Samantha Tripp, Tufts Graduate Student
Monday, 10am-12pm (June 6, 13, 20, 27, July 11, 18, 25, Aug 1)
8 Sessions, Somewhat interactive - a mix of lecture and discussion
Ever since the first film premiered in 1977, the music of the Star Warssaga has been iconic. From the celebratory Main Title to the menacing Imperial March, John Williams’s network of themes have achieved a degree of global recognizability and renown rare for any contemporary genre. Part of StarWars’ musical success derives from its referentiality: these scores contain echoes of previously-existing pieces, and styles, providing both composi-tional inspiration and extramusical resonance for Williams and those who followed him. This course explores the connections between this music and the wider musical world. Examining clips from the three Skywalker trilogies, anthology films, and TV shows, we investigate the influences that contributed to conjur-ing the unique musical worlds of a galaxy far, far away. $175
Barry Schoenfeld, Outside Instructor
Wednesday, 4pm-6pm (June 8, 15, 22, 29 July 6, 13)
$150
6 Sessions, Somewhat interactive - a mix of lecture and discussion
Join your “guide” Barry Schoenfeld, as he leads us through a virtual day-in-the-life in Ancient Rome, London, Moscow & St. Petersburg, Ancient Egypt, the Galapagos, the Amazon and more. Using archival footage, drone videos, real and recreated videos, we will get a 360 degree tour of the world without ever leaving home. Class will include personal recollections from class members, discussion, and wonderful sights—make your plans to “travel with us” now!
Simone Dufresne, Tufts
Wednesday, 10am-12pm (June 8, 15, 22, 29)
4 Sessions, Somewhat interactive - a mix of lecture and discussion
According to the CDC, 1 in 54 children will be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States. Chances are, if you do not already know an autistic person, you will likely meet someone on the spectrum (family member, coworker, neighbor, community member) in the future. This course will explore the historical and current understanding of autism, demonstrate how autism impacts an individual and their family, and introduce course members to best practices for supporting autistic people in their own lives. Through lecture, discussion, and guest speakers, the goal of this course is to promote awareness, acceptance, and understanding of the autism community for those who are new to this world. Please note that this is an introductory course so it may be most informative for individuals who don’t have a significant background in autism; however, anyone is welcome to join the course. We take a strengths-based, pro-neurodiversity approach and draw heavily from the work and perspectives of autistic scholars and advocates.
Gideon May, Tufts Alum
Thursday, 2pm-4pm (June 9, 16, 23, 30)
4 Sessions, Somewhat interactive - a mix of lecture and discussion
This 4 session course will examine China’s foreign policy approaches to handle novel security, economic, and domestic issues informed by historical background. We will examine contemporary literature to understand the drivers of the modern CCP’s foreign policy initiatives and explore contemporary arguments in the China foreign policy research community about China’s goals and struggles in the modern era. Participants will read two articles before each class (40-60 pages per week). Each class will begin with a brief lecture on the week’s topic, followed by a Q & A discussion with the instructor about the week’s readings and topic. In order for this course to be successful and the discussion useful, participants are encouraged to prepare at least 3 questions about the readings each week and be prepared to engage with the instructor in discussion of the readings. Interest and experience with China is appreciated, but not necessary.
Friday, 2pm-4pm (June 10, 17, 24, July 1,8, 15, 22, 29)
8 Sessions, Somewhat interactive - a mix of lecture and discussion
$175
The sugar that we consume with our breakfast tea or coffee, the woolen or cotton clothing that we wear in our daily lives or even the rubber tyres of our vehicles are all products of global inter-connected capitalism, a process whose genesis is inextricably linked with colonialism and exploitation of resources and people of much of the Global South. This course over 8 weeks will explore the making of the modern world as a by-product of colonialism. It will explore the earliest forms of colonialism in Latin America by the Spanish and Portuguese Empires, the colonial world of the British, French, Belgians, Germans, Italians and the Dutch in Africa and Asia, and even that of the United States in the Pacific Ocean World.
Book: Colonialism in Global Perspective, Kris Manjapra, Cambridge University Press, 2020.
Amrita
Friday, 2pm-4pm (June 10, 17, 24, July 1,8, 15, 22, 29)
8 Sessions, Somewhat interactive - a mix of lecture and discussion
The Sundarbans straddling between India and Bangladesh is world's only mangrove tiger land. The forest communities here live in a constant state of human-animal conflict which is also a climate change hotspot in South Asia. The marginalized communities here live a life of fear and seek psychological refuge in the cult gods and goddesses of the region who are known to master and control different aspects of the geolocation and its human-nonhuman residents: Maa Bonobibi (Mistress of the Forest), Dakshin Ray (shape shifting sage who could change his form into a tiger), Maa Manasha (the snake goddess). This course shall help you understand and appreciate the indigenous livelihood and practices of an under explored region of the world only brought to forefront by 2004 Hutch Crossword Book Award winning title The Hungry Tide by Amitava Ghosh, their struggles, and their quotidian lives within the dictates of the divines of the region who promises to protect them. We will learn about the various myths common in the area.
Book: The Sundarbans: Folk Deities, Monsters and Mortals, Sutapa Chatterjee Sarkar, Social Science Press and Orient Black Swan New Delhi: 2010 $175
Hannah Alexandra Male, Tufts Alum
Wednesday, 2pm-4pm (June 8, 15, 22, 29 July 6, 13, 21, 28)
8 Sessions, Minimally interactive - mostly lecture
$175
A deep dive into Egypt’s relationships with different parts of the ancient world paired with explanations of hieroglyphic words. Regions that will be covered: Mesopotamia, Near East, Asiatics, Levant/ Canan, Nubia and Black Africa Debate, Punt, Greece. Attendees will gain a basic understanding of how the Egyptian state related to these different areas of the ancient world and the different ways that foreigners overall can be detected archaeologically in Egypt. Students will also be introduced to how hieroglyphics operate and common phrases that pop up on objects.
Barry Schoenfeld, Outside Instructor
Thursday, 4pm-6pm (June 9, 16, 23, 30, July 7, 14)
6 Sessions, Somewhat interactive - a mix of lecture and discussion
$150
The World of Opera gets bigger every year, with promising new stars from far off places like, Malta, South Korean and the former USSR. Join us on this musical exploration through video recordings, lecture and discussions, as we start with yesterday’s stars like Enrico Caruso, work our way through today’s giants like Luciano Pavarotti, and introduce tomorrow’s tenors like Michael Spyres -- Great Tenors of Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow.
Guided Meditation
Yolanta Kovalko, Tufts Staff Member
Monday, 6pm-8pm (June 6, 13, 20, 27)
4 Sessions, Minimally interactive - mostly lecture
$100
In this class Yolanta, a certified yoga teacher and meditation practitioner, will introduce participants to Yoga Nidra, a form of meditation and transformation grounded in the wide and deep field of yogic tradition. Students will be guided through what Yoga Nidra teaches are the five levels of being: Physical Body, Energy Body, Emotional Body, Mental Body, and Intuitive/Spiritual Body. In the process, they will have the opportunity to experience becoming more aware, and to explore the deepest place within themselves, their true Self. Participants will be encouraged to find a place to recline or lay down while participating in the course.
Friday, 6pm-8pm (June 10, 17, 24, July 1,8, 15, 22, 29)
8 Sessions, Highly interactive - lots of discussion
$175
Gain a basic understanding of Healthcare- its history, divisions and applications. All those interested in healthcare fundamentals should join this course. It will give you the tools to understand medicines and their effects on the human body. The importance of this field and its applications can’t be highlighted anymore, given the present scenario. This is a must-know course for modern society. To understand the basics of medicine, pharmacology is absolutely essential. This will help you better understand complex interactions of the human body and medicines in a completely different light. Although the course is geared toward students who have limited science and math backgrounds, all those interested in healthcare, medicines, and their effects are most welcome. The goal is to familiarize students with the importance of pharmacology and its applications in almost every aspect of healthcare.
Mawunyo Kobla (M.K.) Titiati, Tufts Graduate Student
Tuesday & Thursday, 10am-12pm (June 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30)
8 Sessions, Highly interactive - lots of discussion
In this series of lessons, M.K. seeks to offer group members some practical foundation for one of West Africa’s most popular grooves Afrobeats on the drum set. M.K. will break down each groove into its many separate components so members can master them quicker once the separate parts are put together. He will use play-alongs to illustrate these concepts so members can hear and apply them in the musical context. You will need a pair of drumsticks and practice pads for class. $175
Monday, 2pm-4pm (June 6th)
1 Session, Minimally interactive - mostly lecture
$25
Exquisite and fragile, yet strong enough to migrate thousands of miles, monarch butterflies have captured our imaginations with their beauty and complexity. Elke and her husband Garth have gotten to know these magical creatures well while raising and releasing over a hundred butterflies. What makes these butterflies so special? How can we help them? Elke will discuss facts and myths about monarchs and share stories and photos from their experiences.
James Heazlewood Dale, Outside Instructor
Tuesday, 4pm-6pm (June 28, July 5, 12, 19)
4 Sessions, Somewhat interactive - a mix of lecture and discussion
$100
With the release of Peter Jackson’s three-part documentary, GetBack, scholars, musicians, and fans alike can experience the Beatles up close and personal during their final years as one of the most popular bands of all time. In many ways, Jackson’s project poses a counter position to how historical narratives present the recording process of LetitBe. The documentary brings new and illuminating perspectives on the fab four’s relationship, their process as songwriters, and the formation of songs that appear on Let It Be (1970) and the post-Beatles solo albums. This four-week course is an opportunity to explore how the GetBackdocumentary challenges our under-standing of the final years of the Beatles and better informs how the four collaborated to craft the most celebrated songs of the second half of the 20th century. The first session contextualizes the GetBackproject with a discussion of the background of Jackson’s documentary. We will dedicate the proceeding three sessions to the three parts of the documentary. No prior knowledge of musical theory or performance will be required—just your ears, musical appreciation, and a willingness to investigate this fascinating new insight into what a day in the life of a Beatle might have been.
Allan Elfant, OLLI Member
Wednesday, 1:30pm-4:30pm (June 8th & June 15th)
2 Sessions, Highly interactive - lots of discussion
$50
John Huston’s film Freud:TheSecretPassionandDavidCronenbergʼsADangerous Method, provide an opportunity to consider the significant contributions of Freud and Jung in the founding of psychoanalysis as well as how each has been portrayed in film. The film Freudgives us a glimpse into the early creative work of the founder of psychoanalysis and ADangerousMethoddepicts the relationship between Freud and Jung as well as some of the key techniques and concepts that they promoted. We will view each film together and then discuss the films as well as some of the highlights of Freudian and Jungian theories and clinical approaches. Given the length of the films, the first class showing Freudwill be up to 31/2 hours long while the second class will be up to 3 hours long. Optional internet readings will be provided.
Joyce Carpenter, OLLI Member
Thursday, 10am-12pm (June 9, 16, 23, 30)
4 Sessions, Highly interactive - lots of discussion
$100
In this study group, weʼll read and discuss the winner of the most recent Booker Prize: ThePromise, by Damon Galgut, which is set in South Africa during the countryʼs transition out of apartheid, and explores the interconnected relationships between the members of a diminishing white family through the sequential lens of four funerals. The leader has no special knowledge of this text, but thought this prize would be a good source of readings. The style of this text is described as reminiscent of James Joyce, William Faulkner, and Virginia Woolf, so like most winners of this prize, itʼs not likely to be an easy read. If all goes well with this study group, maybe we can work backwards through the winners over the years. The hardback edition (about $20 on Amazon) is approximately 250 pages, so weʼll read about 60 pages each week. It will be helpful if everyone uses that same edition so we have the same pagination.
Book:ThePromise, by Damon Galgut. Please acquire a copy of the hardcover, Europa edition of the book.
Gail Leondar-Wright, Outside Instructor
Tuesday, 2pm-4pm (June 7, 14, 28, July 5, 12, 19)
6 Sessions, Minimally interactive - mostly lecture
$150
The late Stephen Sondheim is commonly thought to be the most important musical theater composer and lyricist of the past fifty years, and the single most influential force in bringing the Broadway musical into the modern era. This lively and interactive course will explore how Sondheim has elevated the genre, ushering in the musical’s modern era. We’ll focus on IntotheWoods, ALittleNightMusic, MerrilyWe RollAlong, WestSideStory, PacificOverturesand will touch upon others Sondheim musicals for context. Join other musical lovers for this fast-paced presentation, full of things to look at, watch, listen to, and think about. Reading, viewing and listening will be encouraged, but optional.
Linda Agerbak, Steve & Cleo D’Arcy, OLLI Members
Monday, 2pm-4pm (June 13th)
1 Session, Minimally interactive - mostly lecture
$25
This is a virtual trip down the Mississippi & the Colorado Rivers, starting with Native American canoes & ending with floods, drought, levees, dams, reservoirs, lawsuits & interstate agreements for sharing the river. One hour per river. Advance readings are provided but not required. Topics for discussion will be given at the end of each hour.
Linda Agerbak & Rob Crooks, OLLI Members
Monday, 2pm-4pm (June 20th)
1 Session, Minimally interactive - mostly lecture
$25
This is a virtual trip down the Nile, the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers. We will provide optional advance readings for this virtual trip down the rivers, tell & show their fascinating history, describe their people’s problems & possible solutions, the (sometimes unexpected) consequences, ongoing interstate conflicts & agreements, ending each hour with class questions & discussion of the most pressing future problems facing their people. No prior knowledge is expected. No weekly reading or homework!
Linda Agerbak has a BA in English from Stanford, an MA from UC Berkeley, is a writer, lived abroad for 35 years, worked with Vietnamese refugees in Malaysia, for the Singapore Straits Times, at Oxfam & Oxford University Press. In the past she has led Osher courses on conflict resolution, mythology & Lebanon. Linda has led previous study groups, including most recently Lebanon: Jewel of the Fertile Crescent.
Joyce Carpenter studied literature and philosophy as an undergraduate (Rutgers, B.A. 1984) and received a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago in philosophy (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. Joyce has led previous study groups, including most recently Plato’s Dialogues.
Rob Crooks is an expatriate Australian, now a US citizen. He graduated as an agricultural plant ecologist from Sydney University in 1972. After graduation, he started working on environmental research and education and spent the next 40 years working as an environmental scientist for governments and the private sector in Australia and 13 different countries in south and south-east Asia. He moved to the US in 1992 when joined the World Bank, working with it as a staff environmental specialist until he retired 2003. He lives in Medford with his wife Elisabeth and dogs, Teddy and Bear, and his main retirement interests, other than taking OLLI courses, are cooking and obeying his wife’s instructions. Rob has led previous study groups, including most recently The Virginia Company and their Jamestown Experiment.
Steve & Cleo D’Arcy are retired professors who taught at the University of Illinois for over 30 years. After moving to North Reading in 2016 to be closer to family, they discovered Osher at Tufts. While they enjoyed teaching college students, they really enjoy sharing their interests and experiences with their contemporaries. Cleo and Steve have led previous study groups, including most recently One Hundred Years of Newbery Award Winners.
James Heazlewood Dale Growing up in Australia, James discovered a passion for playing jazz double bass. After receiving first-class honors in jazz performance at the Sydney Conservatory, he relocated to Boston to study music performance at the Berklee School of Music and the New England Conservatory on full scholarships. James is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Brandeis University in musicology and specializes in the intersection of jazz and multimedia. James has been a study group leader for numerous Osher courses on various music-related topics, including jazz history, the Beatles, and women in jazz. James has led previous study groups, including, most recently Unforgettable: Songs of the Great American Songbook.
Amrita DasGupta a PhD Candidate at the Department of Gender Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. She researches on the life and livelihood of the deltaic inhabitants of the Sundarbans. Amrita has led previous study groups, including most recently The Portrait of Frida Kahlo as a Communist.
Simone Dufresne is a doctoral student in the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study & Human Development at Tufts University. She has been working professionally in the autism field for over 10 years supporting youth and families. She cares deeply about disability issues and her work is informed by empirical research and perspectives of multiple stakeholders, most importantly autistic people themselves. For this course, Simone will draw on the perspectives of her brother, who was diagnosed with autism at age 3, her parents, and her own experience as a sibling, professional, and researcher. Simone has led previous study groups, including most recently Autism: 2021.
Tathagata Dutta grew up in Calcutta, India, in what was once the capital of British India. Since the age of 18 he has been on a westward journey to Delhi where he attended St. Stephen’s College for a B.A. in History and then to the U.K. for a MPhil in World History from the University of Cambridge. Presently he is a PhD Candidate in the Department of History at Tufts. The primary area of his research is frontiers and borders of Asia. Tathagata has led previous study groups, including, most recently: The End of Empires and The Rise of Asia, US Foreign Policy Since First World War, and Second World War Through the Writings of Sir Winston Churchill and World’s Largest Democracy: The Indian Republic.
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 over a dozen study groups for our OLLI on various cinematic, psychological and philosophical themes. Many of these study groups have been film classes. Allan has led previous study groups, including most recently The Evocative Films of Michelangelo Antonioni: Master of Art-House Cinema.
Elke Jahns-Harms teaches International Development Aid at The Fletcher School and previously taught Music and Social Change at the New England Conservatory. She and her husband began raising monarch butterflies a few years ago and have coached friends and neighbors to raise them as well. They continue to be moved and amazed at how people react to these lovely creatures. Elke holds a PhD in International Relations, a Master’s in Music, a Master of Public Affairs, and a B.A. in Geology and Environmental Science. She has led many study groups (including this one) with Osher LLI and is delighted to be back. Elke has led previous study groups, including most recently Music and Peacebuilding.
Yolanta Kovalko is a certified yoga teacher and meditation practitioner who owns and teaches at her studio, Balls Square Yoga in Somerville. She has been practicing yoga for the last 15 years. She fell in love with yoga because of the pleasure it gave her and the serenity she found in the practice. She enjoys working with mature students and offers her expertise and specialization to students who may need more time, attention and assistance with their practice. She strives to create safe, comfortable and relaxing environment for all her students. She is a proud mother, wife, grandmother, and a pet mommy. Yolanta has led previous study groups, most recently Adaptive Yoga & Relaxation, Five Element Yoga and Guided Meditation.
Gail Leondar-Wright now retired, spends her time studying and teaching about the works of Stephen Sondheim. She facilitates an online national Sondheim Study Group and gives periodic webinars comparing the works of Sondheim to those of other composers and lyricists. She has taught about Sondheim at Lasell Village, for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Tufts and for the Rainbow Lifetime Learning Institute. Gail has a master’s in Performance Studies from NYU and a BA in Drama from UC Berkeley. Gail has led previous study groups, including most recently What Makes Sondheim Great, Act 1.
Hannah Alexandra Male History and archaeology buff Hannah Male 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. She has been accepted to the Heritage of Egypt and the Middle East MA program at University College London. Ultimately she hopes to become a curator of Egyptian and/or Near Eastern antiquities. Currently she is located back home with family in CT. Hannah also offers World History/ Social Studies Tutoring services through September of 2022. Hannah has led previous study groups including, most recently: Ancient History Through Maps.
Gideon May graduated summa cum laude from Tufts University (2020) with a degree in Chinese and Education. Originally hailing from Vermont, Gideon developed a passion for international relations and teaching through extensive travel in his youth, including living for six months in Beirut, Lebanon, and studying, traveling, and teaching in China during college. He has received the Chinese Language and Literature Prize from Tufts University (2020) and placed 3rd in the Chinese Language Bridge Competition at the Chinese Consulate in New York City, New York (2019). He currently works as a consultant and executive coach at Next Level Communication, improving outcomes for Chinese executives in communication with global stakeholders. Gideon has taught courses with Tufts University OLLI and the University of Montana MOLLI since 2020. Gideon has led previous study groups, including most recently Modern China.
Barry Schoenfeld has over 40 years’ experience in the marketing, advertising, research, social media & consulting fields, including executive positions in New York and Los Angeles, and now with his own consulting business, Clear Vision Partners, which he founded in 2001. He moved to the desert in 2014, and almost immediately began teaching at OLLI/CSUSB and OLLI/UCR, OLLI/DUKE and OLLI/Tufts. He teaches about his many fields of interests and “teaches from his passions” from opera to social media; from archeology to history; and from mindful meditation to cults, and from ballet to current events. Barry has led previous study groups, including most recently Americas Best Choreographers.
Mawunyo Kobla (M.K.) Titiati is a M.A. Music student in Tufts University, performer (drummer), composer and producer, is an aspiring professor in music and consultant with focus on the business of music. Born in Adidome, Ghana he spent most of his life in Tema-Accra, Ghana. Through formal and informal training in Ghanaian traditional drumming, experiences in marching band, studying, teaching, and performing of the drum set, growing, and working as a church musician and serving in various leadership roles along the journey, he has been nurtured into a versatile musician and leader. He is currently the main drummer of the Church of Pentecost, Boston Central District where he fellowships; plays as the jazz drummer of Nando’s Small Group Jazz in Tufts University; assists Prof. Attah Poku as the ensemble manager of the African Drum and Dance Ensemble (Kiniwe) in Tufts University; assists Lauren Caso in the Tufts Community Music School and offers private lessons to students in drumming. M.K. is a new study group leader for Osher.
Samantha Tripp is a musicologist and a master’s candidate at Tufts University. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a major in Music and a minor in Romance Languages. While at Mount Holyoke, she tutored music theory and taught Elementary Italian. Her research interests include the relationship between literature and music, composer Alan Hovhaness, and film music. She is currently the teach-ing assistant for Professor Frank Lehman’s The Music of John Williams and StarWars class. Samantha is a new study group leader for Osher.
Anurag Virmani finished his residency training in Pharmacology from MAMC, New Delhi. He has a Doctorate in Pharmacology with a published thesis on utilization patterns, outcomes, and costs of prophylactic antimicrobials in orthopedic implant surgeries. He had been posted in COVID inpatient wards before joining Fletcher. He has a widespread healthcare experience as a medical officer and research associate in clinical trials. He has won a medal for his doctoral thesis and a few other awards during his medical training. His interests in Pharmacology and its applications inspires him to pursue his journey to uncover new aspects of this core field of healthcare. Anurag has led previous study groups, including most recently Pharmacology: Fundamentals, Overview, and Applications.
o Membership runs from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022
o Visit our website: https://universitycollege.tufts.edu/lifelong-learning
o Membership is required for class registration.
2
Registration Begins Monday, April 25, 2022
o Register online: E-newsletter subscribers will automatically receive a reminder email with registration instructions.
o Email OsherLLI@tufts.edu and join our e-newsletter to get a reminder and more!
Receive Confirmation and Submit Payment
3 After the close of initial registration, we will contact you with a summary of your courses, your total blance due, and payment instructions.
◦Initial Registration Period: Monday, April 25, 2022 - Tuesday, April 26, 2022
◦OLLI Office Confirms Initial Course Enrollments: Friday, April 29, 2022
◦Add/Drop Period: May 2, 2022 - May 20, 2022
◦Classes Begin: Monday, June 6, 2022
Special Summer Membership Fee: $15 (Membership runs to June 30, 2022)
Study Group Pricing: Varies by Course
After your registrations for the term are finalized, our office will contact you to let you know how much you owe. You will then have the option ot pay via our online payment portal or send a check (made payable to Trustees of Tufts College) to our office.
Partial tuition remission is available on a limited basis. For more information, please reach out to our office via email, OsherLLI@tufts.edu
You will be charged $25 for each withdrawal before the second session of a multi-session class. (No refunds will be available after the second session.) If the OLLI office cancels any course, a full refund will be issued. When an individual session needs to be canceled due to instructor illness or other reason, we do our best to schedule a makeup session.
