Courses: Spring   

No city stirs the imagination more than Venice. From the richly ornamented palaces emerging from the waters of the Grand Canal to the dazzling sites of Piazza San Marco, visitors and residents alike sense they are entering, as fourteenth-century poet Petrarch remarked, "another world." This course will examine how Venice's role as a major trading hub shaped its art, with influences from Northern Europe, the Byzantine Empire, and the Ottoman Empire. In conjunction with the exhibit Monet in Venice at the Legion of Honor Museum March 21–July 26, 2026, this course will study Venetian history, society and culture through the visual arts.

The first newly invented cameras arrived in the US already in the 1840s, and by the beginning of the 20th C photography had become a most powerful, versatile creative medium which started to shape our lives and sense of identity. This course will focus on 6 important groups of photographers who were pioneering in their field, using the camera to create modern art, to compliment literature, but also to bring about social change and document the complexities of life in our nation. 

**This class will be taught on Zoom**

Watch the Preview Video

Siberia constitutes three quarters of Russia’s territory, but only a quarter of the  country’s population lives there. Yet, the role of Siberia in making Russia a large and wealthy empire should not be underestimated. In this new course, we will talk about Siberia’s role in the rise and possibly imminent dismantling of Russia as a unified state; Siberia’s economic importance, both historically and today; the region’s indigenous peoples and their cultures; its role as a penal colony throughout history and how that function transformed the region; its importance for climate change and environmental issues; and the relations between Russia and China. 

Since the dawn of Cinema, both the Hollywood and International film communities have concerned themselves with the harmonious continuation of time-honored democratic traditions. The 1930s and 40s saw the world’s population nearly succumb to the devastating effects of a catastrophic global Depression, the rise of a European dictator triggering a second World War, and the terrifying prospects of sweeping totalitarianism in the atomic aftermath of that war.

This six-week course will focus primarily on the spirit of resistance as depicted by filmmakers willing to address this harrowing crisis. Among the dozen or more films from this historically important period we will watch and discuss are Michael Curtiz’s 1942 classic CASABLANCA, a film with much more on its mind than the simple problems of lovers during wartime, Andre De Toth’s rarely seen but brilliant 1944 film NONE SHALL ESCAPE that boldly predicted an Allied victory and the creation of a tribunal to deal with Nazi war criminals, and Chaplin’s devastating 1940 satire of Hitler, THE GREAT DICTATOR. Other titles in this course include: Ernst Lubitsch’s TO BE OR NOT TO BE (42), Archie Mayo’s BLACK LEGION (37), Rossellini’s OPEN CITY: ROME (46), Robert Bresson’s A MAN ESCAPED (56), Elia Kazan’s A FACE IN THE CROWD (57), and Kevin Brownlow’s disturbing speculative 1964 film IT HAPPENED HERE.

All films used for this course can be easily streamed via the usual sources or viewed on free links provided by the instructor.

**Note that this class will skip April 21 and end on May 26**

A study of selected films of Shakespeare plays, with attention to how movies can add to our understanding and enjoyment of the Bard. We will watch selected clips in class, comparing them to each other and to the play's text and exploring how the magic of film can enhance the text with location shooting, camera effects, star power, sound, etc. After surveying the history of Shakespeare film, we will focus on Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Midsummer Night's Dream, and Henry V. No expertise in film or Shakespeare is required for this course.  

The dervishes had nothing, only a robe and a begging bowl, yet they twirled in ecstasy. Today, with all our conveniences, we often struggle to touch joy. What did the mystics know that we’ve forgotten? This course invites you into the living wisdom of Rumi, Hafez, Khayyam, and other classical Persian writers who turned longing, loss, and love into luminous verse. Through original translations from Persian, rich cultural context, and open-hearted dialogue, we’ll explore how these centuries-old voices can awaken meaning and  connection in our own lives. Come curious. Come weary. Come with wonder. The poems and stories are waiting to speak, and perhaps even to transform. 

If you have been in touch with someone at OLLI SF State, please note their name: Kathy Bruin, Director  

The "Add to Waitlist" button will only appear if you are signed in, have a valid membership, and enrollment is open. Note that your membership must be valid throughout the length of the course.

This 6-week yoga series will focus on realigning your body’s optimum posture using a stable chair. Stretches will involve lengthening and strengthening of muscles that also support a healthy back. In addition to the chair, please have these yoga props available: strap, blocks and a blanket. (In lieu of the metal yoga chair, a sturdy dining/desk chair with no wheels will suffice; a belt/scarf, thick books and throw for the others.) It will also be helpful to set up the chair in front of a blank wall or tall, bar-height table.) 

**This class will be taught in-person**

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 six 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.

**This class will be taught on Zoom**

Watch the Preview Video

This fascinating dynamic course is to define the properties of Western classical music while exploring exotic elements embraced by the Western composers in their compositions. We will take a musical trip around the world to learn about non-Western music, learning of its elements, properties, and studying its musical instruments. We will examine Japan, China, Middle East, Mexico, South America, and together we will analyse, deduct, admire and conclude how it impacts Western classical music.

**This class is a Hybrid. This section of class will be taught In-Person**

Watch the Preview Video

Gilgamesh, Iliad, Odyssey, and Æneid are the foundation stories of our culture. Gilgamesh stands as the original epic of a Hero’s Journey through youthful arrogance, wild sex, wise women, environmental destruction, and arrival at maturity. The Iliad rides an anti-war message through operatic struggles of god-like men and childish gods, absurd brutality and incredible tenderness. The Odyssey tells of absent fatherhood, single motherhood, a man taught maturity by female archetypes, and a married couple rediscovering each other in midlife. Finally, the Æneid shows how a poet might shape a people’s sense of self. And we tell these stories through images of the greatest of Western art. 

**This class is a Hybrid. This section of class will be taught on Zoom**

Watch the Preview Video

Gilgamesh, Iliad, Odyssey, and Æneid are the foundation stories of our culture. Gilgamesh stands as the original epic of a Hero’s Journey through youthful arrogance, wild sex, wise women, environmental destruction, and arrival at maturity. The Iliad rides an anti-war message through operatic struggles of god-like men and childish gods, absurd brutality and incredible tenderness. The Odyssey tells of absent fatherhood, single motherhood, a man taught maturity by female archetypes, and a married couple rediscovering each other in midlife. Finally, the Æneid shows how a poet might shape a people’s sense of self. And we tell these stories through images of the greatest of Western art. 

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

Watch the Preview Video

Come explore fascinating cultures through the study of historical and contemporary ethnic textiles. We will examine how textiles indicate identity, wealth, status and concepts of beauty as well as embody important ritualistic qualities. The class combines illustrated lectures with the opportunity to look up-close at new examples of textiles from the instructor’s collection. Some are new destinations while others are revisited favorites.

The Master of Suspense hit his stride in his American films during these years, when Hitchcock made some of his most-remembered movies. This survey course will consist of in-depth discussions of six seminal films made in this period: Saboteur, Lifeboat, Rear Window, Strangers on a Train, North by  Northwest, and Psycho. 

 What were Hitchcock’s recurrent themes? Who was the ideal “Hitchcock woman?” What were his signature filmic elements? How did the director and cast deal with the special challenges of filming  Lifeboat? What really happened while filming the shower scene in Psycho?  

 Alfred Hitchcock... He tantalized, thrilled, and terrified us for decades, all the while reminding us “It’s only a movie.” 

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

From the 18th century to the 20th, France was the creative center of Western art. We’ll look at the art of these exciting years, and at the artists who created it. We’ll see some familiar faces—Édouard Manet, Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse—but we’ll meet some new faces, new places, and some fascinating cultural connections. Each week, we’ll focus on five or six artists and wander down curious paths where we’ll find French inventions like the jacquard loom, the modern color palette, wigs, cotton dresses, the great cat massacre, the Crocrodrome, furniture music, the “decisive moment” and the little black dress.

Membership is active for one year from date of purchase.  

A valid SF State OLLI membership provides you with access to more than 100 programs and events annually.

Benefits include:

• Ability to sign up for any number of 6-week courses and course packages on a variety of topics.
• 20 free lectures a year on the main SFSU campus - see OLLI Plus here: https://olli.sfsu.edu/interest-groups
• Numerous Special Interest Groups: Current Events, OLLI Plus, Art Creativity, SF Adventures, Share A Book, Share A Film, Italian and French language groups, Poetry Writing, OLLI Hikers, Human Evolution Discussion and others. View descriptions and schedules of groups.
• Events such as Faculty Previews, museum tours, monthly Lunch Bunch, Happy Hours 3-4 times a year, and other group outings.
• Participation in travel activities open only to OLLI SF members
• Ability to submit to Vista & Byways, our bi-annual literary magazine online
• Student discounts to SF State Main Gymnasium (Nasser), including access to the weight room during certain hours and FitPlus classes. Learn more here: https://kin.sfsu.edu/fit-plus.
• Weekly E-Newsletter with OLLI updates and upcoming events.
• A place to be in community and make new friends!

You must have a current Annual Membership or have signed in and added the Annual Membership to your cart before you can purchase this discounted course package. A course package entitles you to 3 courses at a discount. The price of the course will be automatically deducted from each course. *Note that if you sign up for a small hands-on course, like a writing course, $30 will still be due beyond the course subtracted from your package.

Course packages are good for one year and can be used with $125 courses in the full (non-Mini Course) sessions available during the year: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall. When the package is purchased will determine which session comes first as a package can be purchased any time during the year.

Any left over classes cannot be carried forward after 12 months.

You must have a current Annual Membership or have signed in and added the Annual Membership to your cart before you can purchase this discounted course package. A course package entitles you to 6 courses at a discount. The price of the course will be automatically deducted from each course. *Note that if you sign up for a small hands-on course, like a writing course, $30 will still be due beyond the course subtracted from your package.

Course packages are good for one year and can be used with $125 courses in the full (non-Mini Course) sessions available during the year: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall. When the package is purchased will determine which session comes first as a package can be purchased any time during the year.

Any left over classes cannot be carried forward after 12 months.

You must have a current Annual Membership or have signed in and added the Annual Membership to your cart before you can purchase this discounted course package. A course package entitles you to 10 courses at a discount. The price of the course will be automatically deducted from each course.

*Note that if you sign up for a small hands-on course, like a writing course, $30 will still be due beyond the course subtracted from your package.

Course packages are good for one year and can be used with $125 courses in the full (non-Mini Course) sessions available during the year: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall. When the package is purchased will determine which session comes first as a package can be purchased any time during the year.

Any left over classes cannot be carried forward after 12 months.