Taste of Osher

No membership required. These two-hour seminars offer a "taste" of the programming we offer throughout the year. Taste of Osher courses are open to nonmembers and members alike, and are just $15 each, unless otherwise noted. OLLI Plus members can enroll at no cost. No refunds allowed.

Qigong: Its Origins, Practices, and Philosophy {New Course}

Tuesday, September 26, 1–3pm

As China rose to be one of the superpowers of the ancient world, its indigenous health care system effectively took care of China's population's health. Qigong, pronounced “chi gong,” was developed in China thousands of years ago as part of traditional Chinese medicine. Qigong contributed to the longevity and good health of its citizens in ancient times and is still integral to the good health broadly enjoyed today. In this course, we explore Qigong's history, philosophical origins, and powerful practices from its mandated use issued by the Yellow Emperor in 2000–2500 BC to the modern practices in traditional Chinese medicine today.

REG# 393650 | INSTRUCTOR: Samuel Barnes

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 119A.

Ligaments Quietly Holding You Together, Until They Don’t {New Course}

Wednesday, September 27, 10am–12pm

Ligaments are tough fibrous bands spanning from bone to bone and affording differing degrees of joint mobility and stability. Without them, muscle contractions would be wasted on an entirely wobbly skeleton. We may recognize ligaments only when a failure occurs, which may manifest as a frozen shoulder, wrist sprain, torn knee ligament, plantar fasciitis, or bunion. In this course, we explore some of our ligaments, followed by the rich history of their discovery and description from ancient civilizations to the present. We look at how ligament size, configuration, and stretch resistance controls both stability and motion, examining how the molecular and microscopic nature of ligaments achieves these feats. We examine commonly encountered ligament disorders, how they might be prevented, the treatments available, and the prospects for artificial replacements. We also celebrate the extraordinary ligaments that were responsible for Paganini’s virtuosity, which allow gymnasts to dazzle us with their amazing flexibility and control.

REG# 393772 | INSTRUCTOR: Roy Meals

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 113.

Tai Chi: Its Ancient History, Philosophy, and Movements {New Course}

Thursday, September 28, 1–3pm

Tai chi, best known in China as tai chi chuan, translates to "grand supreme fist" because it is a powerful martial art that focuses on the natural internal energy of the body or qi. It is also considered a qigong but with a martial emphasis. Nowadays, millions of people practice tai chi every day to build balance, boost the immune system, and calm the mind. In this course, we explore tai chi’s philosophical roots, ancient history, as well as the culture that built and nurtured it into the popular health practice it is around the world today.

REG# 393651 | INSTRUCTOR: Samuel Barnes

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 119A.

The Musée d'Orsay {New Course}

Wednesday, October 4, 10am–12pm

A former Beaux-Arts train station, the Musée d'Orsay was opened as a museum in 1986. Featuring mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1914, it holds the largest collection of Impressionist paintings by Monet, Manet, Pissarro , Morisot, and Renoir. In this course, we explore the history of the building and the collection, as well the major highlights of the 3000 art pieces on display.

This course uses the Hybrid (Flexible) format which allows students to participate remotely and/or in the classroom. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to the video for 30 days.

REG# 393742 | INSTRUCTOR: Katherine Zoraster

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 121C.

Journalist Philip Bump Discusses The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America

Tuesday, October 24, 1–3pm

The roughly 76 million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 have reshaped American society at each stage of their lives. In the book, The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America, author Philip Bump takes a deep dive into what the end of the baby boom means for American politics and economics. Join The Washington Post columnist as he recounts the unprecedented cultural and political impact of boomers and how subsequent generations are making sense of their legacy.

This course will be recorded. Enrolled students will have access to the video for 30 days.

FEE: Free for all. OLLI membership is not required

REG# 394013 | INSTRUCTOR: Philip Bump

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

The Birth of Film Noir {New Course}

Saturday, October 28, 10am–12pm

Post World War II, America's mood turned increasingly dark, leading to the growing popularity of filmmaking called film noir. Featuring elements such as fatalism, brooding lighting, cynical heroes, and duplicitous females, the genre captured growing disenchantment in cultural norms. In this course, we discuss what comprises film noir, from stylistic touches to conflicted stories and characters through such films as The Maltese Falcon, Double Indemnity, The Killers, and White Heat.

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to the video for 30 days.

REG# 393558 | INSTRUCTOR: Mary Mallory

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center 10920 Lindbrook Dr., Room 201.

Early Silent Film Pioneers {New Course}

Saturday, November 18, 10am–12pm

The fledgling early silent film industry offered opportunity and power to men often marginalized on and offscreen. In this course, we look at the c ontribution and influence of notable men like Noble Johnson—the first African American producer, G.M. "Broncho Billy" Anderson—the first Jewish cowboy, and Sessue Hayakawa—one of the screen's first Asian heartthrobs.

REG# 393563 | INSTRUCTOR: Mary Mallory

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center 10920 Lindbrook Dr., Room 201.

Let's Talk Chocolate: Tasting and Buying

Saturday, December 2, 10am–12pm

As the world’s most craved food, chocolate makes an ideal holiday gift. However, you may think you are buying quality when you are actually buying a confection loaded with sugar. In this course, we learn how to make sophisticated choices and distinguish the difference between craft chocolates versus mass manufactured chocolates. We taste seven different chocolates and learn how a particular cacao’s origin and production affect a bar’s flavor. A chocolate maker will speak to the class, and we will review other area chocolate makers.

REG# 393302 | INSTRUCTOR: Lee Theisen

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center 10920 Lindbrook Dr., Room 214.

Rome's Five Good Emperors {New Course}

Monday, December 4, 10am–12pm

Many historians have called the reigns of Rome's Five Good Emperors (96-180AD) the age when Rome reached its peak of power and prosperity. In this course, we examine how this period was more complicated than is often remembered. It was both a time of prosperity and a time of plague, war, and serious economic challenges. The good emperors are remembered so fondly, not because they presided over a time of leisure, but because their leadership successfully brought Rome through multiple crises.

This course will be recorded. Enrolled students will have access to the video for 30 days.

REG# 393841 | INSTRUCTOR: Edward Watts

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Yiddish Bingo

Tuesday, December 5, 1-3pm

Yiddish is a uniquely descriptive, expressive, fun, and amusing language. In this course, we use Yiddish words and expressions to play the board game Bingo.

REG# 393770 | INSTRUCTOR: Marganit Lish

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 119B.

Willa Cather: An American Story {New Course}

Thursday, December 7, 10am–12pm

This December 7, we celebrate Willa Cather’s 150th birthday. Her story is one defined by a lifetime of determination, struggle, and gradual emergence. The writer, who emerged at the forefront of American letters with O Pioneers! (1913), The Song of the Lark (1915), and My Antonia (1918); was already well into middle-age. This introduction to one of the most widely read novelists of the early twentieth century will explore her turbulent biography and uniquely American voice. Sprinkled into the lecture: readings of Cather’s work, performed by two professional actors, including letters to Alfred Knopf, her publisher, and Edith Lewis, Cather’s domestic partner of nearly 40 years.

REG# 393555 | INSTRUCTOR: Peter Cipkowski

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 114.

Los Angeles in the 1940s: War, Peace, and Prosperity {New Course}

Tuesday, December 12, 1–3pm

World War II led to a population explosion in Los Angeles. During the 1940s, workers flocked to the shipyards and aircraft factories to support the war effort; many came with their families and never left. Jewish and artistic German emigres who fled Nazi Germany contributed to the city’s cultural landscape. Mexican American guest workers and African American enlisted men who chose to stay faced racism. In this course, we explore the impact of the war, the influx of new groups of people, and the post-war prosperity on Los Angeles. Events covered include the rumored Battle of Los Angeles, the Zoot Suit Riots, the unsolved Black Dahlia murder, and the city’s first smog alert. We look at the California style of architecture, which developed with the spread of housing developments, and we view clips from the best movies Hollywood made in this decade—including the 1942 classic Casablanca and the 1944 crime film noir Double Indemnity.

This course uses the Hybrid (Flexible) format which allows students to participate remotely and/or in the classroom. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 393949 | INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Boorstin

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 119.

The Fire of Frederick Douglass {New Course}

Wednesday, December 13, 1–3pm

Frederick Douglass was a visionary—a prophet who could see a better future that lay just beyond reach. His talents were nothing short of extraordinary and he put his exceptional gifts to use in the service of freedom, driving American slavery into the grave. In this course, we explore the complexity of his life, family, and career, and consider his impact upon our modern struggle to advance the cause of black freedom in the United States.

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 394038 | INSTRUCTOR: Richard Bell

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.