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This course is only available to Osher members.
By looking at “great” buildings throughout history, we will learn about the principles of architecture and the importance of materials, technology and patronage. Each week we will examine one or two important buildings and the role that innovation plays in any building, no matter its historical origins.
September 27 - November 1
This course is only available to Osher members.
In 1866, the Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote what would become one of the world’s great novels about murder. And it’s told from the murderer’s point of view. People are still reading it and arguing about what it means—indeed, it can be read in more than 170 languages. It’s an odd yet compelling book—we learn from the murderer Raskolnikov that he is indeed guilty. The mystery revolves around why he committed the murder—Raskolnikov keeps changing his own explanations. Here is a novel about the dangerous powers of ideas, revolving around the question of whether a truly extraordinary person can overstep the barriers of morality and law; a story of friendship, love, and redemption, asking the ultimate questions about human life.This discussion course anticipates that students will read the novel and actively participate in class discussion about each week’s reading.
October 4 - November 8
This course is only available to Osher members.
There are survey courses in art, history, art history, and (this is true) history of art history. Isn't it time for one of the most vibrant and popular of the arts to be taken seriously? This course has the temerity to claim humor is an art form, then try to prove it by looking at what it is and how it works – the history, mythology, anthropology, biology, psychology, philosophy and even theology of comedy. Examples come from the form’s most expert practitioners: Chaplin, Keaton, Groucho, Wilder, Sellers, Allen, Martin, Ferrell, Python, Pryor, Colbert, C.K., Stiller, Silverman and Schumer. David also draws from his background in comedy to show how professional humor is constructed.
October 10 - November 21
As our world undergoes rapid transformation, it's essential to understand the power and impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Join us in this dynamic 2-hour presentation as we delve into the fascinating realm of AI, exploring its components such as machine learning, open chat, and scenario simulation. Together, we will tackle crucial questions: Are we prepared for AI? Should we embrace or ignore it? Can we trust it? Gain valuable insights into how AI is reshaping various aspects of our daily lives, from transportation and news consumption to banking, education, and lifestyle.
November 8 - November 8
Explore the profound impact of migration on women's lives in this thought-provoking course. Investigate how factors such as sex, race, class, ethnicity, and more intersect to shape the unique experiences of women in migration. We’ll discuss the complex relationship between women's sexuality and the development and implementation of U.S. immigration laws. As part of this course, you'll also learn how acculturation affects the autonomy of immigrant daughters and their sexual behavior, while also opening up new opportunities for them. Join us to explore pressing questions on immigration's influence on identity, body, and sexuality. Enroll for an enlightening journey towards empowering women and fostering gender equality.
September 25 - October 16
In an era where the media's influence is unparalleled, it's crucial to understand who shapes today's media landscape. We’ll uncover the intricacies of news consumption, the nuances between fake and real news, while examining its origins and influence on our society and global landscape. Join us for an enlightening journey where we examine the multifaceted nature of news sources, each with its own unique agendas. Discover how you, as an engaged citizen, can navigate the media landscape, whether you prefer CNN or Fox, The New York Times or Wall Street Journal, or tune in to NPR or Tucker Carlson. This candid and honest course invites you to join a thought-provoking conversation about the evolving role of media in our lives. Gain the tools to critically analyze news, decode biases, and make informed decisions.
October 24 - October 31
A national holiday commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King. Movies portray the lives of Jackie Robinson and Malcolm X. Even so, the civil rights leader that brought about the most significant, lasting change in the 20th century is Thurgood Marshall. Beginning his legal work with the NAACP in 1934, Thurgood Marshall often at great personal risk won case after case bringing justice to black Americans. Culminating with his victory in the historic Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954, Marshall more than anyone else brought an end to legal segregation in the United States. Appointed to the Supreme Court in 1967, Marshall joined the fraternity of liberal justices that guaranteed the Constitutional rights of all Americans.
October 31 - October 31
September 26 - October 17
What do the Nazis, Superman and Marilyn Monroe have in common? Find out from authors Helene Stapinski and Bonnie Siegler. Their journey began in 2016 when Siegler approached Stapinski, a New York Times journalist, to write about her grandfather, Jules, his escape from Nazi Germany and the footage he shot of Marilyn Monroe during the filming of The Seven Year Itch. After the Times story went viral, Siegler discovered that her grandfather's financial sponsor to come to America was the publisher of Superman comics. Stapinski and Siegler spent two years researching, traveling to Berlin and interviewing family members to create this incredible tale, published by Simon & Schuster this past February.
November 7 - November 7
Felicia Bornstein Lubliner wrote about her internment in ghettos and concentration camps in Nazi-occupied Poland before her death in 1974. Her powerful stories shed light on her experiences and indomitable spirit, telling a story that Rabbi Dennis J. Eisner described as "deeper than a number—6,000,000—giving us a human touch in the midst of inhumanity.” Her son, Irving, will share excerpts from her book, “Only Hope: A Survivor’s Stories of the Holocaust.” You will learn about the Holocaust through his mother's eyes, as well as how he, the child of two survivors of Auschwitz, was impacted by his parents' experiences.
October 24 - October 24