December Mini Courses   

**This class will be taught on Zoom**

We will explore the idea of Europe’s accidental “discovery“ of the Americas through syncretism in art, beliefs, and linguistics that continue being a part of our world today. Pangea reunites, influencing all facets of European culture, creating a romantic vision of a “New World.” Misinterpretations and misunderstandings abound as our collective past is built atop the foundations of preexisting belief systems. As Europe and America meet, a global exchange begins.  

**This class is being taught as a hybrid, both in person and on Zoom at once. This section is ON ZOOM**

The Christmas story is celebrated in countless musical works, but mostly for the concert stage, like Handel’s beloved "Messiah."  But what about opera? Far from saying “Bah, humbug!," composers aplenty have found the Christmas Season a perfect backdrop for operatic storytelling. To help get you in a holiday mood, San Francisco Opera’s Dramaturg Emeritus will treat you to a glimpse of some Yuletide operas spanning the gamut from the silly to the sublime. Instead of a Wagnerian “Hojotoho,” it’s time for an operatic “Ho ho ho!"

**This class is being taught as a hybrid, both in person and on Zoom at once. This section is IN PERSON**

The Christmas story is celebrated in countless musical works, but mostly for the concert stage, like Handel’s beloved "Messiah."  But what about opera? Far from saying “Bah, humbug!," composers aplenty have found the Christmas Season a perfect backdrop for operatic storytelling. To help get you in a holiday mood, San Francisco Opera’s Dramaturg Emeritus will treat you to a glimpse of some Yuletide operas spanning the gamut from the silly to the sublime. Instead of a Wagnerian “Hojotoho,” it’s time for an operatic “Ho ho ho!"

**This class will be taught In-Person**

Bay Area music legend, educator and activist John Santos takes center stage in Santos—Skin to Skin (2022, 75 min.) A keeper of the Afro-Caribbean flame, the seven-time Grammy nominee percussionist and bandleader grew up on the rhythms of his Puerto Rican and Cape Verdean heritage. Director Kathryn Golden charts Santos' rise from early gigs to a brief stint with Santana to his prolific sextet and collaborations with Latin Jazz greats. Live performances, archival footage, commentary by jazz luminaries and an intimate glimpse of his family bring the man and his mission into vibrant focus. Santos—Skin to Skin just had its world premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival, where it was voted one of the Audience Favorites. Kathryn Golden and co-producer Ashley James join Michael Fox in conversation after the film.

Kathryn Golden (searchlightfilms.org) is an East Bay director, producer, and editor, whose many films include Across Time and Space (2002), Zenju's Path (2010) and Moments of Illumination—Lawrence Jordan (2010).

**This class will be taught on Zoom**

Our course explores the battles, diplomacy, massive building, art and family life of this fabled king, We’ll discover the love of his life, Nefertari, as well as his other wives (two of them his daughters). Fighting the legendary battle of Kadesh against the Hittites, he brokered a peace treaty that made his enemy his ally. We’ll also visit his empire in Canaan, a land that would soon give birth to Biblical Israel. And we’ll preview some of the key exhibit pieces..

**This class will be taught on Zoom**

Learn about the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar contest, which is conducted through a rigorous process of reading and discussion by professional crime writers.

(An Edgar nomination is the crime fiction equivalent of a Pulitzer nomination.)

We will discuss the five Edgar Award-nominated and winning crime novels for 2022 and what the diversity of styles and topics says about crime fiction.

2022 Edgar Nominees for Best Novel:

- How Lucky by Will Leach

- The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen

- No One Will Miss Her by Kat Rosenfeld

- Five Decembers by James Kestrel

- Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby

**This course will be offered on Zoom**

In this presentation we will celebrate the most engaging and entertaining songs written for the December holidays of Christmas and Hanukkah. 

You will learn about the fascinating history of these songs and what inspired the songwriters to write them.  You’ll see performances by such legends as Danny Kaye, Judy Garland, Shirley Temple, Tony Bennett, Tom Lehrer and the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes as well as delightfully inventive renditions of songs about the Maccabees, latkes, dreidels, menorahs and other Hanukkah traditions.

**This class will be taught on Zoom**

Writing a poem is like crossing a lake. While free verse may feel like swimming, formal verse may feel like paddling a canoe: a sturdy vessel has already been built for the writer of a formal poem. Many contemporary writers agree that climbing into the vessel of form offers an exhilarating liberation to explore a vast lake of feelings, ideas, images, metaphors, illuminations. A form, paradoxically, frees us to take risks with our artistry.

In our five weeks together we will climb into a variety of canoes. We will read and discuss a wide selection of contemporary poems, and write in five verse forms: ghazals, pantoums, villanelles, sonnets, and sestinas. We’ll talk about the rules/limits for these ancient forms and we’ll conspire to bend/break the rules in fruitful, twenty-first century ways. All are welcome—new and seasoned poets alike.