History & Culture   

Independence from Great Britain — a saga that began 250 years ago. This is not just a conversation about great battles, but a study of the power of a people to decide their future. Come explore these revolutionary events through the unique lens of a novel — Rise to Rebellion by bestselling author Jeff Shaara. We will explore the events that led to the outbreak of war on the village green of Lexington, meet the key personalities who issued the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, and conclude with an optional field trip to Concord and Boston where we will visit several of the historical sites from the course. (There will be an additional fee to participate in the field trip.) Repeat in-person course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Rise to Rebellion, Jeff Shaara, ISBN 0345452062

In partnership with Portland’s Irish Heritage Center, this course will lead us on a journey through Ireland’s rich literary, historical, and musical legacy. We will explore highlights in poetry, read James Joyce’s The Dubliners, consider key elements in Irish history as they relate to Portland, learn about musical and dance traditions, hear and speak Irish phrases, and be introduced to genealogical resources for personal enrichment. Designed for participants in the OLLI trip to Ireland in May 2025, this course is open to anyone interested in the vibrant heritage of Ireland. New hybrid course. Format includes lecture, discussion, film, and movement.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: Dubliners, James Joyce, ed. Terrance Brown, ISBN 9780140186475

In partnership with Portland’s Irish Heritage Center, this course will lead us on a journey through Ireland’s rich literary, historical, and musical legacy. We will explore highlights in poetry, read James Joyce’s The Dubliners, consider key elements in Irish history as they relate to Portland, learn about musical and dance traditions, hear and speak Irish phrases, and be introduced to genealogical resources for personal enrichment. Designed for participants in the OLLI trip to Ireland in May 2025, this course is open to anyone interested in the vibrant heritage of Ireland. New hybrid course. Format includes lecture, discussion, film, and movement.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: Dubliners, James Joyce, ed. Terrance Brown, ISBN 9780140186475

Enjoy six narrated walks through Portland’s historic neighborhoods exploring the city’s history, architecture, and people since Europeans arrived. Discuss historic structures, immigrant populations, and locally and regionally famous architects and view their works. All walks will be on pavement, with side trips to two grassy cemeteries. Rain or shine. Instructor will contact students about the meeting place prior to class.  Format includes movement.

The Middle East has a richly-developed film industry that delves into social and political issues from the early twentieth century to the present. We will view films touching upon themes of social class, gender, and politics in diverse settings from Morocco to Iran. Some are documentaries and some are commercially made. Discussion will follow the showing of the films. This course may be taken without having taken “Middle East on Film I” (Spring 2014) and “Middle East on Film II” (Fall 2014) and there will be no repetition of the films in I and II courses. Repeat remote course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and watching films.

By challenging Europe’s dehumanizing aristocratic values, Shakespeare’s “tragicomedies” pose conceptions of humanity that seek the common good, dignify productive labor, and evoke emotions of awe and discovery. These plays converge, in surprising detail, with republican currents among Puritan activists (who also embraced the revolutionary new sciences), and similar impulses embedded in England’s American colonial projects, where Captain John Smith led in the sharpening cultural clash. With equal parts history and drama, Europe and America, we explore Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Smith’s popular writings, and contemporary Puritan texts, revealing their common, America-focused hopes for a truly “New World.” REPEAT hybrid course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: The Tempest, William Shakespeare, any edition.

By challenging Europe’s dehumanizing aristocratic values, Shakespeare’s “tragicomedies” pose conceptions of humanity that seek the common good, dignify productive labor, and evoke emotions of awe and discovery. These plays converge, in surprising detail, with republican currents among Puritan activists (who also embraced the revolutionary new sciences), and similar impulses embedded in England’s American colonial projects, where Captain John Smith led in the sharpening cultural clash. With equal parts history and drama, Europe and America, we explore Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Smith’s popular writings, and contemporary Puritan texts, revealing their common, America-focused hopes for a truly “New World.” REPEAT hybrid course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: The Tempest, William Shakespeare, any edition.

This is the second part of a two-semester course. It runs from the Civil War to the present, and the first semester is not a requirement for the second. Topics will include: women in industrial America, immigrant women, urban social reformers, family life, suffrage, women at war, the Great Depression, gender, and race. Repeat remote course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.
SUGGESTED MATERIALS: America’s Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Helpmates, and Heroines, Gail Collins, ISBN 9780061227226