Fall courses open for registrations
It's not too late to register for AIL fall courses which start the week of September 19. The Curriculum Committee offers an exciting line up of 13 courses covering a wide range of subjects from “The Founding Fathers” to “Astromology.” Click on this link for a short synopsis of each course and remember to sign up as soon as possible to ensure a place in the course(s) of your choice. Registration deadline is Friday, August 19. To view the full course catalog, click on the catalog cover to the left.
The Founding Fathers: A Closer Look, a lecture series led by Joanna Henderson and Julie Machen.
This country's Founding Fathers were extraordinary men who defied the odds, demonstrating courage and fortitude to unite a group of disparate colonies, defeat the world's greatest power and create a nation. We all are familiar with their extraordinary historical accomplishments, but see them collectively as The Founding Fathers. This lecture series personalizes each of them, focusing on who they were as individuals and who and what influenced their lives and philosophies.
We The People: Connecting the Constitution to Today's Issues with Dick Schwemm.
This course will examine how topical issues of the day are linked to the structure of the U.S. Constitution. Current issues will be interpreted in light of what the Constitution says and, in the course of the discussions, the idea that the Constitution and constitutional issues may have some flexibility as they relate to citizens today will be explored. Participants will read the Constitution together, along with information about timely issues, such as gun control and political campaign spending by corporations. The course will discuss what the Constitution's provisions might have meant to those who wrote it, and what they mean to our society now.
The Hudson River School with Ellen Robertson.
Please note that Ellen has added a second session to accommodate the overwhelming popularity of her course. The second session will be held on Tuesdays from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
In addition, in order to allow more participants, the venue has been moved for both the monring and afternoon sessions to the Kearsarge Learning Campus Professional Development Center, the former middle school in New London
America in the 1850s to 1860s saw the rise of a group of artists who would be categorized as “The Hudson River School.” Coined in the 1870s, this term was derogatory and misleading. Younger artists and critics considered these men old-fashioned and insular. Thomas Cole and his followers did not limit their landscapes geographically, nor did they meet in a formal academy of shared studio. This course will introduce participants to Thomas Cole, Frederic Church, Martin Johnson Heade, and others, learning what inspired these artists and what the connection was between their art and “contemporary” literature. The iconography of landscape will be explored as it reflects the artists' personal beliefs. These men were more than philosopher/artists; they were explorers as well, which will be seen in works from South America, the Arctic and America's West.
The Future of Faith with Sarah Drew Reeves.
In his book, The Future of Faith, Harvey Cox, the legendary Harvard theologian, probes the course of Christianity's history and provocatively projects trends for the future. With anecdotes from personal experience, he describes a tectonic shift currently breaking down barriers between religions. Is this a call for action or inner calm? He calls it the Age of the Spirit. This course will follow his thoughts and explore some manifestations in what some describe as a post-secular world. How do we see the future of faith?
The Dead Sea Scrolls and the World-to-Come with Art Rosen.
The Dead Sea Scrolls community existed at a fulcrum in time and left us documents outlining its history and belief system. Through these Scrolls, we have a good sense of the making and breaking of apocalyptic communities. Discussion will outline the implications the Scrolls have to our understanding of the Bible, Judaism, and Christianity. The apocalyptic stream, though conceived in pre-history, continues to play a vital role today and will be traced through Western history to our own generation. It is simmering among the readers of the Left Behind series, underlying Blue State/Red State issues and contributing to the current East/West conflict. And, despite the tragic past of the apocalyptic tradition, wherever we see it we will find a self-fulfilling imperative drawing followers to the edge of the age.
Body, Mind and Spirit, a lecture series with moderator Van Crawford.
In recent years techniques and practices once thought of as 'outside the mainstream' have been accepted into the fields of health, business, the arts and sports with promising results. Reducing stress, conquering negative habit patterns, and improving well-being are but a few of the successes that have emerged. A number of practices and techniques including Reiki, Chakra and Yoga will be discussed and demonstrated and participants will have the opportunity to experience them, where appropriate.
Even YOU Can Enjoy Contemporary Classical Music with Charlotte Brook-Signor.
One of our concerns as present-day music lovers is that many concerts and programs include a modern or contemporary music selection that is difficult to understand and appreciate. This course will open some doors to understanding and appreciating the “new” piece positioned in the program just before the intermission. Classes will be a combination of listening, discussion and exploration into how everyone can enjoy modern and contemporary classical music. At the end of the course, you may say, “Bring on that contemporary music. I can now recognize the full worth of the music and recognize its quality, significance, freedom and magnitude.”
Four on the Fringe: Borges, Buñuel, Magritte and Robbe-Grillet, with André Hurtgen.
The 20th Century brought a string of revolutions in literature and the arts: Magic Realism, Surrealism, Theater of the Absurd, Dada, Cubism and so much more. The course will look at four innovators who explored new directions in telling stories, painting pictures and making films. Participants will read The Erasers by Alain Robbe-Grillt (a thriller!), watch the full-length movie Last Year at Marienbad (a mystification!), examine paintings that show the impossible and discover worlds that don't -- but perhaps should -- exist. Come with an open mind!
Astromology wth Tom Vannatta.
This course is designed to acquaint participants with the fundamental concepts and interrelationships of astronomy and cosmology and to provide insight into the very nature and mysteries of the universe. Participants will explore the evolution of observational and practical astronomy from the ancient civilizations to the latest explorations of the solar system and galactic star systems to searches for exo-planets and extraterrestrial life. The intertwined cosmology segments will include the origin, evolution, structure and ultimate fate of the universe. The currently accepted theories of general relativity, dark matter and energy, and the alternative theories of higher-dimensional multi-verses will be considered.
How We Die and Live Again: Assessing the Evidence with Robert Strauss.
During their lifetime, most people think of what it might be like to die, and what, if anything, is waiting for us in the afterlife. Many of us know of religious beliefs regarding resurrection, but religion will not be a primary source for the course. Over the past 40 years, a great deal of careful work has been done to analyze near-death experiences. Additionally, there are other insights available from well-regarded mediums and spiritualists, medical studies, recognized philosophers and from Strauss's personal experiences. Round table discussions, guided by suggested readings, will examine questions such as what the experience of "passing" may be. What happens at the moment of death? What is it like to participate in a review of your life? Is there a heaven? Is there a hell and what purpose does our life serve?
Winston Churchill: Man of the Century? with Gene Lariviere.
Correction to the catalog: This class will meet on Tuesdays
He was born in a palace, with a father who deemed him a hopeless failure. By age 30, he was an internationally known author and war correspondent and a rising star in the House of Commons. First Lord of the Admiralty in World War I, he was held chiefly responsible for the military disaster at Gallipoli and was ousted from the cabinet. He rose again to become the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the 1920s but fell into disfavor by the end of the decade. Considered a “has been” he was suddenly thrust into the post of Prime Minister when Britain was at the edge of defeat by Nazi Germany. His resolute defiance and electric rhetoric helped to rouse the nation to great feats and ultimate victory. All recognized the greatness of his accomplishments, but when Time chose the “Man of the Century” the editors rejected the recommendation of the panel that had chosen Winston Churchill. What criteria defines the “Man of the Century,” and does Churchill meet those criteria?
History and Culture of New England's Native Americans with David Stuart-Smith.
This course will cover 12,000 years of American Indian History, from the settlement of northern New England following the last ice age to current events and issues facing the native community today in New Hampshire. By viewing archaeological artifacts as cultural objects, we can gain a better insight into the lifestyles and innovations of native communities in New Hampshire over the ages. We may also gain insights into the challenges that faced a Neolithic culture confronted by modern European cultures and technologies. Lastly, the native community continues to survive and grow today but is confronted with some very old issues about representation, political autonomy and cultural stereotypes. Each session will feature slides illustrating the lecture, followed by discussion. An optional fifth meeting of this class will be a trip to the Mt Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner.
A Day in the Life of New London Hospital, a lecture series with moderator Sheldon Boege.
Participants will explore the operations of New London Hospital as well as the daily life of the Primary Care physicians and learn how rapidly changing economics, new regulations, staffing issues and evolving treatment technologies are being managed. Each session will be led by employees at the hospital including the CEO, CFO, Chief Medical Officer, several MDs, and the Directors of Administrative Services, Information Services and the Clough Center.
~ Joyce Kellogg
