
Dates: 10/17/2024 - 11/14/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This course will explore how and why the music of the 1970s evolved from the psychedelic era to a unique art form and a social force and how it expanded to radically new vistas. An era evolved to the new American attitude, away from communitarianism and toward individualism, and toward a society comprised of self-interested and largely self-sufficient individuals—the “Me Generation.” The subject matter will be explored through lectures, PowerPoint presentations, selected YouTube videos and discussion.
This course will meet online October 17, 24, 31, November 7, and 14.
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- Fundamentals of Evolution
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Speaker: Adam Davis
Dates: 10/18/2024 - 11/15/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: F
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This course explores the basic principles of biological evolution, starting from Darwin's theory of natural selection and working up to modern advancements in developmental biology. Concepts covered will include both microevolution and macroevolution, with examples of evolution affecting both human and nonhuman organisms, and how evolutionary forces have shaped the history of life in the distant past and continue to do so even in the present day.
This course will meet online October 18, 25, November 1, 8, and 15.
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- Germany: From Occupation to Unification
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Speaker: Anette Isaacs
Dates: 10/15/2024 - 11/19/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This year’s 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall presents us with the perfect opportunity to witness the striking transformation of Germany, from a brutal belligerent dictatorship to a flourishing and pacifist democracy. This course will be a fascinating discussion of how Europe’s most populous nation fared in the last eight decades. We will begin our exploration in the pivotal year 1945 and go to the present, allowing us to gain a deep understanding of German history, politics, and society.
This course will meet online October 15, 22, 29, November 12, and 19. Please note: there is no class November 5th.
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- Gorbachev to Putin: The Fall and Rise of Russia
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Speaker: Jared Day
Dates: 10/16/2024 - 11/13/2024
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This course examines the precipitous decline of Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. It examines the economic and political meltdown of the Yeltsin years, even as reformers sought to introduce western-style norms combined with unprecedented levels of social and economic openness. We will also explore the rise of Vladimir Putin and his reassertion of Russian power both at home and abroad, leading to fraught relations and a series of wars with neighboring states.
This course will meet online October 16, 23, 30, November 6, and 13.
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- Harnessing the Power of Your iPhone
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Speaker: Richard Fitzgibbon
Dates: 10/15/2024 - 11/19/2024
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
The iPhone is a communication device, and it is a portable computer in your pocket. Are you using your expensive device to make your life easier, or is the frustration level rising? The aim of this course is to develop your confidence in using your iPhone to assist you in your daily life. This course will explore the apps that Apple provides, such as mail, iMessage, Contacts, Photos, Camera, Notes, Weather, Maps, and others. For this course, you will need an iPhone running the most recent version of the operating system (likely to be iOS 17 released in Fall 2024).
This course will meet online October 15, 22, 29, November 12, and 19. There is no class November 5th.
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- History of the Tony Awards: Part 2
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Speaker: Sam Caponegro
Dates: 10/18/2024 - 11/15/2024
Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: F
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
If you enjoy Broadway musicals, you know about the coveted Tony Awards that are bestowed on special musicals and talented performers, directors, choreographers, producers and songwriters. Join us as we watch and discuss clips from award-winning Broadway musicals.
This course will meet online October 18, 25, November 1, 8, and 15.
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- Irish and Irish American Nationalism
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Speaker: Peter Gilmore
Dates: 10/15/2024 - 11/19/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
For more than 200 years, visions of independence and freedom for Ireland percolated throughout the island and circulated around the Atlantic, as Irishwomen and men were forced to migrate by exigencies, economic and political. The Irish in the United States became a source of people, money, and ideas. Irish and Irish American Nationalism will examine the movements, the ideas, and the personalities, including the exiles, contributing to Irish independence.
This course will meet online October 15, 22, 29, November 12, and 19. There is no class November 5th.
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- Mad Genius: Famous Artists and Psychological Disorders
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Speaker: John Mullennix
Dates: 10/15/2024 - 11/19/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
The course will explore the Mad Genius hypothesis, which is the idea that producing noteworthy art is correlated with having a psychological disorder. The scientific research relevant to this hypothesis will be discussed along with a few selected case studies of famous artists (including van Gogh, Dali, Munch, and Pollock). The course will be primarily lectures with no outside class readings or videos required.
This course will meet online October 15, 22, 29, November 12, and 19. There is no class November 5th.
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- Map of the World, Part 1
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Speaker: Michael Rizzi
Dates: 10/17/2024 - 11/14/2024
Times: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This course introduces members to world geography, with special emphasis on issues in the news. Have you ever read about a refugee crisis in a foreign country, and been unsure where that country is? This course will help you fill in the blanks on your own mental map of the world and learn something interesting about every country on the planet. Follow along as we move from region to continent to identify countries and to discuss their history, language, culture, and contemporary political issues.
This course will meet online October 17, 24, 31, November 7, and 14.
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- Narrative Poems
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Speaker: David Walton
Dates: 10/17/2024 - 11/14/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
We will read and discuss a variety of narrative poems past and recent. Some will be longer, most will be brief, but many come with their own story attached. We will look at a range of ballads and some longer poems by Chaucer, Keats, and Edna St. Vincent Millay. Subjects range from the shield of Achilles to actress Hattie McDaniel. Sorry — no ravens, aged mariners, or dead duchesses.
This course will meet online October 17, 24, 31, November 7, and 14.
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- Palestinian Literature: Representations of a Silenced People
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Speaker: Kenneth Boas
Dates: 10/15/2024 - 11/19/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This course will look at the stories, novels, poetry, and essays of a few of the important voices in contemporary Palestinian literature. This will be a discussion class that will enable members to express their analyses and appreciation of a people's literature very rarely brought to their attention. The course is akin to a class in Black American, Native American, or women's literature in that the texts represent the voices of a peoples' struggle for equality and freedom that constitute the core of these literatures.
This course will meet online October 15, 22, 29, November 12, and 19. There is no class November 5th.
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- Politics of Appalachia
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Speaker: Kristin Kanthak
Dates: 10/15/2024 - 11/19/2024
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
Located where the Rust Belt meets Appalachia, Western Pennsylvania is the ideal location to explore the ways in which Appalachia both shapes and is shaped by American politics. The story of Appalachia is itself often politicized, reducing the area and its residents to insulting stereotypes. This course will center on addressing the real, complex stories about Appalachian resilience, while also discussing the causes and consequences of Appalachia’s reductive narrative. We will construct a new, more realistic understanding of our home region, and potentially point to ways we might work together to co-create its future.
This course will meet online October 15, 22, 29, November 12, and 19. There is no class November 5th.
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- Shakespeare's Macbeth
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Speaker: Norma Greco
Dates: 10/16/2024 - 11/13/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth depicts Macbeth's murderous quest for political power in medieval Scotland while reflecting on Shakespeare’s early 17th century England. First performed in 1606, the play presents the dangers of “vaulting ambition” that leads Macbeth to sacrifice moral duty in his pursuit of power. But the play, which still speaks to audiences today, raises broader questions about moral responsibility and the search for meaning that deepen and complicate the play’s political theme. We will read Macbeth carefully and explore these questions as they relate to the course of the tragedy. Participants will be encouraged to view notable productions.
This course will meet online October 16, 23, 30, November 6, and 13.
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- Shaping of the Modern World, Part 2
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Speaker: Robert Rodrigues
Dates: 10/16/2024 - 11/13/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: W
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This course is an introduction to the history of the world in the twentieth century and will primarily feature the second half of the century. It will examine the forces that have produced the great changes of that century and integrate the American experience with that of Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Topics included will be World War II, the New Nationalism, a post-modern revolt in Latin America, the Cold War, and the collapse of the Soviet Union ending the century will be explored. (Note: Part 1 is not needed to register for this course).
This course is an introduction to the history of the world in the twentieth century and will primarily feature the second half of the century. It will examine the forces that have produced the great changes of that century and integrate the American experience with that of Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Topics included will be World War II, the New Nationalism, a post-modern revolt in Latin America, the Cold War, and the collapse of the Soviet Union ending the century will be explored. (Note: Part 1 is not needed to register for this course).
This course will meet online October 16, 23, 30, November 6, and 13.
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- Spanish Red Wine Tour
- THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
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Speaker: Ricardo Llovet
Dates: 10/16/2024 - 11/20/2024
Times: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Days: W
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
Spain has been able to preserve it autochthonous varietals and old vineyards. It is at the forefront of sustainability while confronting climate change. We will tour Spain through its red wines. Each week we will taste and rate a wine from an appellation while we explore its terroir, the varietal, and possibly some regional history or architecture. We will try different wines from a variety of regions; choices will depend on what is available and affordable at the store. The instructor will identify the wines a few weeks before the course starts for members to purchase.
This course will meet online October 16, 23, November 6, 13, and 20. There is no class October 30th.
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- U.S. Foreign Policy, 1912-1920
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Speaker: John Burt
Dates: 10/18/2024 - 11/15/2024
Times: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Days: F
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
In this critical period of the early 20th century, the United States emerged as a power on the world stage and, for good and ill, pursued foreign policies which foreshadowed much of American policy throughout the century. This course considers the successes, failures, complications, and involvements of diplomats, politicians, soldiers, and businesspeople and raises the question about why 20 years later, the world was again at war.
This course will meet online October 18, 25, November 1, 8, and 15.
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- Zentangle™ Critters
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Speaker: Sue Schneider
Dates: 10/15/2024 - 11/19/2024
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
Let's play with animals and other critters using Zentangle™ -inspired art styles. Although Zentangle™ usually has us drawing abstract designs, in this course we will use pattern drawing to create birds, bugs, fish, cats and more. Zentangle™ is a popular art process that is accessible to all, improves focus and a sense of calm and well-being. No previous experience is necessary.
This course will meet online October 15, 22, 29, November 12, and 19. There is no class November 5th.
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- 100 D-Days: The Air War Against the Rising Sun
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Speaker: Buck Beasom
Dates: 10/14/2024 - 11/18/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Days: M
Sessions: 6
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This course, a bookend to the course War in the Skies: The Air War in Europe 1939-45, covers World War II in the Pacific, with a particular focus on the air war. It traces the development of Japan as a modern military power, its early triumphs in Asia and the South Pacific, and how the Allies – particularly the United States – turned the tide, mainly using air power launched from carriers or air bases captured during the “island hopping” campaigns of 1943-45. It concludes with the ultimate immolation of Japan under the weight of American incendiaries and – eventually – two atomic bombs.
This course will meet online October 14, 21, 28, November 4, 11, and 18. Please note: this course meets 6 times.
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- 3D Printing: Ancient Roots, Local Ties
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Speaker: Howard Kuhn
Dates: 10/14/2024 - 11/11/2024
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
Throughout history, people have fashioned materials into tools for sustenance, shelter, safety, and artistic creativity. Originally, cutting and chipping removed material from a simple wood or stone shape to produce a functional device. Then molding and forming processes, such as the potter’s wheel and bronze casting, expanded the complexity of shapes and materials. Now 3D printing, adding material bit by bit, extends manufacturing capabilities to previously impossible geometries and alters our thinking about design. We will discuss the evolution of 3D printing, the roles of local enterprises in its development, and its influence on shaping the future.
This course will meet online October 14, 21, 28, November 4, and 11.
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- Difficult Stories of Women in the Bible
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Speaker: Sarah Rosenson
Dates: 10/14/2024 - 11/11/2024
Times: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Days: M
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
It is sometimes difficult for modern people to read texts from ancient patriarchal societies and see how women were treated at that time. In this interactive, online discussion course, we will delve into some challenging stories found in the Bible. Women studied will include Hagar, Lot’s wife and daughters, Sarah, Dinah, and Esther. Each week we will also look at one or two paintings of these fascinating women.
This course will meet online October 14, 21, 28, November 4, and 11.
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- Medicare Made Easy
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Speaker: Sean Horn
Dates: 10/14/2024 - 11/11/2024
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
Most seniors in the Pittsburgh region will agree: Medicare shouldn't be this hard to understand. There is too much information and not enough clarity provided to ensure people can confidently thrive with their healthcare decisions. Through this course, the instructor will explain every part of Medicare and how participants can maximize their coverage selections.
This course will meet online October 14, 21, 28, November 4, and 11.
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- Reimagining Yourself Through Creative Writing
- THIS CLASS IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.
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Speaker: Laurie McMillan
Dates: 10/14/2024 - 11/11/2024
Times: 3:15 PM - 4:45 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
This creative writing course will help members refocus, reimagine, and reinvigorate their lives through writing from prompts and discussion designed to employ imagination and insight. Participants can write in any genre they wish, and no writing experience is necessary. The course will give members the space and encouragement they need to enhance creativity. Writing tools and ideas to continue work in class and inspire further discovery will be offered.
This course will meet online October 14, 21, 28, November 4, and 11.
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- The Great Tenors
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Speaker: Raymond Uy
Dates: 10/14/2024 - 11/11/2024
Times: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 5
Modality: Online
Fee: $0.00
The singing voice has the power to resonate with audiences and stir emotions. In this course, we will discuss and compare the greatest tenors in the age of recorded music. Examples will include Enrico Caruso, Beniamino Gigli, Jussi Bjorling, Franco Corelli, Mario Lanza, Fritz Wunderlich, Luciano Pavarotti, and many more. Using their quintessential recordings, we will analyze various aspects of their performances, from timbre and technique to dramatic expression and interpretation. We will conclude with classic holiday albums and contemporary tenors.
This course will meet online October 14, 21, 28, November 4, and 11.
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