318. THE HOUSE OF GOD

For more than 1,700 years, many of Western man’s most spectacular architectural creations have been reserved for religious buildings. This series of ten slide lectures will trace the structural, spatial and dec¬orative development of these edifices from Early Christian times to the present.

211. CURRENT EVENTS

Each week Mr. Peracchio will discuss international and national stories vividly and accurately. The recip-ient of several national journalism awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for general news reporting, Mr. Peracchio has also served as a member of the Round Table Council for Foreign Affairs at Newsday.

217. THE MOZART OPERAS

MARC COURTADE

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's operas comprise twenty-two musical dramas in a variety of genres, from the small-scale works of his youth to the full-fledged operas of his maturity. This course will examine seven of his works in great detail. We will start with his two major Singspiels, Die Entführung aus dem Serail and Die Zauberflöte. Next, we will examine his two major works in the opera seria mold, Idomeneo and La Clemenza di Tito. We will allot one week each to the three operas composed to librettos by Lorenzo da Ponte: Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni and Cosi fan Tutte. This course will be "user friendly," with a lot of listening and a lot of explanation.

Week I January 11
Die Entführung aus dem Serail (1782); Die Zauberflöte (Vienna - 1791)

Week II January 18
Idomeneo (Munich - 1781); La Clemenza di Tito (Prague - 1791)

Week III January 25
Le Nozze di Figaro (Vienna - 1786)

Week IV February 1
Don Giovanni (Prague - 1787)

Week V February 8
Cosi fan Tutte (Vienna - 1790)

TUESDAY

214. CURRENT EVENTS

ADRIAN PERACCHIO

Each week Mr. Peracchio will discuss international and national stories vividly and accurately. The recip-ient of several national journalism awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for general news reporting, Mr. Peracchio has also served as a member of the Round Table Council for Foreign Affairs at Newsday.

The Christian Old Testament is a repository of engag¬ing and often profound stories. The Hebrew Bible details the origins and experiences of the people of Israel. Who wrote these stories, and why did they write them? What do they mean to us today? We will call upon the centuries-old tradition of Bible scholar¬ship to explore these questions. We will also consider how the events described in the Bible compare with the modern-day secular archaeological and historical records.

January 5 – February 9

216. MORE THAN AN UNFINISHED SYMPHONY: SCHUBERT

Franz Peter Schubert died at the early age of 31 but wrote some of the world's greatest music. The famil¬iar melodies of his "Unfinished Symphony" seem to be known by all, and "The Great Symphony in C Major" places him in the category of one of the great¬est symphonic writers of all time. His music includes works for various voice arrangements, but by far his most famous are the over 600 songs for solo voice. This lecture series will look at the unique ways in which Schubert put together some of his orchestral, vocal, and chamber works with all of their beautiful melodies and harmonies. Some will be familiar and some not. Of course there will be some interesting stories about a very interesting life.

218. DANTE’S INFERNO

In his Divine Comedy, Dante constructs an imaginative afterlife based upon the Christian understanding of the divine structure of the universe. In this course, we will look specifically at the Inferno, Dante's rendering of the torments of hell. In the process, we will examine the intellectual climate and political context of his work while examining the philosophical conflicts Dante responds to in envisioning punishments for real and imaginary individuals.

219. ORGANIC GARDENING: A GREEN ADVENTURE THROUGH “SLOW FOOD,” “LOCAVORES,” “CSAs” AND MORE

Why is it that we often buy our food in grocery stores which may have shipped it over thousands of miles, even though much fresher, more nutritionally viable food might be right around the corner? Why can’t we learn to think like “locavores” (Oxford “word of the year”) and buy more of our food locally? These and other interesting considerations (e.g., “slow food” vs. fast food) will be discussed as we embark on an inter¬esting adventure through history, science, and methods of organic gardening. This course will include a segment which allows you to cultivate using soil and seed materials provided by the professors. Space is limited, so sign up early if you want to have some fun and find out what “going green” is all about.

220. DOSTOEVSKY’S CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment represents one of the most innovative and influential novels of the nine-teenth-century. Engaging the tumultuous political and cultural ferment sweeping across Russia in the mid-nineteenth century, Dostoevsky's tense and grip¬ping psychological drama examines the conscious¬ness of a young, self-styled revolutionary who decides to put his ideology into action. Through a close read¬ing of the novel and some background material, we will examine and discuss the philosophical, psycho¬logical, and political problems it raises. (Note: We will be using the Vintage edition translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky)

229. THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION

This course surveys the historical development of the United States Constitution. Emphasis is placed on how political, social, and ideological change affected the structure, function and content of this "supreme Law of the Land." Particular attention is given to examining the impact of influential events at the state level during the late 1700s and the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Topics covered include the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the ratification process and the relationship between the various branches of government.

3 sessions

332. DEATH OF NEWSPAPERS AND THE FUTURE OF NEWS

ADRIAN PERACCHIO

Newspapers are in crisis and chances are that many will not survive. What is killing them and what will happen when major cities are left without their news¬papers? Join us as we try to answer these questions and more, while also attempting to determine what kind of news landscape we may eventually be left with, and what this means for democracy.

Fee: $100

333. JEAN RHYS’ WIDE SARGASSO SEA

Basing her novel on the enigmatic madwoman in the attic from Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, Jean Rhys explores the relationship between the forces of British colonialism and patriarchal domination by tracing the trajectory of Antoinette Cosway, a young Creole woman left vulnerable by the collapse of French power in the Caribbean. In this haunting novel, Rhys describes Antoinette’s descent into insanity after her marriage to Rochester.

5 sessions

WEDNESDAY

221. WRITING THE STORIES OF YOUR LIFE: THE WAY IT WAS K

“Your past is like a refrigerator, once the door is open write the memories directly in front of you, the most vivid ones, the ones that press themselves upon you. When you are finished with those, others in the back will come forward.” Bernard Selling

Through a combination of informal lectures, discussion, in-class writing exercises and weekly assign¬ments, you will be encouraged to work with the material of your own life experience and uncover the wonderful stories lurking within. Suggested assignments are designed to trigger memories and stir the imagination, whether you write about your childhood or the more recent past. Each student will have a chance to read his or her personal reminiscence, reflective essay, travel piece or humorous anecdote. The main business of the class is to help us express the things we know and care about with confidence and enjoyment. Join author, editor and twelve-time Long Island Press Club award-winning columnist Marcia Byalick in exploring the times of your life.

Fee: $120

222. THE BIRTH OF THE AMERICAN SONGBOOK, PART II: THEY WROTE THE WORDS

Each of our four sessions will highlight a lyricist who helped to create the Great American Song Book. We will cover Johnny Mercer, Dorothy Fields, Sammy Cahn and Frank Loesser in lecture with live music.

226. ORIENTAL PAINTING: LANDSCAPES

This series will consist of demonstrations and examples provided by the teacher, but each student will also be given the opportunity to paint. A materials fee of $10 for rice paper and other supplies should be brought on the first day. This course will emphasize the transition from the traditional to the modern and the instructor will provide brushes, ink, and colors for all projects. This is an intermediate level class.

Fee: $160

223. WORLD POLITICS: THE AGE OF TRANSITION

World politics and economics is undergoing a major transformation – changing the global agenda and the international power structure. The rise of China, the problems of globalized capitalism, the growing significance of radical indigenous movements and other such developments are likely to have an enduring impact on the balance of geopolitics and geoeconomics. How will the Obama administration respond to these changes and how will this affect America’s position in the world? These and other major questions will be discussed in the context of current world affairs.

Fee: $120

224. WORLD POLITICS: THE AGE OF TRANSITION

Same as above, but in the afternoon.

Fee: $120

448. HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY

This course will continue a survey of the major thinkers and movements that have made us who are. In the six sessions that comprise this second of four courses the professor will cover the period from the emergence of Christianity to the Scientific Revolution. The sessions will focus on: (1) St. Augustine and Neo-Platonism; (2) St. Thomas and Medieval thought; (3) The Renaissance and Reformation; (4) Bacon and Descartes; (5) Hobbes and Spinoza; and (6) Newton, et al.

Fee: $100

227. WORLD POLITICS: THE AGE OF TRANSITION

World politics and economics is undergoing a major transformation – changing the global agenda and the international power structure. The rise of China, the problems of globalized capitalism, the growing signif¬icance of radical indigenous movements and other such developments are likely to have an enduring impact on the balance of geopolitics and geoeconomics. How will the Obama administration respond to these changes and how will this affect America’s position in the world? These and other major questions will be discussed in the context of current world affairs.

Fee: $120

228. WORLD POLITICS: THE AGE OF TRANSITION

Same as above, but in the afternoon.

Fee: $120

THURSDAY

230. CURRENT EVENTS

Each week Mr. Peracchio will discuss international and national stories vividly and accurately. The recip-ient of several national journalism awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for general news reporting, Mr. Peracchio has also served as a member of the Round Table Council for Foreign Affairs at Newsday.

231. THE LIFE OF THE TIMES

ABBY KENIGSBERG

Every day is a new day for The New York Times and every class studying the paper has a new agenda. We may examine a contextually rich news story, a brilliantly cinematic feature piece, a column of outrage or an imperious editorial. New technology provides an extraordinary Internet edition and we may examine the astonishing mix of video, blogs and multimedia. Join us as we explore the vast array of this always changing and challenging newspaper.
[Please bring The New York Times for 1/20/10 to the first class.]

232. PLATO’S GORGIAS AND REPUBLIC

JOHN LUTZ

Taken together, the Gorgias and Republic provide the foundation of Plato's mature political philosophy. Addressing a wide range of issues that include the use and misuse of language, the relationship between the individual and the state, the foundations of law and morality, the nature of justice and the proper exercise of political power, both works present many of the enduring questions that have preoccupied political theorists ever since. We will use the recent transla¬tions of R.E. Allen published by Yale University Press.

233. DRAWINGS, WATERCOLORS, AND PAINTINGS: IMPRESSIONIST AND POST-IMPRESSIONIST ART

CAROL TABLER

This course continues the investigation into ways in which drawings and watercolors have a vital significance as primal acts in the artistic process, this time focusing on Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, including works that have significance in their own right as independent art forms and works that are related to important oil paintings. Examples by masters such as Manet, Degas, Cézanne, Seurat, and Van Gogh will be chosen for viewing. We shall discover how these artists valued their drawings and watercolors as highly as their oil paintings and exam¬ine what makes these works meaningful within the context of each artist's oeuvre.

FRIDAY

235. THE BOOK GROUP

Now in its twelfth year, the Book Group meets monthly. During this session, the readings are all by contem¬porary American authors and explore various aspects of the American scene. In Marilynne Robinson's Home, she further develops the characters introduced in Gilead with the return of the prodigal son to the home of his father, a Presbyterian pastor in a small town in Iowa. Pop culture commentator and first novelist Chuck Klosterman invents a town called Owl so detached from reality that it may be in North Dakota, or nowhere at all. Digging to America by Anne Tyler considers what it means to be an American through the intersecting lives of two couples separated by eth¬nic heritage but sharing a common bond: they meet at the Baltimore airport, where each couple awaits the arrival of their baby girls, adopted from Korea.

Jan. 8: Marilynne Robinson, Home. ISBN 9780312428549.05
Feb. 5: Chuck Klosterman, Downtown Owl. ISBN 9781416544197.
March 5: Anne Tyler,Digging to America . ISBN 978345492340.

236. THE BOOK GROUP

Same as above but in the afternoon.

451. TENNYSON’S IN MEMORIAM A.H.H.

When Tennyson was still a young man disaster struck. His best friend, Arthur Henry Hallam, died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 22. In the midst of his great grief, Tennyson found himself washed in doubts: about his vocation, about the possibility of an afterlife, about the existence of God. For more than 17 years, he wrote little lyrics about his thoughts and reflections—“short swallow-flights of song,” as he called them. He eventually collected them into one long elegy. In Memoriam is a diary, a love poem, a song of rage, despair and, ultimately, intense celebration, not just of life but also of death.

445. AMERICAN OPERAS

With roots in jazz, ragtime, folksong, musical theater, and European classical music, American opera is truly a reflection of our “melting pot” culture. Throughout the 20th century composers as diverse as Kern, Gershwin, Thomson, Moore, Floyd, Bernstein, Ward, Barber, Menotti, Glass, Adams, Previn, and Bolcom have sought a uniquely American voice in the opera house. In this class we will explore a range of home-grown opera in video and audio recordings, looking at subject matter, librettos, and musical style while situating each work within its historical context. Operas to be explored include Porgy and Bess, Four Saints in Three Acts, Ballad of Baby Doe, Susannah, The Crucible, Einstein on the Beach, A Streetcar Named Desire, and A View from the Bridge, as well as “crossover” shows Show Boat, Candide, Sweeney Todd and A Little Night Music. We will discuss Gershwin’s landmark Porgy and Bess in advance of the March 26 performance at the Tilles Center. Your tickets to the performance and the Performance PLUS! lecture are included in the price of this course.

SPECIAL EVENTS

315. FRED ASTAIRE: CHANGE PARTNERS

After dancing with Ginger Rogers in nine films at RKO, Fred Astaire would go on to dance with many other wonderful partners. Astaire would create memorable celluloid dance moments with Eleanor Powell, Judy Garland, Jane Powell, and Cyd Charisse, and Gene Kelly at MGM, Rita Hayworth at Columbia, Leslie Caron at 20th Century Fox, and Bing Crosby and Betty Hutton at Paramount. Film Historian Philip Harwood will present highlights from the career of Fred Astaire, AG (After Ginger), from such films as You Were Never Lovelier, Holiday Inn, Ziegfeld Follies, Easter Parade, Royal Wedding, The Band Wagon, and Silk Stockings. We will see how Astaire grew as a dancer and advanced the genre of dance on film through dance with different partners.

238. BROOKLYN USA, REVISTED

Twelve active presiding Senators were born and raised in Brooklyn. The “borough of churches” has sent more doctors, lawyers, writers, entertainers, athletes and teachers into America than any similar-sized area in the world.

How is this possible? What is there about the character of the Borough of Brooklyn that makes this possible? Join Marty Adler as he discusses the earliest inhabitants, their ideals, values, and work ethic which ultimately molded this world-famous area.

Learn how the streets were named, which Dutch houses are still standing, where George Washington actually rested—and all this in a borough that produced the Brooklyn Dodgers.

447. THE HISTORY OF THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT

From policing with wooden rattles in the colonial era to the state-of-the-art technology used today, the history of the New York Police Department is an engrossing drama where front-page scandals are countered by remarkable successes and great heroes are sometimes overshadowed by dirty cops. In an informative lecture with a unique perspective and a Powerpoint presentation of photos, James Coll, a detective with the NYPD and adjunct professor of history, will detail a chronology of this epic saga. Many episodes, some publicized and others obscure, will help to explain why officers in the NYPD are known as the "Finest." Other events will describe why detractors feel this moniker may be ill-deserved. The lecture, where questions are welcome and encouraged, will include the department's humble beginnings and the development of its force.

240. AN INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC: FROM CHANT TO PHILLIP GLASS

This lecture is designed to be an overview of the development of Western music. We will explore the evolution of music and its aesthetic and creative applications in Western civilization Each period gives us a new and exciting look at music with its own relationship to musical fundamentals such as melody, harmony and rhythm. The goal of this session is for participates to become more active listeners.

316. MASTER AND MAESTRO OF SUSPENSE: THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK/BERNARD HERRMANN COLLABORATION

When Composer Bernard Herrmann was asked what he was thinking when he wrote music for the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, Herrmann said one word: “Fear.” Between 1955 and 1964, Director Alfred Hitchcock and Bernard Herrmann collaborated on such masterpieces as The Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo, North By Northwest, and Psycho. Hitchcock created a world of suspense, fear and the unknown. Herrmann added a musical thread to that world. Film Historian Philip Harwood will take you on a musical ride of suspense as we look at how music and image merged with the collaboration of Herrmann and Hitchcock.

317. THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT: THE ARTHUR FREED UNIT AT MGM

His career originated in writing songs with Nacio Herb Brown. Soon, Arthur Freed became a produc¬er of musicals at Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios, and elevated that studio to the supreme position in producing that genre. From the Arthur Freed Unit, came such films as The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me In St. Louis, Girl Crazy, Easter Parade, On The Town, Singin’ In The Rain, The Band Wagon, Silk Stockings, and Gigi. Arthur Freed helped shape such stars as Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney, Cyd Charisse, Howard Keel, and Gene Kelly. Film Historian Philip Harwood, presents an overview of the wonderful musicals produced by Arthur Freed at MGM. He will “Send you out, with a kind of a glow, and you’ll say, as you go on your way, That’s Entertainment!” (from The Band Wagon).