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Spring 2007 Study Groups Also see: Past Study Groups
MARCH 19 through MAY 17 Monday 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. “THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES” -#- -@- John Wiese, Coordinator We often call them the ‘Dark Ages’, the era which spanned the decline and fall of Rome’s western empire and lingered for centuries, a time when the Ancient World was ending and Europe seemingly vanished into ignorance and shadow. This Teaching Company video course, taught by Prof. Philip Daileader of the College of William and Mary, traces the period from roughly the year 300 to 1000 during which such fascinating people as King Arthur and Charlemagne helped form ‘ A World Recognizably Becoming Our Own’. Study group participants will view and discuss lectures and participate in mini-presentations. Tuesday 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. “CLASSIC FILMS” -@- (Note that start time for Film Study is 9:00 a.m. to allow for discussion) Chuck Simons and Jim Gieseler, Coordinators This is a class for those who want to expand their film watching through lively discussion. We will watch and discuss unique works of cinema that have transcended time and trends – films that hold up after repeated viewing. The films will be your choice among a list of the greatest films of all time. “WELLNESS-THE NEW MEDICINE” -#- -@- Bill Niedbala, Coordinator Experience and examine WELLNESS through the eyes and ideas of Dr. Andrew Weil, the integrative medicine pioneer. The goal of this study group is to become aware of our body’s natural healing system and our responsibilities for protecting it. We will discuss how to optimize your healing system by gradually changing lifestyle, adding positive behaviors, modifying eating habits, exercising and breathing, using your mind and nourishing your spirit. Videos will be shown. Personal experiences and reactions to Wellness topics will be shared. “ORIENTAL BRUSH PAINTING WORKSHOP” -@- Carolyn Simons, Coordinator This workshop is for all returning study group members who wish to practice and just revel in the sheer joy of painting. There will be no formal structure, but previous exposure to the Oriental Brush Painting study group is required. Bring your own equipment. “THE HISTORY AND PEOPLE OF CHICAGO” -#- -@- Jim Kacena and Bob Allen, Coordinators We will study many notable personalities (Abraham Marovitz, Maria Kanellis, George Halas, Muddy Rivers, Jane Adams, Dennis Farina, Bob Newhart, Mortimer Adler, Emma Abbott, Edger Rice Burroughs, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, and Marshall Field) linked to Chicago and the parts they played in the history of the city. We’ll identify their contributions-the good, the bad and the ugly. “SUN STYLE TAI CHI” (ICL members will be asked to pay a $15 fee (payable up front) to participate.) -@- Kim Curtis, Coordinator. This group will be limited to 18 members. Tai Chi is a 2,000-year-old martial art from China. It focuses on teaching proper balance, flexibility, good posture and breathing. It is a non-impact sport. Loose fitting clothes and comfortable shoes (gym shoes) plus a willingness to learn and have fun are all that is needed. Sun style has 31 easy to learn forms and is one of the 5 major and newest Tai Chi styles. Kim Curtis is a certified Tai Chi instructor and works with those who have disabilities. She tries to work within the capabilities of each student. A lottery will be used if more than 18 members register. Tuesday 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Don Carlson, Coordinator Science plays a role in much of today’s news—from discoveries to applications of scientific findings to public policy. Join the study group members as we help each other understand what’s behind the science and the news. Participants are asked to bring in news articles, help research and present results, and be involved in discussions. “GILBERT AND SULLIVAN REVISITED” -@- Carolyn Simons, Coordinator Once again, travel back to the golden age of Queen Victoria, jolly old England, and the sun never setting on the British Empire. We will revisit the Topsy Turvey world of Gilbert and Sullivan from ‘ Pirates of Penzance’ and ‘Princess Ida’ to the ‘Grand Duke’. “MUSEUM MASTERPIECES-THE LOUVRE- (WITH SIDE TRIPS AROUND PARIS) -#- -@- Bob Masterson, Coordinator Have you ever dreamed of exploring the Louvre in Paris? Join us as we browse world-famous masterpieces and hidden gems as they come alive in full-color illustrations. What is the mystery behind Mona Lisa’s smile? What does Jusepe Ribera’s painting of the Clubfooted Boy seem to say about the proper subject of art? Whether you’re new to the world of art, or a long-time admirer of the masters of European painting, everyone will find something to enlighten and surprise. Our guide will be The Teaching Company’s lecturer, Richard Brettell, a professor at The University of Texas at Dallas and holder of a Ph.D. from Yale. As time permits, we’ll also take ‘side trips’ around Paris. Study group participants will be encouraged to participate in mini-presentations. Wednesday 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. “THE IMMIGRATION STORY” -#- -@- Tom Dooley and Stan Gorcik, Coordinators It has become a cliché that “We are a nation of immigrants.” But how much do we really know about how and why the many ethnic groups came to the U.S.? Join us to explore the facts of these migrations from Europe, Africa, Asia and the lands South of the Border. The study group format will consist mainly of presentations by the coordinators and videos, but study group participants will be asked to tell what they can about how their families came here. More ambitious members are invited to help research and present the story of a particular ethnic group. “SOME MYSTERIES OF THE WORLD” -@- Norine Tempelman and Margo Temple, Coordinators Ever wonder WHO traced the mysterious lines in the desert at Narza in Peru and WHY? Did space visitors really build Stonehenge? These are some of the ‘mysteries we’ll be discussing in our hunt for the truth. Join our investigation for some stimulating information as well as startling facts! We’ll discuss two mysteries per session. Group volunteers will choose a ‘mystery’ to research and report on. Class interaction is a major part of this study group as well as a major part of the fun of examining some of these perplexing wonders! “THE POET OF THE PIANO: THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF FREDERIC CHOPIN” -#- Steve Wolf, Coordinator Chopin understood the piano and its potential more fully than anyone else before or since. His music, composed almost exclusively for the piano, ranges from exquisite beauty to awesome power, from whispering subtlety to heroic, soaring melodies, from simple lyricism to stunning harmonies. All of it has the unmistakable imprint of this unique genius and is as fresh today as when composed. Join us for video, audio and-very likely-live performances, lectures and discussion.
Cathy Jensen, Coordinator An all day Jane Austen Seminar is scheduled for Thursday, June 21, 2007. This study group will prepare attendees for the seminar through film, moderated discussions and selected presentations. The study group is also appropriate for those who are unable to attend, but share an interest in Jane Austen and her works.
Wednesday l:00 – 3:00 p.m. “FAVORITE CITIES AND REGIONS OF THE WORLD ” -@- Debby Miller and Dan Dierson, Coordinators Learn about the attributes and amenities, landmarks and landscaping, aesthetics, dining and dancing, government and geography—and many other facts and fantasies about 18 of the top regions and cities (2 per weekly session). Study Group participants will be asked to select their favorite city or region and tell us all about it. We will look at films and related materials of the different places you have visited or dreamed about. Christopher Sweet, Coordinator This is a prose writing study group for beginning and experienced writers. If you ever had the urge to write- memoirs, novels in progress, fiction, essays, journals of self-discovery, or stories to share with friends and family- this is an opportunity to join a group of people who share your interest. Workshop participants can expect to participate in oral word games and read aloud their work from the study group as well as the work of professional writers. Participants are asked to produce three or more pages, typed and doubled-spaced, every week. There are no books to buy. You should bring a notebook or journal or pad of paper, and something to write with, to every session. Story Workshop â is a trademark of John Schultz, Professor Emeritus in the Fiction Writing Department at Columbia College in Chicago. “AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT” -@- Carolyn Simons, Coordinator We offer everything from giggles to guffaws. Stay a while at Fawlty Towers,” toe “The Thin Blue Line,” be blessed by “The Vicar of Dibley,” and look “Absolutely Fabulous” as though you were “To the Manor Born.” Join the fun as we cross the pond to meet the funny blokes and ladies of British comedy. “NOT FOR WOMEN ONLY: WOMAN AND THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, PART 2” -#- -@- Audrey Beauvais, Terri Collins, and Sue Harty, Coordinators The study of history has often emphasized the DWM (Dead White Male) experience. This study group, part 2, will continue to change that focus by examining the experiences of women in the U.S. Through Power-Point presentations, movies, and discussions we will explore such topics as the images and ideals of womanhood, Native American women, 19th-century feminism, the Victorian woman and female sexuality, African=American women, women at work, women at war, reform movements, the suffrage movement, and the new feminism. Class participation is important and we encourage men to enroll in what will be an informative, fun, and thought-provoking study group. Thursday 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. “SILENTS PLEASE” -@- (Start time for Film Study is 9:00a.m. to allow for discussion) David Sullivan and Sue Harty, Coordinators Continuing our silent movie study, we will explore classic comedy and riveting drama in an age when facial expressions were critical to convey the emotion. This is where it all began. Join us for some laughs and some lumpy throats! “THE BIRTH OF THE MODERN MIND-PART 2-THE ENLIGHTENMENT” -#- Rem Stokes, Coordinator This study group covers the evolution of intellectual history during the 18th Century. It starts where the 1600’s left off with a new found confidence in natural philosophy (science), an orderly model of the world under inviolate physical laws, the rise of the reason challenging faith, the rise of the natural displacing the supernatural, and a new view of religion called Deism. The 1700’s will take reason and skepticism into all aspects of daily life with the ideas of Voltaire, Hume, Rousseau, Beccaria, Montesquieu, Diderot, LaMettrie, Mandeville, Vico, Kant, and Adam Smith. It will culminate in the ferment that produced the American Constitution and the French Revolution. The course will use extensive DVDs from The Teaching Company. “INVESTING TO HELP YOUR RETIREMENT INCOME” -#- -@- Brian Magura, Coordinator We’ll look at retirement planning and ways to ensure that your later years can be your golden years. We will cover the basics of finances, including examining some of the most common reasons people fail to meet their investment goals, some ideas to help avoid common pitfalls of investing, and rules that every investor should know and follow. We’ll also examine many of the investments available today, everything from certificates of deposit to annuities, and advantages and disadvantages of each. Pay an $8.00 Binder Fee in the first class. Ruth Sellers, Coordinator The New Yorker magazine is not just for New Yorkers! It is for all who enjoy reading some of the best short stories, penetrating political analyses, reviews of movies, plays and art, as well as profiles of unusual personalities. And of course, those cartoons! Join us for a lively discussion of two or three articles each week. Everyone is expected to lead the conversation on at least one occasion. Bring the March 12th issue and be prepared to discussthe Fiction selection. Copies of the magazine may be borrowed at local libraries or there are forms for student rate subscriptions available at the Roosevelt Book Store. Thursday 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. “THE GILDED AGE AND THE RISE OF PROGRESSIVISM– 1876 TO 1914” -#- -@- Sue Harty, Joe Maladra, and Peter Marron, Coordinators W e continue our study of significant periods in the history of the United States by concentrating on The Gilded Age and the rise of Progressivism, from 1876 to 1914. Through the use of lectures,videos, PowerPoint presentations and Peer led discussions; we will review how the country experienced dramatic social, cultural, economic, technological and political transformations as it moved from the mostly agricultural and rural nation to an industrialized and urban world power. We will review how Americans settled ‘the last west’ and ended traditional American Indian lifestyles. We’ll highlight the creation of great wealth (the Robber Barons), an expanding middle class and the lifestyles of the rich and poor, as well as the growth of Labor Organizations. “CURRENT LEGAL ISSUES: THE FIRST AMENDMENT” -#- Les Miller, Coordinator This session we will focus primarily on questions regarding free speech, freedom of the press, freedom of association and religion arising under the First Amendment to the Constitution. We will also discuss significant cases being considered by the Supreme Court and other legal issues in the news. Allen Botimer, Coordinator Foreign relations challenges have become domestic challenges with the events in the remotest parts of the world troubling Americans’ lives in countless ways. What foreign policy role should the United States forge in an increasingly chaotic world? The topics for discussion include: The Middle East, Climate Change, Mexico, Migration, South Africa War Crimes Central Asia and Children’s issues. Study group members will review each topic’s background and the probability of a successful resolution to the problem. The Foreign Policy Association’s ‘Great Decisions’ guide will be used. It will be available in class. Cost is $15.00. Page last updated: December 27, 2006
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