Thursday   

Exploring how people created living spaces is a glimpse into their culture itself.  Each building is designed around visionary use and practical needs.  Within the Russian Empire and Soviet Union, buildings are also time capsules that trace history.  This series gives brief glimpses into the variety of building types and styles that define architecture.  

The seventeen string quartets of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) have been considered defining examples of chamber music composition since their first appearance between the late 1790s and mid-1820s, a perpetual source of intimidation for composers of the 19th and 20th centuries. The characteristic style of the composer’s early, middle, and late periods of writing are each represented brilliantly among ten opus numbers, the last six so innovative and individualistic that they constituted a prototype for the concept of the avant garde as cultivated in music composition of the 20th century.

Hollywood was silent about the Holocaust until 1947. Thereafter, it addressed issues of antisemitism and Jewish assimilation through films in both direct and indirect ways. This course will screen several films that capture this process. We will also consider Hollywood itself as a “test case” of assimilation. We will watch several films together during our class meetings, but will have ample time for discussion and questions. Please note that this is a two-hour long class. 

More than sixty years after the Beatles first entered a recording studio, their music remains as influential and fascinating as ever. This lecture, listening, and discussion course traces the band's recording career from their earliest sessions through Let It Be. We will explore the stories behind the twelve U.K. studio albums, as well as key singles, EPs, and U.S. releases, examining the creative partnerships and musical innovations that shaped their remarkable career from 1961 to 1970. This is an updated version of the course previously offered in Fall 2024.

Economics plays a central role in  every aspect of society. This course addresses a set of prominent policy issues where economics is at their core. We will explore their origins as policy matters, the underlying data and evidence, and what policy levers are available to deal with them. Lectures will be standalone, taught by a subject matter expert – all of whom have a Ph.D. in Economics. Potential topics include Climate Change, Social Security, Economic Inequality, and many more. The topics will be determined by what is most topical at the time of the course.  No reading is required. Course guide correction: The first meeting of this course is on Thursday, October 8th. 

What if creativity isn't about talent or inspiration, but courage — and what if courage is contagious? In this lively, story-filled class, we'll explore what sparks us, what stalls us, and what helps us start again (and again). No critics invited — just curiosity, humor, and the kind of conversation that makes creating feel possible. Again.