UA Humanities Seminars Presents a Summer of Seminars (May to July)

The University of Arizona’s Humanities Seminars Program will explore subjects that include the achievements and challenges of four modern European democracies; the anatomy of the science-fiction short story; exploring the mind and brain; and art history and the cinema this summer for members of the Tucson community. All seminars will be led by UA faculty members.

“Four Modern European Democracies: Achievements & Challenges”
In May Associate Professor of Political Science J. Pat Willerton will focus on the politics of four advanced European democracies: Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Finland. He will concentrate on contemporary political systems and high-profile policy issues in four seminars to be held on Tuesdays from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The dates are May 3, 10, 17, and 24 2011.

“Anatomy of the Science Fiction Short Story”
On Thursday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in June, Associate Professor of Astronomy Department, Richard Poss, will consider short stories by various science fiction authors. He will probe the unique combination of plot development and resolution, characterization, sensual imagery and creepy imagination that makes for an exciting read. The dates are June 2, 9, 16, and 23 2011.

“Exploring the Universe Within: Mind & Brain”
Lee Ryan, Associate Professor of Psychology and a clinical neuropsychologist, will explore how the brain allows us to interact with our world through movement, vision, language, emotion and decision making. These will be considered through the world of the patient with brain injury, discussing how such trauma affects cognitive abilities and the daily lives of patients and their families. Professor Ryan’s course will be taught on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on June 8, 15, 22, and 29 2011.

“Art History & The Cinema”
In July Regents Professor of Anthropology and Classics David Soren will demonstrate how artistic movements such as Romanticism, the Baroque, Symbolism, Neoclassicism, Expressionism, Cubism, the Bauhaus, and Pop Art shaped and informed classical films such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Metropolis. He will also show how the German theater of Max Reinhardt became a major influence on the Gothic horror films of the early 1930s, such as Frankenstein and Dracula. Professor Soren’s class will meet on Wednesdays from 9:00 am to 12:00 p.m. on July 6, 13, 20, and 27 2011.

All courses take place in the Dorothy Rubel Room in the Helen S. Schaefer Building at 1508 East Helen Street, one block north of Speedway and three blocks west of Campbell. There is convenient parking in the Highland Garage across the street from the classroom.

For more information about these courses or the Humanities Seminars Program go to http://hsp.arizona.edu or call Program Coordinator Kerstin Miller at 520 626-7845, or humansem@email.arizona.edu.

The University of Arizona’s Humanities Seminars Program offers a variety of thought-provoking classes for adults in literature, fine arts, science, geopolitics, classics, film and more. The program is currently in its 27th year.

UA Humanities Seminars Program Offers Adult Education Courses In Spring 2011

The University of Arizona’s Humanities Seminars Program will explore subjects that include travel narratives, morality and religion in Europe, theatre in Spain’s golden age, and modern Jewish literature this spring for members of the Tucson community. All seminars will be led by UA faculty members.

On Tuesday mornings Associate Professor of Philosophy Michael Gill will explore the development of morality in the tumultuous 17th and 18th centuries in a course entitled “Morality and Religion in Early Modern Europe”. By examining the works of philosophers such as Hobbes, Locke, Hume and Kant, Gill will illuminate the foundations of modern morality and explain how those foundations have shaped contemporary ethical thinking. (This course meets once a week from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM January 25 through April 5.)

In a seminar entitled “Such a Story I Could Tell You….Modern Jewish Literature Part II”, University of Arizona Instructor Thomas Price will consider not only some of the forefathers of modern Jewish literature, such as Shalom Aleichem and Mendele Mocher Sforim—which were touched on in Part I of the survey–but also authors who are often more widely recognized in Europe than in North America, such as Primo Levi, Joseph Roth, and Franz Kafka. In addition, authors who became North American but whose origins were in Europe, such as Elie Wiesel and I.B. Singer, will be examined. (This course meets once a week on Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM from January 26 through April 6.)

Professor Amy Williamsen, a specialist in early modern Spanish literature, will offer “From Page to Stage: Theatre in Spain’s Golden Age” on Thursday mornings from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The Early Modern Period in Spain generated such a wealth of literature and art that it became known as the Golden Age—the time of authors such as Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Tirso de Molina and Calderon. Many archetypes including the Don Juan figure emerged from this theatrical tradition. (This course meets once a week on from January 27 through April 7.)

In the two-hour course “Around the World in Modern Travel Narratives”, offered on Fridays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, University of Arizona Lecturer and Author D. R. Ransdell will examine the fresh ideas that travel provides us in. She will consider texts by Flaubert, Twain and other early travelers before turning her attention to narratives written in the past 20 years such as those by Pico lyer. (This course meets once a week from January 21 through April 8.)

All courses take place in the Dorothy Rubel Room in the Helen S. Schaefer Building at 1508 East Helen Street, one block north of Speedway and three blocks west of Campbell. There is convenient parking the Highland Garage across the street from the classroom.

For more information about these courses or the Humanities Seminars Program go to http://hsp.arizona.edu or call Program Coordinator Kerstin Miller at 520 626-7845.

The University of Arizona’s Humanities Seminars Program offers a variety of thought-provoking classes for adults in literature, fine arts, science, geopolitics, classics, film and more. The program recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.

For more information see below. You can sign up online as well (click here).

Kerstin Miller, Coordinator

Humanities Seminars Program

The University of Arizona

P.O. Box 210150

Tucson, AZ 85721-0150

http://hsp.arizona.edu

Tel: (520) 626-7845

Fax: (520) 621-5566

“The University of Arizona Humanities Seminars Program offers an “intriguing selection of the highest-quality courses in letters, arts and sciences designed specifically for adult students in the Greater Tucson community.

All courses are taught by present and former University of Arizona professors selected for their scholarly accomplishments and exceptional teaching abilities. The seminars give students the opportunity to tap into the minds of first-rate educators who are leaders in their fields of study.

This continuing education program provides university-level learning simply for the joy of learning. There are no tests or papers. Optional reading lists are provided so students can get the most from the experience.

Seminar students are a group of like-minded individuals who want to discover new ideas and deepen their life experiences.” Humanities Seminars students will have the opportunity to get acquainted with both adult education classmates and their professors.

“The University of Arizona’s Humanities Seminars Program has offered the community stimulating interdisciplinary conversations for more than a quarter century.” Please join them in this adventure in adult education.

The upcoming schedule for the Fall:

The Dream of Reason Produces Monsters: Goya and the Modern Dilemma
Malcolm Compitello,
Spanish and Portuguese
Mondays—9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Sept. 27, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25, Nov. 1,8, 15, 29, and Dec. 6
Cost: $185.00

My God; I’d rather go to Paris than to Heaven: French Art 1780-1886
Sarah Moore,
School of Art
Tuesdays–9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Sept. 28, Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov. 2, 9, 16, 30, and Dec. 7
Cost: $185.00

The Rise and Fall of the Hero: War, Blood and Human Destiny in the Heroic Epic
Albrecht Classen,
German Studies
Wednesdays–9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Sept. 29, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10, Dec. 1, 8, and 15
Cost: $185.00

Theatres of Song: Lieder of Schubert and Schumann
Paula Fan,
School of Music
Peter E. Medine, Department of English
Wednesdays–1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sept. 29, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10, Dec. 1, 8, and 15
Cost: $185.00

Rebellious Men, Revolutionary Women: Twentieth Century Ireland
Ann Weekes,
English
Thursdays: 10:00 -12:00 p.m.
Sept. 30, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov. 4, 18, Dec. 2, 9, and 16
Cost: $140.00

Changing minds/changing worlds: the politics and poetry of the 60s
Thomas Miller,
Professor of English and featured speakers invited by the Poetry Center
Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov. 5, 12, 19, Dec. 3, and 10
Fridays—9:00 -12:00 p.m.
Cost: $185

Unless otherwise specified, all classes meet from 9:00am until noon in the Dorothy Rubel meeting room in the lovely new Helen S. Schaefer Building at 1508 E. Helen Street (SE corner of Vine St.), north of E. Speedway.

See website for more information and how to register for these seminars:http://humanities.arizona.edu/humanities-seminar-program/whats-ahead

Mail registration to:
Humanities Seminars Program
Attention: Kerstin Miller
P.O. Box 210150
1508 E. Helen Street
Tucson, AZ 85721-0150

Or please call Kerstin Miller at (520) 626-7845 or contact them by e-mail at humansem@email.arizona.edu.