Study Group Descriptions & Instructor Bios
Virtually on Zoom
A Short History of Earth: 4 Billion Years in Six Weeks
Stephen Munroe, OLLI Member
Thursdays, 10am - 12pm (3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2)
6 Sessions, Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
$150
This course will cover the history of our planet from its formation 4.56 billion years ago to the present. The focus will be on interactions between geology and the biosphere throughout Earth’s history and their relevance to the unprecedented rate of climate change that confronts us now. Participants are strongly encouraged to read A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters by Andrew H. Knoll (2021) on which this course is based. Reading assignments of roughly 30-40 pages in this book will be recommended in advance of each class. A video of the author discussing his book at Harvard Book Store can be viewed online at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=vnemuE9KCVM.
Required material: Andrew H. Knoll, A Brief History of Earth (Paperback Edition); Click here to purchase on Amazon, $15.99
Stephen Munroe is Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences at Marquette University where he taught molecular biology and biochemistry for 35 years prior to retirement. He now lives full-time on Cape Cod with frequent visits to Boston and Cambridge. He previously led an OLLI Study Group on “How Life Began” in Spring 2023.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS 10 SPRING 2024
Looking to the ’24 Election: American Civics 101 - A Crash Course!
Alan Perper, Outside Instructor
Wednesdays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (3/27, 4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1)
6 Sessions, Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
Many U.S. Citizens take their citizenship for granted. But, what if the rules changed? Just imagine if you now had to take a government civics test every year to remain a U.S. citizen… Would you be able to pass? Could you identify the co-equal branches of government and what their functions and responsibilities are? Explain the electoral college? The U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights? Know your Congressional representatives? Explain the concept of ‘gerrymandering?’ Explain the National Debt?
Claiming your rights and fulfilling your duties as citizens, particularly as voters, requires all of us to have a working understanding of how our government actually functions.
American Civics 101 is a timely 6-part discussion that provides a simple but comprehensive path to understanding what every person applying for U.S. Citizenship today need to know… How our U.S. Government actually works! Please note that this class was offered in Summer 2023. $150
Alan Perper is a founding member of VoteAsIf.org, an LA based consortium of marketing, advertising and publicity professionals seeking to increase 2020 voter registration and turnout. He has previously trained with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services to develop an adult U.S. Citizenship curriculum and has taught numerous civics and citizenship classes at both OLLI university programs and community adult learning centers. Perper also received his secondary education teaching credential and has taught high school AP Gov’t, Economics, and Business classes.
11 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Beginning Digital Photography
Eli Vega, Outside Instructor
Tuesdays, 10am - 12pm (3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16)
4 Sessions, Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
$100
In this highly interactive course, you will learn the basics, like those dials on your camera; those mysterious menu items; composition; f/stops, shutter speeds, exposure meter and how they all work together; ISO and White Balance; different types of lenses; the #1 solution to the #1 problem in photography; and more!
Eli Vega is a highly-published and award-winning photographer and author. He has written two books on the subject of photography. He has taught photography for thirty years, including field workshops in Rocky Mountain National Park, and for OLLI throughout the country since 2012. He is a certified facilitator and makes his classes casual, engaging, and fun. He has made presentations to camera and art groups for twenty years and has served as a judge for two national photography competitions. Having studied art for three years, Eli takes an artistic approach to photography, emphasizing the creative aesthetics side of photography.
12 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Breaking the Color Barrier in Opera
Barry Schoenfeld, Outside Instructor
Wednesdays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (3/27, 4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1)
6 Sessions, Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
$150
Has the color barrier been broken on Opera’s international stage? Though the verdict may still be out, in this class we will take a comprehensive and interactive look at how far artists of color of the past (who can forget Marian Andersen and Leontyne Price?); the present (have you heard Pretty Yende, or Angel Blue?), and of the future up-and-coming talent coming out of Asia, Russia, Malta and performers from the US and Europe. Join your guide Barry Schoenfeld for some wonderful music and rare videos.
Barry Schoenfeld has over 40 years’ experience in business in New York and Los Angeles, and currently Palm Springs. He graduated from Cornell, and has taught at the University of Arizona, OLLI at Duke, Tufts, Johns Hopkins, University of California at Riverside, and Cal State San Bernardino. He saw his first opera at 10, and was instantly hooked. He has subsequently seen hundreds of productions of dozens of operas, including his personal favorites, Verdi, Donizetti and Rossini, all over the US, Europe, and Asia. He delights in sharing his knowledge and favorite videos with OLLI.
13 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Face It: The Art & Science of Caricature
Jacob Shaw, Tufts Alum
Mondays, 6pm - 8pm (3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20)
8 Sessions, Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
$175
Why does caricature work and what makes likeness so elusive to capture? This course will explore the fusion of art and science in the development and application of caricature. Through creative, physiological, and neurological lenses, discussions will range from the use of caricature in bio-facial composites for forensic criminal identification to political caricature, caricature ethics, the science of attractiveness, optical illusions, and more. Students will review optical illusions and master the art of caricature. There will be clinical readings and sketching assignments, but previous neuropsychology or drawing experience, while certainly welcome, is not at all necessary.
Jacob Shaw is a Tufts alumnus who majored in a self-designed interdisciplinary major of Cognitive Science and Applied Linguistics, with two decades of experience and training as a fine artist. He merged his brain science background with a long-held love of the arts to become a leading authority in the field of caricature theory. In addition to professional commissions, he has lectured extensively on the topic—including through the ExCollege in 2020 and virtually as a graduate—and been invited twice to speak at the International Caricature Conference.
14 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Generative Artificial Intelligence
Michael Werner, OLLI Member
Mondays, 10am - 12pm (3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/22)
4 Sessions, Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
$100
This is a repeat of the Fall 2023 course with the same name. With new AI tools, computers are competing with artists, writers, composers, etc. Anyone can write convincing essays, stories and poetry, draw and even paint like trained artists. Simply describe what is wanted in a prompt and get back a result which at first seems professional, although on deeper inspection may be less convincing. These new technologies threaten to uproot traditional notions of human creativity.
There is extensive criticism of the new AI tools. Are they a threat to human creative artists? Do they appropriate works from the Internet without attribution or royalty payments? Will teachers be able to detect counterfeit student submissions?
This study group starts by sampling together publicly available generators such as ChatGPT, Bard, DALL-E, and Stable Diffusion. Class discussion is encouraged, including Show-and-Tell of home experiments. The course will give a high-level view of how AI generators work.
Michael Werner, PhD Northeastern University, following 30 years teaching computer science at Wentworth Institute, has given several senior college courses, primarily on computer history and artificial intelligence but recently on Bay State transit history. He and his wife and divide their time between Medford, MA; Camden, ME; and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. He is an amateur painter.
15 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Great Decisions 2024 (Virtual)
Joseph Ash, Pete Baldwin, OLLI Members
Thursdays, 10am - 12pm (3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9, 5/16)
8 Sessions, Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
Participate in a series of thought-provoking discussions about eight key issues of concern to today’s U.S. policymakers. We’ll review one foreign policy topic per week. The study group leaders will begin each session with a presentation on the topic of the day to supplement the text. The rest of the session will be devoted to open discussion based on the text, the presentation, and the ideas and experience of class members, as we seek a deeper understanding of the issues involved. Weekly readings will include about 15 pages from the required text plus occasional additional short articles. Home Internet access is recommended as we’ll share resources and opinions by email.
Required material: Foreign Policy Association, Great Decisions 2024 Briefing Book; Click to purchase on the FPA website, $35.00
Joseph Ash holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University and a M.S. in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. During his 39-year career with an electric and gas utility, he held a number of officer-level positions in such areas as customer service, supply chain, regulatory affairs, pricing, and energy supply acquisition. He has been a member of OsherLLI since he and his wife retired to Somerville in 2009. In his retirement, he has been certified as a mediator and has undertaken a variety of volunteer activities.
Peter Baldwin has been involved in all aspects of the gas turbine and compressor industries for 57 years and has broad general industry knowledge and equipment best practice. Pete was President of Ramgen Power Systems, a developer a utility scale CCS compressor. Pete spent 33 years with Ingersoll-Rand Company, serving as President of Woburn-based NREC and had been VP of Sales & Service for Ingersoll-Rand’s Air Compressor Group. He has held a variety of executive level positions, including international assignments in the UK and Italy. Pete holds a BSME degree from Purdue University.
16 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
$175
In the Woods: An Exploration of Nature Writing
Phoebe Hyde, Outside Instructor
Tuesdays, 10am - 12pm (4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14)
4 Sessions, Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
$100
Over the four weeks, we will discuss eight contemporary written works (essays, short stories, poems) that encounter and reflect upon the natural world in some way. We’ll discuss structure, audience, context, and effect, and think carefully about notions of beauty and the pastoral. In the second half of each class we will do some of our own writing, inspired (or provoked) by the pieces we’ve just discussed. On the last day, we may share our favorite experiments with the group. Reading assignments will be under 25 pages per week. Students will be required to buy Best American Science and Nature Writing of 2022.
Required material: Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Jaime Green, Best American Science and Nature Writing of 2022; Click to purchase on Amazon, $11.89
Phoebe Hyde is a Boston-area author and writing instructor who helps learners from teens to seniors find joy in the written word and develop unique and competent writing voices. She combines responsive, student-centered instruction in skills with thoughtful discussion, engaging writing experiments, and examples from texts as diverse as her students. Her memoir, The Beauty Experiment, was published in 2013, and her essays and short fiction have appeared in numerous publications including the New York Times, the LA Times, Salon.com and several literary journals.
17 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Katherine Hepburn Films
Arnie Wright, OLLI Member
Mondays, 1pm - 4pm (3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6)
6 Sessions, Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
$150
In this six week course, we will view a different Katherine Hepburn film each session. The films we will be viewing are Bringing Up Baby (1938), The Philadelphia Story (1940), The African Queen (1951), A Long Day’s Journey Into Night (1962), Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967), and Lion In Winter (1968). After each film screening, students will partake in small group discussions held in breakout rooms to discuss drafted questions that highlight unique topics and aspects of the film. We will then regroup to exchange the various views and perspectives expressed. Be prepared to be entertained!
Arnie Wright was a professor at Boston College and Northeastern University in the School of Business. He loves reading and traveling. He is an avid movie and theatre fan. His interest in this study group is that one of his favorite actors is Katherine Hepburn. Arnie has been the facilitator for several Osher film classes, including Alfred Hitchcock and Steven Spielberg movies.
18 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Major Characters in the Divine Comedy
Francesco Castellano, OLLI Member
Tuesdays, 10am - 12pm (3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16)
4 Sessions, Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
$100
In addition to reading and discussing the characters as to where they are assigned, Francesco will give a presentation about Dante’s life, political and literary, and the importance of the structure of the Comedy, Dante’s original title of the work. Who added “Divine”? Why is it a Comedy? Why is a Pope in Inferno, the work, but not in Hell itself. Two popes who have not died are destined for Hell. Suicides are in Hell, yet a couple are in Purgatory, therefore will be saved. Rahab, ‘The Harlot of Jericho,’ is in Heaven? Welcome to Dante’s world. The Inferno is what most people read, but miss the humanity of Purgatory and the Divine of Paradiso. Will Dante see God as depicted in art? You will be provided with the list of characters, related selections, and summaries of all the cantos. We will use the translation by Mark Musa published in one volume which also contains Dante’s first work Vita Nuova dedicated to Beatrice. We will read approximately 20 pages each week.
Required material: Mark Musa, The Portable Dante (Penguin Classics Paperback)
[Comedy and Vita Nuova]; Click to purchase on Amazon, $18.25
Francesco Castellano is a native speaker of Italian with interest in music, literature, and history. He earned a Master’s degree in Italian at Boston College where he also taught Italian. He has managed localization of software programs and manuals into Italian and has done commercial recordings including for over 25 years the male Italian speaker for one of the major language programs. With OLLI he has taught, The Divine Comedy, The Decameron and various Verdi operas. He is a retired Army Colonel.
19 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
National Park Sites in Massachusetts
Cleo D’Arcy, Steve D’Arcy, OLLI Members
Thursdays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18)
4 Sessions, Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
There are 15 U.S. National Park sites in Massachusetts. Most of these are in the eastern part of the state and within a day’s drive from Tufts. The sites have various designations: national historical park, national historic site, national recreation area and national seashore. The oldest site, the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, was established in 1938, the first in the U.S. The most recent, the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, was established in 2014. In this study group, we will virtually visit all 15 sites and discuss their roles in our history - as centers of industry, during wartime and as homes of both presidents and other influential people. Join us as we share our experiences at these important places in Massachusetts. $100
Cleo and Steve D’Arcy are retired professors who taught at the University of Illinois for over 30 years. They have co-taught Tufts OLLI Study Groups on the National Parks, Trustees of Reservations properties, U.S. Highway 1, TED talks, plant disease epidemics, personal finance, birding, Newbery award winners, and Vermont. While they enjoyed teaching college students, they really enjoy sharing their interests with their contemporaries. Cleo and Steve have visited all 15 of the national park sites in Massachusetts and in this study group will share their experiences and observations on these important places in our state’s and nation’s history.
20 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Publishing with Assistance
Christine (Chris) Farrow-Noble, OLLI Member
Wednesdays, 10am - 12pm (3/27, 4/3)
2 Sessions, Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
$50
Have you dreamed of seeing your writing or a collection of family writings in book form? You can accomplish this with dedicated organizing and editing on your part and assistance from a knowledgeable technical designer. We’ll discuss different types of projects and publishing options, including services from print shops using various bindings, as well as working with a designer to publish with KDP and eBook platforms. We’ll discuss the process of collecting writings from several people, as with the anthology of memoirs from 18 writers, and the individual challenge of publishing a longer piece of fiction in paperback and eBook form. Key steps will include looking at your reasons and motivation, considering your audience, identifying a sequence of tasks, setting a realistic timetable, and being aware of your budget. Your goal: To plan next steps toward completion of a long-awaited creative project with a satisfying and stunning endproduct!
Christine (Chris) Farrow-Noble addressed her 10th grade diary to Anne Frank after reading The Diary of Anne Frank and has been writing ever since. Seeing her writing published in book form is extremely satisfying and inspiring. She recently published her first novel, Marta’s Mission with Kindle Digital Publishing(KDP)/Amazon.com. She wrote and published Walking a Labyrinth Daily; Exploring a Spiritual Practice, and coedited an anthology of memoirs, Pages From Our Lives. She has facilitated Study Groups on “Introduction to Dreamwork,” “Memoir Writing,” “The Writing of Anne Frank,” and recently, “Understanding Sleep and Dreams.”
21 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Seti and Imhotep Arrive: The 1999 Film The Mummy – Truth or Fiction?
Hannah Male, Tufts Alum
Mondays, 10am - 12pm (3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20)
8 Sessions, Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
This is a revised version of the 8 session course taught in March/April 2020. In this mostly lecture based course, we will review the historicity of the central characters (Imhotep, Ankhasamun, Seti the First) of 1999’s The Mummy. This course will also be an overview of ancient Egypt’s chronology (from Predynastic - New Kingdom), burial practices of ancient Egypt, a summary of how hieroglyphs work in the movie, and Egyptology’s connections with imperialism. Based on feedback from the 2020 course, the material discussed in class has been re-organized to be discussed in a more logical order. Please watch the 1999 version of The Mummy before the beginning of class. The film is available on numerous streaming services such as Peacock, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, etc. $175
Hannah Male, history and archaeology buff, is a 2019 graduate of Tufts History and Museum Studies MA program. Her coursework has focused on the ancient world and the history of archaeology. Ultimately she hopes to become a curator of Egyptian and/or Near Eastern antiquities. She is currently located back home with family in CT and also offers ancient history/social studies tutoring services.
22 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Short Stories by Guy de Maupassant (Virtual)
Emese Soos, Tufts Faculty Member
Tuesdays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30)
6 Sessions, Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
$150
Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) is considered one of the fathers of the modern short story, together with Gogol. Master of psychological realism, he delights in revealing the disconnect between generally accepted societal values and the way people actually live, with their aspirations, hidden motivations, and conflicting emotions. We will read and discuss a selection of his stories. (Readings TBD; I’ll make sure the texts are readily available.)
Required material: Guy de Maupassant, A Parisian Affair and Other Stories (Penguin Classics); Click to purchase on Amazon, $12
Emese Soos majored in French and history at Mount Holyoke College, earned a Ph.D. in French from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and taught French language and culture courses at Tufts for over 30 years. She delights in revisiting some of her favorite literary works, this time in English.
23 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Smartphone Photography
Steve McGrath, Outside Instructor
Wednesdays, 6pm - 8pm (4/24, 5/1, 5/8, 5/15)
4 Sessions, Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
$100
This study group will help you understand how to use your smartphone to take and create great images, what editing apps to use, and how to share and print your images. Join me to go over the essential controls on your phone and to learn about the best free and low-cost tools for editing and image management. Whatever type of smartphone you have - Android, iPhone, or other - the built-in and add-on features will be explained and demonstrated.
Steve McGrath is professional freelance photographer and photography teacher who has been creating images for 30 years. Steve first began by shooting sports photography for local high schools, then weddings, and stock agencies. Then his love of the outdoors led him to focusing more on his true passion “nature photography.” Many of his images have been published in school text books. His favorite places to shoot are Acadia National Park in Maine, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and the Cape Cod National Seashore.
24 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Stories that Pulse with Art, Music, and Passion: A Study of Three Contemporary Fiction Writers (Virtual)
Jane Katims, OLLI Member
Thursdays, 10am - 12pm (4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9)
6 Sessions, Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
$150
In this course, we will read short stories and novellas which feature themes of music and art. Our readings will be from the following books: Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro; The Matisse Stories by A.S. Byatt; and The Rest of Life by Mary Gordon. The stories in these collections are multi-layered and express deep understanding of human nature with its foibles and triumphs. In addition to studying character and conflict, we will explore varieties of narrative styles and strategies. Group members will please locate or purchase the three books mentioned above. The Study Group leader will supply supplementary essays about literary craft. Students will be assigned 50-90 pages of reading per week. In preparation for the first class, members will please read the stories: “Crooner” and “Cellists” in Ishiguro’s Nocturnes.
Jane Katims has written and co-produced six radio series for Wisconsin Public Radio, one earning her a Peabody Award in Broadcasting. She is the author of the poetry collection Dancing on a Slippery Floor and the story collection Until Now. She has published a number of stories in literary magazines. In addition to teaching at OLLI, she teaches literature and creative writing at The Cambridge Center for Adult Education. She is a member of the Friends of The Center for Humanities at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She lives with her family near Boston.
25 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
The Cinematic Artistry And Daring Of Ang Lee
Allan Elfant, OLLI Member
Tuesdays, 1pm - 5pm (3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7)
8 Sessions, Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
$175
Ang Lee is one of cinema’s most versatile and daring film directors. His films cut across cultural, national, and sexual boundaries. His work has won many prestigious awards. We will explore the prominent themes and cinematic style of Ang Lee by viewing and discussing the following eight films: The Wedding Banquet, Eat Drink Man Woman, Sense and Sensibility, The Ice Storm, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Brokeback Mountain, Lust Caution, and Life of Pi. Sessions will be approximately 3-4 hours or more long depending on the length of the film and the extent of our discussion. Optional internet readings will be provided.
Allan Elfant has a B.A. in psychology from Brooklyn College and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from New York University. He was in clinical practice for over 40 years and held teaching positions at several universities. He has led over 200 presentations at national and regional professional conferences and meetings, and has led more than two dozen study groups for our OLLI on various cinematic, psychological and philosophical themes. Many of these Study Groups have been film classes.
26 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
The History of Detective Fiction
Jared Pence, Tufts Alum
Mondays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6)
6 Sessions, Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
$150
From Edgar Allan Poe’s 1840s detective stories to 21st century police procedures, this course will explore the history of detective fiction as we read detective stories together from across three centuries. We will examine the conventions, tropes, innovations, and styles of detective stories and how they are written. We will also interpret and discuss the meaning of detective fiction and its social, political, and ontological implications. For each session, participants should have read and be prepared to discuss an essay about detective fiction as well as a detective short story by writers such as Edgar Allan Poe, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Anna Katherine Green, and Raymond Chandler. Students will read less than 50 pages each week.
Jared Pence received his Ph.D. in English from Tufts University in 2023, and his dissertation included an examination of urban detective fiction. He has B.A. and M.A. degrees from Brigham Young University and has taught college literature and writing courses for 10 years at Tufts, BYU, Emerson College, and Bentley University. Jared grew up in Utah and Iowa and when he is not teaching, reading, and writing he likes to run half marathons, bake sourdough bread, and sing in choirs. He now lives in Montreal, Canada and is trying to learn French as quickly as possible.
27 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
The King: The Life and Music of Elvis Presley
Larry Tannenbaum, Glenn Gravlee, Outside Instructors
Tuesdays, 1:30pm - 3:45pm (3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14)
8 Sessions, Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
This course will explore the life, background, emergence, impact and career of Elvis Presley - one of the greatest musical and cultural icons in history. The course will examine Elvis’s improbable explosion onto the American music scene in 1954, his meteoric rise to stardom, his major role in the development and spread of Rock ‘N’ Roll and his career in music and the movies, rising to musical heights never achieved by a musician before. We will listen to substantial volume of Elvis’s music from different periods in his career and view one of his better movies. If you are an Elvis fan, this will fulfill your need for an Elvis “fix.” If you are interested in music generally, this course will provide you an exciting link between Elvis and most of the music that followed in his wake. $175
Larry Tannenbaum was a Colorado trial attorney for 43 years, 27 of which he spent as a Senior Assistant Attorney General in The Colorado Attorney General’s Office. Upon retiring, Larry gravitated to two of his lifelong passions: music and history. Larry constantly reads books, articles and internet material relating to music, history and, in particular, music history. He also listens to and views lots of music, usually in the genres of The Blues, Rock ‘n’ Roll, R & B, Country, American Folk Music and Popular Music. Larry also started playing guitar at the age of 75.
Glenn Gravlee is a Professor Emeritus of Anesthesiology at University of Colorado School of Medicine. He attended Northwestern U. School of Medicine and served residency and fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. Since retiring in 2018, he has co-facilitated numerous courses for OLLI at DU (University of Denver) on a variety of topics including several related to popular music of the 1950s and 1960s as well as on Cars and How They Shaped American Culture, The British Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Era, and The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall. His outside interests include skiing, bicycling, geography, and reading (emphasis on biography).
28 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Visiting the World’s Museums—Virtually!
Margaret Lourie, OLLI Member
Thursdays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18)
4 Sessions, Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
$100
Do you like to visit museums? Museums around the world may be physically far away, but they are fully available for virtual visits, with enhanced digital content for all to enjoy. Join a group of Tufts OLLI members as we visit (virtually) a selection of interesting museums of various kinds from around the world, and see what they have to offer us. Besides images and videos of their physical settings, we are able to explore museum exhibitions and objects, and learn more about the contexts and histories of museum objects. In addition, many museums also contribute to shared virtual collections, challenging our idea of “the museum” as a single distinct physical place. Participants are encouraged to revisit and explore these museums in more depth on their own, and also to suggest museums for the class to visit. This is a repeat of a Study Group last offered in Winter 2021.
Margaret Lourie spent her career as a professional librarian, working in a number of academic and special libraries, mostly in the Boston area. She is an avid museum visitor, and, when traveling, tries to visit as many museums as she can. But there are always more museums to be visited that she can’t get to in person! She is looking forward to traveling the world with other Tufts OLLI members on virtual visits to fascinating museums far and wide.
29 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
in-person at tufts medford/somerVille Campus
Bounded in a Nutshell: Hamlet’s Revenge from Two Perspectives
Linda O’Brien, OLLI Member
Fridays, 10am - 12pm (3/29, 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17)
8 Sessions, Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
$175
Shakespeare’s Hamlet has been subjected to countless iterations since it was written approximately 416 years ago. Why not try another? In 2016, Ian McEwan penned a delightful short novel, entitled Nutshell, in which an unborn Hamlet speaks to us, contemplating “to be or not to be” from a uniquely different vantage point. This study group will first examine the text of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, focusing closely on its language, to view the character and his predicament as freshly as possible without the burden of opinions that scholars and critics have mercilessly imposed upon the poor fellow. Once we’ve read what Shakespeare had to say, we will read Nutshell. Murder and revenge twice-told! Echoes of the original play thread through McEwan’s novel, considered a little masterpiece in itself, bringing Hamlet back to the day of his birth. What fun!
Required material: William Shakespeare, Hamlet; Ian McEwan, Nutshell; Click to purchase on Thriftbooks website, $5.00 (Used)
Linda O’Brien, a teacher of AP Literature for many years and a lover of all things literary, seeks any opportunity to discuss great works with kindred souls. In addition to literature, Linda is passionate about opera, theater, art, and gardening. She holds a Master in English Literature from Simmons University.
30 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Contemporary Poets: Louise Glück
Iana Seerung, Tufts Alum
Fridays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (4/12, 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17)
6 Sessions, Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
$150
Louise Glück was undoubtedly one of the greatest poets of our time. Her work, recognized by numerous major literary prizes including the Nobel Prize and Pulitzer, has left an indelible mark on the history of poetry which will inspire readers and artists for generations. This class proposes an in-depth study of several of Louise Glück’s collections of poetry, including, but not limited to, The Wild Iris, The Seven Ages, and The Triumph of Achilles. We will explore how Glück’s poetry at once perfects and also constantly reinvents the lyric form. We will also attend to the subjects which preoccupied Glück: love, loss, familial relationships, grief, faith, loneliness, and the grounds of meaning itself. Since form and content are intertwined in Glück’s poetry, our discussions will range from expository discussions on thematic elements to close textual analysis. Writing prompts will also be provided each week for those looking to incorporate elements of Glück’s style in their own works.
Required material: Louise Glück, Poems 1962-2012; Click to purchase on Amazon, $12.19
Iana Seerung (they/them) is a writer and scholar currently pursuing their PhD in English at Brandeis University. Their work is primarily in literary theory and cultural studies with a focus in contemporary global literature and film. A life-long student and lover of literature, Iana has studied literature both at Tufts, where they earned their undergraduate degree, and Paris, having spent a year at the Sorbonne-Nouvelle University. Iana currently lives in Somerville and is actively involved in various literary, intellectual, and artistic communities in the Greater Boston area.
31 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Great Books from Around the World
Eric Chatterjee, Tufts Graduate Student
Fridays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (3/29, 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17)
8 Sessions, Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
In this course, we will read and discuss four books of extreme historical and cultural significance from different parts of the world. We will cover The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter from 9th or 10th century Japan, The Eloquent Peasant from Ancient Egypt, The Euthyphro by Plato from ancient Greece, and Martin Rivas by Alberto Blest Gana. Each class will be comprised of a lecture from the instructor followed by an open class discussion. Students will read approximately 20 pages each week. $175
Eric Chatterjee is currently a first-year graduate student at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where he studies a self-designed course entitled “International Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (IPPE)” as well as International Legal Studies. The former is a globalized version of the famous Oxford Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) course. He loves teaching and making seemingly impossible material accessible. After completing his MA degree at the Fletcher School, Eric plans to go on to doctoral studies and ultimately become a university professor.
32 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Music Theory for Casual Composers - Crash Course
Ronja Mokráňová, Tufts Graduate Student
Fridays, 10am - 12pm (3/29, 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26, 5/3)
6 Sessions, Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
$150
Do you, or have you always wanted to write your own music? Then you came to the right place! This music theory course is designed for those who have the desire to write original music, but: feel like they don’t have enough technical background, want to practice composition skills and share their work, or have not written music before and want to try something new. During this course, we will discuss elements from western popular music such as harmony, melody, and structure, and apply them to your original works. Most of the class meetings will be lecture based with the option of open discussion and they will include weekly composition assignments and feedback, yielding finished original composition(s) at the end of the course. Any music genre composers are welcome! Knowledge of western music notation is preferred, but not required. Specific music discussed in the course is subject to change depending on the interests of enrolled students.
Ronja Mokráňová, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter, is enrolled in the MA program in Composition at Tufts. She grew up in Slovakia and received a BA in Music Composition with honors at Whitman College. She is now composing concert music and film scores. She has been teaching music theory and composition privately, and as a teaching assistant at Tufts, strongly advocating for music learning at any age. Her recent accomplishments include releasing piano music with the Petrichor Records Label, and having her music performed by a violin and piano duo, as well as the Thomas Circle Singers.
33 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Stories that Pulse with Art, Music, and Passion: A Study of Three Contemporary Fiction Writers (In-Person)
Jane Katims, OLLI Member
Fridays, 10am - 12pm (4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10,)
6 Sessions, Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
$150
In this course, we will read short stories and novellas which feature themes of music and art. Our readings will be from the following books: Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro; The Matisse Stories by A.S. Byatt; and The Rest of Life by Mary Gordon. The stories in these collections are multi-layered and express deep understanding of human nature with its foibles and triumphs. In addition to studying character and conflict, we will explore varieties of narrative styles and strategies. Group members will please locate or purchase the three books mentioned above. The study group leader will supply supplementary essays about literary craft. Students will be assigned 50-90 pages of reading per week. In preparation for the first class, members will please read the stories: “Crooner” and “Cellists” in Ishiguro’s Nocturnes.
Jane Katims has written and co-produced six radio series for Wisconsin Public Radio, one earning her a Peabody Award in Broadcasting. She is the author of the poetry collection Dancing on a Slippery Floor and the story collection Until Now. She has published a number of stories in literary magazines. In addition to teaching at OLLI, she teaches literature and creative writing at The Cambridge Center for Adult Education. She is a member of the Friends of The Center for Humanities at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She lives with her family near Boston.
34 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Thinking About Reparations
Judie Feins, Bruce Bell, OLLI Members
Fridays, 10am - 12pm (4/12, 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17)
6 Sessions, Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
$150
There continues to be a lot written these days about reparations, but there is not much clarity about the concept or the possibilities. In this Study Group, we will read and talk together, with an emphasis on learning how to think and talk about the issue for both participants and leaders.
This is an update to the Spring 2021 Study Group of the same name. We will discuss the readings in greater depth and examine two year’s worth of developments in reparations efforts around the country. Both books are available used from several websites.
Required material: William A. Darity, Jr., A. Kirsten Mullen, From Here to Equality (1st Edition); Susan Neiman, Learning from the Germans
Judie Feins and Bruce Bell met in graduate school studying political science. They have long shared an abiding interest in the political and social life of the United States and have read deeply on issues of race and equality.
35 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
West Africa Through the Eyes of Its Literary Giants: From Ama Ata Aidoo to Chimamanda Adichie
Maggie Adomako, Tufts Graduate Student
Fridays, 10am - 12pm (3/29, 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26, 5/3)
6 Sessions, Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
$150
Telling stories by the evening fireside is an African tradition dating back to centuries. But with the advent of western education, African storytellers began to narrate their stories not through the age-old oral tradition, but by putting pen to paper. This highly interactive six session course is an opportunity to learn about Africa through the eyes of people who, through their creative lens, incorporated their lived experiences into stories about the continent. Each week, we will read a novel or short story from a West African writer that explores a specific theme. I will do a presentation then, we will spend some time in class discussing the theme as it relates to the book. And yes, critiques of the novel are welcome! You do not need any prior experience in creative writing! All you need is an appreciation for a good book and a willingness to learn about other cultures. All the books can be purchased either used or new on Amazon and AbeBooks.
Required material: Chimamanda Adichie, Americana, Click to purchase on AbeBooks, $5.69; Mohammed Nassehu Ali, The Prophet of Zongo Street: Stories, Click to purchase on Amazon, $14.99; Chinua Achebe, Anthills of the Savannah, Click to purchase on Amazon, $14.12; Ama Ata Aidoo, Diplomatic Pounds and Other Stories, Click to purchase on Amazon, $17.95
Maggie Adomako is a 1st year PhD student at Tufts studying International Relations. Originally from Ghana, she has been writing short stories for Ghanaian newspapers since middle school. Her claim to national fame was unfortunately overshadowed by a spelling mistake (an incident which she will happily share with you if you take her class). Her teaching experience includes two years as a home tutor to a group of students preparing for the Ghana national high school exams and a COVID-induced home tutoring of her two nieces and nephew.
36 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
in-person at BrooksBy Village
DNA The Recipes of Life
Kiril Sinkel, Outside Instructor
Mondays, 10am - 12pm (3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6)
6 Sessions, Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
$150
Join us as we explore the role of the DNA genetic code, our body’s master recipe book, and see how it controls our body’s structure and all its functions. We will first describe how DNA code specifies 20 thousand different kinds of proteins in our bodies. Then we will look at examples of DNA’s many higher-level functions, including how cells differentiate from stem cells into many specific tissue types, how genetic programs regulate development from embryo to adult, and even how DNA ‘mug shots’ identify pathogens and provide immunity. This class is designed to present the big picture and to help students understand emerging genetic technologies like gene editing using CRISPR, rational vaccine development, and new cancer treatments.
We will make use of animations of biological processes when available. Active discussion will be encouraged. This course is meant to be accessible to anyone with an interest in science. No particular biology knowledge is assumed.
Kiril Sinkel, a retired computer programmer, has been had a long-term interest in natural information systems like the genome and neural system and has been auditing Boston University genetics, microbiology and neuroscience classes over the last ten years.
37 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Introducing the Great American Cities Series: Chicago
Cleo D’Arcy, Steve D’Arcy, Ellen Kitzis, Margaret Lourie, Bob Pride, OLLI Members
$100
Mondays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/22)
4 Sessions, Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
So many wonderful places, so little time to go everywhere! Join us to explore some U.S. cities you may have visited but haven’t had time to fully discover. The first city we will visit is the world-renowned transportation hub of America - Chicago. Situated on Lake Michigan at the intersection of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed, it is among the largest and most diverse cities in the U.S. Incorporated in 1837, it is renowned for its role in shaping the social, political, and economic history of our country. The city grew rapidly and by 1860 Chicago was the youngest U.S. city to exceed a population of 100,000. By 1900, less than 30 years after the Great Chicago Fire, it was the fifth-largest city in the world. Today it is recognized for its incredible architecture, such as the world-famous Willis (formerly Sears) Tower. Let’s learn about Chicago’s storied history, vibrant culture, iconic neighborhoods, and places you should not miss on a visit to Chi-town.
38 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
An experienced team of Study Group Leaders is offering this course. Coordinating the four sessions and leading one are Cleo and Steve D’Arcy retired professors who taught at the University of Illinois for over 30 years. Since 2016 they have co-taught study groups on the National Parks, Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations properties, U.S. Highway 1, TED talks, plant disease epidemics, personal finance, birding and Southern Vermont.
Each leading one of the other three sessions are well-known OLLI members including:
Margaret Lourie spent her career as a professional librarian in several libraries and professional organizations in the Boston area. She has led study groups in the Tufts Osher program on several topics, including digital resources from our public libraries, visiting museums virtually, and intrepid women travelers.
Bob Pride is a 1967 graduate of Tufts where he majored in Political Science and received his commission in the Navy through the Navy ROTC. He retired from the Naval Reserve in 1990 after 23 years of active and reserve service as an intelligence officer. He has led or co-led many OLLI Study Groups, including “What Ifs in American History,” “Third Party Presidential Candidates,” “The Cold War,” and others.
Ellen Kitzis held leadership and research roles at Gartner, Dataquest, and Compaq specialized in IT research focusing on strategic planning, organizational and management strategies. Ellen earned a B.A. from Boston University and a Ph.D. from Tufts. She has taught a variety of courses on topic ranging from golabal trends, to the “Sociology of Everyday Life” and most recently being part of the “Great Rivers” course.
39 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
John Brown—Prophet, Terrorist, Hero?
Bill Saunders, OLLI Member
Mondays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (4/29, 5/6)
2 Sessions, Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
$50
Almost everyone has heard the Civil War marching song and knows that “John Brown’s body lies a-moldering in the grave.” But, who was this man who spoke with the moral certainty of an Old Testament Prophet while having no trouble shading the truth or committing murder? How did his actions in “Bleeding Kansas’’ and his raid on Harpers Ferry change American history? And, how, in the few weeks between his capture and execution, did he go from being almost universally reviled to a martyr who died to redeem America’s sin of slavery? His legacy as either a hero or domestic terrorist is still debated, but many historians now agree with Frederick Douglas who said: “If John Brown did not end the war that ended slavery, he did at least begin the war that ended slavery.” This class will be similar to the one Bill taught during the Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 terms. Recommended readings will be provided as PDFs or web links.
Bill Saunders graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Amherst College and was formerly a marketing consultant for high-tech companies. His recent interest in John Brown began while traveling on John Brown Avenue in Port au Prince, Haiti with a medical team that made seven trips to Haiti to provide care throughout the countryside around Leogane, the epicenter of the 2010 earthquake. Bill has taught other courses at Tufts Osher, including the history of Haiti, two different courses analyzing historical events through the lens of eight Graham Greene films, and a course covering right-wing military juntas that took over the governments of many countries during the 1960s and 70s.
40 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
in-person at BrookhaVen at lexington
Great Decisions 2024 (In-Person)
Joseph Ash, Pete Baldwin, OLLI Members
Wednesdays, 10am - 12pm (3/27, 4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1, 5/8, 5/15)
8 Sessions, Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
Participate in a series of thought-provoking discussions about eight key issues of concern to today’s U.S. policymakers. We’ll review one foreign policy topic per week. The Study Group leaders will begin each session with a presentation on the topic of the day to supplement the text. The rest of the session will be devoted to open discussion based on the text, the presentation, and the ideas and experience of class members, as we seek a deeper understanding of the issues involved. Weekly readings will include about 15 pages from the required text plus occasional additional short articles. Home Internet access is recommended as we’ll share resources and opinions by email.
Required material: Foreign Policy Association, Great Decisions 2024 Briefing Book; Click to purchase on FPA website, $35.00 $175
Joseph Ash holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University and a M.S. in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. During his 39-year career with an electric and gas utility, he held a number of officer-level positions in such areas as customer service, supply chain, regulatory affairs, pricing, and energy supply acquisition. He has been a member of OsherLLI since he and his wife retired to Somerville in 2009. In his retirement, he has been certified as a mediator and has undertaken a variety of volunteer activities.
Peter Baldwin has been involved in all aspects of the gas turbine and compressor industries for 57 years and has broad general industry knowledge and equipment best practice. Pete was President of Ramgen Power Systems, a developer a utility scale CCS compressor. Pete spent 33 years with Ingersoll-Rand Company, serving as President of Woburn-based NREC and had been VP of Sales & Service for Ingersoll-Rand’s Air Compressor Group. He has held a variety of executive level positions, including international assignments in the UK and Italy. Pete holds a BSME degree from Purdue University.
41 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Kant’s Moral Philosophy
Joyce Carpenter, OLLI Member
Wednesdays, 10am - 12pm (3/20, 3/27, 4/3, 4/10, 4/24, 5/1, 5/8, 5/22)
8 Sessions, Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
Which matters more: our intentions or the consequences of our actions? Kant (17241804), probably the most important philosopher since Aristotle, says it’s our intentions. His writings tend to be difficult to read and understand, but I think they make a lot of sense when carefully considered, which we’ll do together. We’ll read his Groundwork to the Metaphysics of Morals (the only thing most people read of his moral philosophy) as well as some of his later works and interesting essays. I’ll be using Immanuel Kant: Practical Philosophy, from Cambridge University Press ($30ish used; $50ish new).
Required material: Immanuel Kant, Mary J. Gregor, Practical Philosophy (The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Immanuel Kant); Click to purchase on Amazon, $33.99 $175
Joyce Carpenter studied literature and philosophy as an undergraduate at Rutgers and received a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago in philosophy in 1992. She’s taught philosophy and women’s studies at UIC, Chicago State, the College of Charleston (SC) and for Boston University’s Prison Education Program at MCI-Framingham. After leaving academia, she taught a variety of programming, web development and network administration courses before becoming an editor at Computerworld magazine. She retired and joined Tufts OLLI in 2016.
42 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Short Stories by Guy de Maupassant (In-Person)
Emese Soos, Tufts Faculty Member
Wednesdays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (3/27, 4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1)
6 Sessions, Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
$150
Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) is considered one of the fathers of the modern short story, together with Gogol. Master of psychological realism, he delights in revealing the disconnect between generally accepted societal values and the way people actually live, with their aspirations, hidden motivations, and conflicting emotions. We will read and discuss a selection of his stories. (Readings TBD; I’ll make sure the texts are readily available.)
Required material: Guy de Maupassant, A Parisian Affair and Other Stories (Penguin Classics); Click to purchase on Amazon, $12
Emese Soos majored in French and history at Mount Holyoke College, earned a Ph.D. in French from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and taught French language and culture courses at Tufts for over 30 years. She delights in revisiting some of her favorite literary works, this time in English.
43 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
