OF 0003.108 Mid-20th Century Art in Europe and America

After World War I, the idea that art could play a central role in bringing about a better society became a collective endeavor among artists, designers, and architects. See how visual artists portrayed the realities of the era, the Depression years, and World War II, by developing a modernist language of Art Deco, Precisionism, and Social Realism. Experience an in-depth study of such artists as Edward Hopper, Charles Sheeler, and Georgia O’Keeffe; the Bauhaus architects and Frank Lloyd Wright; Regionalists Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton; and the symbolic paintings of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.

Format: 70% Lecture, 20% Interactive discussion, 10% Hands-on activity

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Instructors
Damon Hitchcock
OF 0003.96 The Perennial Philosophy

Have you ever marveled at the uncanny similarities between the world’s many wisdom traditions? Borrowing the title from Aldous Huxley’s influential 1945 book, but going far beyond where Huxley left off, this course is the search for the “perennial philosophy,” that small set of timeless, universal principles found beneath the surface of the world’s many religious and philosophical traditions. We will search across cultures and through the centuries for evidence that a perennial philosophy exists, and explore the possibility that we too can access this unifying wisdom through our own direct experience.

Format: 70% Lecture, 30% Interactive discussion

Note: Both sections cover the same content.

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OF 0004.111 8,000 Days of Retirement

What will you do in retirement? Most of us have a clear image of day one, maybe even day 1,000. But few can imagine 8,000 days of golf or traveling. Instead of planning for retirement as a single state, it may be beneficial to re-frame it to reflect four phases — Honeymoon, Big Decision, Navigating Longevity, and Solo Journey. We’ll look at the tasks and issues we’re most likely to be managing in each phase of retirement, from transportation and home maintenance, to a social network that reinforces a healthy and active lifestyle. Leave with a clear vision of your retirement, what to anticipate, and how to plan for it.

Format: 60% Lecture, 25% Hands-on activity, 15% Demonstration

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OF 0003.109 Equality, Fairness, Liberty, and the Constitution

Equality, Fairness, Liberty, and the Constitution

Learn how the U.S. Constitution protects —and fails to protect — against discriminatory, arbitrary, or liberty-invading governmental action. With a focus on the Constitution’s Equal Protection and Due Process guarantees, we’ll look at key decisions by the Supreme Court and other government officials about the meaning of these fundamental rights. We’ll explore affirmative action, and whether such programs undermine or further equality; when governments must give notice and fair procedure before taking away drivers’ licenses and other government benefits; why only some privacy rights are strongly protected; and much more.

Format: 70% Lecture, 30% Interactive discussion

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Instructors
Glenn C Smith
2019 Spring
OF 0003.97 Emotional First Aid: Practical Actions to Help Those in Crisis

Discover the nuts and bolts of Emotional First Aid skills through workbook exercises, storytelling, role-playing, and lectures. Dive deep into the emotional instability of someone in crisis and how to best help them, using the C.A.R.E. Model. Review the pitfalls and trap doors of emotional pain and the reason not to ask the simple question, “Are you okay?” This innocent question leads to a misstep that becomes a downward spiral into what could cause unnecessary pain. Learn how to be an immediate and helpful presence to those who are at a temporary loss to think or act rationally due to crisis.

Format: 60% Lecture, 20% Interactive discussion, 20% Hands-on activity

Course Date(s)
February 12 - March 5
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OF 0004.112 Qi Gung for Health

Excellent for improving balance, joint mobility, and overall health, Qi Gung, or “Energy Work,” has been practiced in China for centuries. Part of the teachings that eventually became the famous martial art Tai Chi Chuan, Qi Gung consists of body movements paired with focused breathing and one’s imagination, to improve the flow and connection to Qi, the universal life energy. Students of all ages and levels of physical ability are welcome; workouts will be tailored to individual needs. Please wear comfortable clothing and lightweight shoes.

Format: 20% Lecture, 60% Hands-on activity, 20% Demonstration

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OF 0003.110 1968: A Pivotal Year as Captured on Film

The Tet offensive. The assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. Olympic protests. Apollo 8. The year 1968 remains one of the most tumultuous in history, and we’ll explore how its major events are remembered by their respective cultures, and discuss our own memories of these events. We’ll look at some of the more important films of 1968 and analyze how they reflect their time and continue to influence our current era. In addition, we’ll discuss a variety of texts that look at these events from a socio-cultural position.

Format: 25% Lecture, 30% Interactive discussion, 45% Film screenings

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Instructors
Rebecca Romani
OF 0003.98 Women, Health, and Healing

Why were so many midwives accused of witchcraft in Salem, MA in 1692? What herbal knowledge did Colonial women use to treat their families? Why did the AMA work to eradicate the effective services of ethnic midwives? How were women’s bodies (puberty, menstruation, childbirth, and menopause) pathologized by mainstream medical practitioners? We’ll explore cultural, religious, and legal beliefs about women’s bodies in specific time periods; and how social class, race, and marital status impacted those views. We’ll analyze and discuss crucial issues in Women’s Studies while reclaiming our past.

Format: 70% Lecture, 30% Interactive discussion

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OF 0004.113 The Army's Benevolence in San Diego's Naval Disaster: The 1905 Explosion of USS Bennington

Death was charitable among sailors aboard the gunboat USS Bennington, at anchor on San Diego Bay, July 21, 1905, when her main and forward boilers let loose. Clouds of black steam and the scent of death rose over the waterfront. Bennington shuddered and steam hissed at deafening pitch, filling every compartment. Days later, a convoy of wagons laboring under the weight of 47 coffins pressed north through the city toward the Post Cemetery. Learn what went so terribly wrong that 66 crewmen should die, and how a city and nation mourned one of the Navy’s worst peacetime disasters. Scanlon will give an overview of this lecture at the March 27 OLLI Café.

Format: 60% Lecture, 40% Interactive discussion

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OF 0003.111 Carmen Live at San Diego Opera

No one got involved with Carmen without being wounded. Opera’s most famous heroine was also the sexiest and most puzzling in a world of emotional heavyweights. This course will explore Bizet’s masterpiece — the origin of the story; a performance history of famous Carmens; and the musical construction itself, bringing us closer to the dramatic power of this timeless story of seduction, murder, and betrayal. You also have the option to attend a live performance of Carmen by the San Diego Opera at Civic Theater. Please purchase your tickets (choose from four dates) at sdopera.org/francisthumm_osher. Your Osher at SDSU discount will already be applied. All are welcome to attend the optional post-show discussion.

Format: 60% Lecture, 10% Interactive discussion, 20% Hands-on activity, 10% Demonstration

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