Course Descriptions
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Delmarvans Go to War: A Look at Delmarva's Involvement in Wars from the 17th Century to the Mid-Nineteenth Century
In five lectures, the essence of America’s early wars will be examined from the vantage point of Delmarva. Starting with a brief overview of the colonial wars in which Delmarva found herself involved, we will move on to examine the Revolutionary War as it took place on the Eastern Shore. A third lecture will describe the War of 1812 and Delmarva’s place in that war. Two final lectures will discuss Delmarva during the Civil War, from two viewpoints: the home front—the women of mid-nineteenth century Delmarva and, of course, the battle front—how Delmarvans participated in the war effort. When: Mondays, Feb 4 - Feb 11, Feb 25 - Mar 11 (5 sessions) Location: MAC Time: 10-11:30 a.m. Course Leader: Ray Thompson Global Health: Social, Cultural and Geographic Determinants of Health in Columbia, Spain and Japan This course will continue our exploration of global health issues around the world. We will begin with a brief review of what global health is, how it is structured, who the players are on a global scale, and what the current major concerns are at the present time. We will then focus on the social, cultural, and geographic factors that affect health in three specific countries - Colombia, Spain and Japan (South America, Europe and Asian regions). Each of these countries has challenges and approaches to the health of its population that are both similar to those of other countries and specific to their own situation. Data will also be presented for the United States for purposes of comparison. The hope is that students will expand their world view and develop an appreciation for some of the many factors that affect the health of populations. Handouts of the PowerPoint slides will be provided at the beginning of each class and other media resources will be used to enrich learning. When: Mondays, Ma. 18 - Apr 15 (5 sessions) Location: MAC Time: 1 - 2:30pm Course Leader: Karin Johnson International Trade in Historical Perspective At a time when nationalism and protectionism are once again on the rise, it is worth examining how international trade has shaped the historical evolution of economic and social development. Instead of drawing more recent comparisons with the Great Depression of the 1930’s, or the Great Recession of 2008, we take a longer view to examine the impact of changes in international trade in Europe from the fall of the Roman Empire to the dawn of the European Renaissance. The course will provide systematic coverage of the political, economic, financial, and environmental dimensions of economic activity, and governance in the European Middle Ages. Emphasis will be given to understanding how institutional evolution affected the generation and transmission of knowledge, and thus, the speed and shape of Europe’s economic revival. From this perspective, we draw implications for the current climate of international relations and trade. When: Tuesdays, Feb 5 – Feb 26 (4 sessions) Location: MAC Time: 10 - 11:30am Course Leader: Philip LeBel How To Read a Poem Understanding poetry is often more complex than reading the morning newspaper. Readers of poetry are often challenged by language and rhetoric within the poem and what they should know as they read. With practice and some navigation of the art form, readers can ease the process, enjoy the task, and feel more confident in their interpretations. These sessions will focus on examining a wide variety of traditional and contemporary poems written in English, with the goal of making the process enjoyable, while adding skill and ease to the task of reading a poem. All levels of prior literary experience welcomed warmly. When: Tuesdays, Mar 19 – Apr 23 (6 sessions) Location: MAC Time: 10-11:30 a.m. Course Leader: Ron Dotterer Pearl Harbor Avenged – The Comeback of the U.S. Navy in the Pacific This is a follow-on to Mr. Roberts’ Pearl Harbor course last year, but that is not a prerequisite. On New Year’s Day 1942, the U.S. Navy was still reeling from the ignominious defeat at Pearl Harbor. Fourteen months later the tide had turned and Japan had been stopped and was in retreat. This course will explore the political & military decisions, intelligence work, deception operations and military actions that led to this near-miraculous recovery. It will cover a variety of operations, including the battles of the Coral Sea & Midway, and the Guadalcanal campaign. When: Tuesdays, Mar 19 – Apr 16 (5 sessions)) Location: MAC Time: 12-1:30 p.m. Course Leader: Mike Roberts Talk to the Animals: Short Stories Coming in on little cat feet, pup paws, bear claws, fins or feathers, animals have marked their presence in our creative imagination, cropping up in stories from ancient fables to modern “micro” fiction. This 6-week course offers an international sampling of short stories about our varied relations with the animal kingdom. Topics will include “Walk the Dogs,” “Feed the Birds,” “Tame Them,” and “Hold That Tiger.” Readings will be provided via email. When: Wednesdays, Feb 6 – Mar 13 (6 sessions) Location: Bethany Lutheran Church Time: 10-11:30 a.m. Course Leader: Nancy Hesser The White House - What a Tale it Tells The first in this group of visual presentations will be an introduction of Martha and George Washington from their earliest days to the Revolution. The relationship developed as the nation developed, and would make a crucial imprint on the national character. The subsequent four lectures deal mainly with the building itself and the constant repair and renovation necessary to keep pace with perpetual entertaining and diplomacy. First ladies kept a step ahead of public curiosity about decor, as the ensuing collection of the highest quality of European and American decorative arts in porcelain, gold, silver, and furnishings became world renowned. When: Tuesdays, Mar 20 – Apr 17 (5 sessions) Location: MAC Time: 10-11:30 a.m. Course Leader: Eleanor Mulligan |
The Artist’s Way
In this course, participants will examine how Divine Spirit can lead to ever widening experiences of faith and appreciation of their lives as creative beings. It’s never too late to discover our natural creative talents. We will explore the creative energy offered by our universe and discover it as our very own. As a participant in the Artist’s Way, authored by Julia Cameron, course members will engage in whole or small group discussion, journal writing, and hands-on experiences. Participants should order a copy of The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, by Julia Cameron before the beginning of the class. Paperback copies are available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble. Enrollment limited to 14. When: Wednesdays, Mar 20 – Apr 24 (6 sessions) Location: SU Blackwell Hall Time: 10-11:30 a.m. Course Leader: Sophia Sonen Doing the Cooking: Women in Jazz Women have played their parts in the evolution of jazz from its beginnings – backing a group with piano, performing vocals and scat, standing on the front line as a soloist, and composing and arranging the charts. This course will survey the sometimes-hidden, but “instrumental,” role of women in the history of jazz. Topics include: 1. Keyboardists – Back with the Bass or on Center Stage; 2. Canaries – Singing & Swinging to Beat the Band; 3. Convolutionists – Having an Axe to Grind as an Instrumentalist; 4. Composers – Writing & Arranging for the Guys & Gals. Participants will explore the exceptional music, as well as the ongoing challenges of women musicians being “with the band,” yet not quite one of the guys. When: Thursdays, Feb 7 – Feb 28 (4 sessions) Location: MAC Time: 10-11:30 a.m. Course Leader: Phil Hesser Psychology of Women This course examines the significance of sex as a status category – specifically, the experience of women as a distinct social group – and the variations of class, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, and historical era within that group. Thus, it presents both past and present perspectives, encouraging both men and women to understand the psychological experience of women. By exploring the often confined “place” of women, participants can consider how men have also suffered in a society that, until recently, imposed rigid sex roles. When: Thursdays, Mar 21 – Apr 25 (6 sessions) Location: MAC Time: 10-11:30 a.m. Course Leader: Carolyn Stegman Back in a Flash: More Short Shorts Drawing on the continued popularity of flash fiction – stories typically under 3 pages – this six-week course will focus on ways writers leverage economy to achieve a range of effects. We’ll read short shorts from around the world and discuss how the “micro” model can serve to create suspense, paint portraits of people and places, and evoke powerful emotions. Topics will include “Flash Lights,” “Flash Points,” Flash Forward,” “Flash Cards,” and “Flash Freeze.” Readings will be provided via email. When: Thursdays, Mar 21 – Apr 25 (6 sessions) Location: Bethany Lutheran Church Time: 10-11:30 a.m. Course Leader: Nancy Hesser Arts and Artists: Focus Women Artists This survey course will be examining women in the art world 18th thru the 21st century. There will be 4 classes. Subjects will range from women working at the time of the great artists of the Netherlands up to the 21st century. We will journey through samplings of their art and how it reflected the world they lived in. As usual, class will consist of discussions of the artworks which are viewed in the form of PowerPoint slide presentations. When: Thursdays, Feb 7 – Feb 28 (4 sessions) Location: MAC Time: 1-2:30 p.m. Course Leader: Terry Murray Eastern Shore History from the Perspective of the British This course will include the following topics: Eastern Shore settlement from the British Isles, The influence of Devonshire and the West Country, Slave Trade and the Royal African Company, The Transfer of Religion & Popular Belief, Abolition Feeds on Movements in Both Places, and Visiting the British Isles from an Eastern Shore Perspective. When: Thursdays, Mar 21 – Apr 25 (6 sessions) Location: MAC Time: 1-2:30 p.m. Course Leader: Ted Corbett Comparative European Government Systems Even though they are all based on popular sovereignty and power, democracies vary extensively in tradition, form and function. This course will offer an overview of four European democratic systems which differ considerably in their structures and the the distribution of power among the different institutions and branches of government. Why the difference? The course will explore the historic, social and cultural factors which give the governmental systems in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the enigmatic European Union their distinctly different forms, while still remaining fundamentally democracies. When: Fridays, Feb 8 – Mar 15 (6 sessions) Location: MAC Time: 10-11:30 a.m. Course Leader: Todd Becker |