Tuesday   

This class will survey the history of immigration to the United States. Beginning in the late 16th century, explorers sought out the North American continent and by the 17th century immigration, some voluntary, some forced, had begun. Over the next two centuries, immigration continued unabated, creating a much-needed workforce but also introducing questions about what kind of country we were going to be and what it meant to be an American. Questions of race, religion, and ethnicity, encouraged by the nativism and scientific racism of the early 20th century, continue to the present day. The book we will use, Roger Daniels, Coming to America (2nd edition) will tell this story. It was published in 2002 so for the past two plus decades of recent immigration we will use other readings.

This course will describe the eleven “nations” which make up the United States including: how they differ in origin, their founding philosophies, and their social and political organizations. We will explore the eleven nations’ interactions with one another and how their differences shaped not only our history but also continue to shape our culture, social, fabric, and politics to this very day.

Two seasoned criminal defense attorneys who between them have defended persons accused of committing a crime and who have tried too many cases to remember will guide the class through an examination of a number of high-profile criminal cases that were tried in Colorado and elsewhere. The cases will include the Trump indictments that have been or are to be tried, the Allen Berg murder case, the Texas 7 extradition matter and others.

After World War I, the predominant German art form, Expressionism, had fallen into disrepute and was declared dead. What arose out of the ashes of the exuberant pathos of expressing one's inner emotions was the opposite: a Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity), which tried to show the world through objective, dispassionate eyes. This art movement corresponds, more or less, to the years of the Weimar Republic (1918-1933), and ended with the rise of Nazism.

It is art that is little known outside of Germany, but one which also carried over to the U.S. and into contemporary times. Its most famous painters were Otto Dix, George Grosz and Max Beckmann, yet there were dozens of other artists and numerous city centers for this movement. Additionally, we will discuss Die Neue Frau (The New Woman), and the changing gender roles during the 1920s in Germany, represented in works of art, as well as the rise of photography as an art form.

Finally, we will see how Neue Sachlichkeit moved to the U.S. under the guise of Precision and Machine Aesthetic, represented by Charles Sheeler and his most important work, namely, for the Ford Motor Company - both paintings and photographs - of the River Rouge Plant in Dearborn, Michigan.

Join me on a journey to understand and appreciate the literary art form of the short story. Each week we will first focus on one aspect of the short story form that an author has chosen to emphasize to convey his/her “theme.” We will then read and discuss two or three stories that emphasize this aspect and how it serves not only to convert the theme but why the author has chosen it. The emphasis in this course is on discussion and achieving an analysis through a variety of opinions and points of view of class participants. Some authors will include Hemingway, Tolstoy, Camus, Mansfield, Cather, Thurber, Faulkner, Wolfe, and more. Bonus: the understanding of these analytical aspects will apply to many more literary art forms than the short story: novels, movies, etc. etc. At the conclusion we will all participate in a comparison of three stories with similar subjects and attempt to rank them according to literary “value”

This course explores the potential and limitations of AI technology, examining its promises, challenges, and potential for enormous societal impact.

We'll start with a layperson's explanation of neural networks and how companies have leveraged them into commercial AI applications. With that understanding, we'll consider AI optimistically, discussing its enormous capabilities and promises for uplifting humanity. We’ll also evaluate AI pessimistically, reflecting upon the track records of internet-powered corporations and the history of dangerous social fads to assess how AI will soon amplify their power.

This balanced background will allow us to ask a crucial question: how should civilization manage AI to serve the common good, not just its creators?

Moreover, AI is emerging amid vehement competing notions of justice and fairness in America. Can this technology help us clarify viewpoints, reveal common ground, and reveal a path to peace between our warring factions?

This is part one of a four course ensemble extending over four academic periods starting in Fall 2024 and concluding in Fall 2025. The courses will focus on issues of inequality and its relationship to capitalism.

The primary text, Thomas Piketty's Capital and Ideology, is divided into four parts of roughly 200-250 pages each. The courses will generally follow this structure with additional readings to augment and critique Piketty's arguments.

In the Fall 2024 term, we will focus on issues of historical inequality with particular emphasis on European societies especially France, Great Britain, and Sweden. We will also foreshadow the historical discourses of non-western experiences with capitalism and with inequality that will be addressed in the subsequent courses.

Piketty employs historical and political analysis augmented by economic data. In one sense his is an intellectual history of inequality and capitalism. In another it is a philosophical critique of contemporary neoliberalism. We will engage both aspects.

The course is comprised of reading, writing and speaking Spanish. The objective is that the students learn to have a conversation in a second language. The book is Practice Makes Perfect-Spanish Verb Tenses. This book has many exercises that help in the memorization and use of all of the verb tenses and construction of sentences and questions.

Every class period, the students will have opportunities to practice, ask questions, and read explanations for better understanding. It is difficult to learn another language and it takes time and a lot of practice. Once a student no longer has to translate in his/her mind, the student is now becoming fluent. And a second language speaker.

Richmond, Dorothy. Practice Makes Perfect-Spanish Verb Tenses Fifth Edition (2023) McGraw Hill

“Churchill” the name sparks multiple images: Boer War correspondent, prisoner of war, Gallipoli, Minister of Parliament, The 1930s Wilderness Years, First Lord of the Admiralty, and Wartime Prime Minister. We will cover his World War II leadership from the dark days of The Gathering Storm, Dunkirk, Their Finest Hour, the Grand Alliance, Hinge of Fate, Alone No More, Closing the Ring, Turning the Tide, D-Day, to Triumph and Tragedy. Churchill was a controversial figure. We will discuss his political and military decisions and their ramifications. Our source material is the ABC Emmy Award-winning 1961 TV series “The Valiant Years,” the accompanying book “Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years,” Churchill’s sixth volume “The Second World War”, plus other books. Join us as we listen to Richard Burton speaking Churchill’s own words, Gary Merrill narrating, and war-time leaders providing their experiences.

“Churchill” the name sparks multiple images: Boer War correspondent, prisoner of war, Gallipoli, Minister of Parliament, The 1930s Wilderness Years, First Lord of the Admiralty, and Wartime Prime Minister. We will cover his World War II leadership from the dark days of The Gathering Storm, Dunkirk, Their Finest Hour, the Grand Alliance, Hinge of Fate, Alone No More, Closing the Ring, Turning the Tide, D-Day, to Triumph and Tragedy. Churchill was a controversial figure. We will discuss his political and military decisions and their ramifications. Our source material is the ABC Emmy Award-winning 1961 TV series “The Valiant Years,” the accompanying book “Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years,” Churchill’s sixth volume “The Second World War”, plus other books. Join us as we listen to Richard Burton speaking Churchill’s own words, Gary Merrill narrating, and war-time leaders providing their experiences.

When Colorado’s capitol building was built in the 1890’s, sixteen citizens and pioneers were memorialized with stained glass windows set high in the capitol’s rotunda. These Hall of Fame individuals were chosen as being influential in settling early Colorado.

This class will use these honorees as a jumping-off point for looking at 19th-century Colorado. They offer what was a contemporaneous perspective on the founding of our state. But we will then continue to delve deeper into our state’s history, covering up to the year 1900. Topics will include:

• the early years prior to the discovery of gold
• the Spanish settlement of the San Luis Valley
• the transition from frontier to statehood
• our uncomfortable history with the Native Americans
• transportation across the plains and into the mountains
• life in the mountains and in Denver
• ranching and farming in the “Great American Desert”

For anyone interested in “Birding” or “Bird Watching” to enjoy being outdoors, walking 1-2 miles, and interacting with each other while watching birds. The classroom sessions will consist of birding etiquette and appearance of birds: size, shape, color and identifying field marks. They will highlight bird behaviors and habitats and other interesting aspects of these living dinosaurs and how they reflect the health of our planet.

In the 4 classroom sessions, George will share his photos of birds on PowerPoint, knowledge and experience in birding, and being a citizen scientist. The other 4 sessions will be field trips. Locations include Bluff Lake Nature Center, Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, and other locations. These field trip sessions may be longer than 2 hours and scheduled depending on the weather.

Need a break from all the stress of another election year? Comedy Appreciation might be just the ticket. We’ll look at many of the talented people who have made us laugh over the years and right up to the present day. We’ll cover standup comedy from men and women, past and present, as well late-night comedy, ethnic humor, political humor, and sketch comedy -everything from Pat Paulsen to Paula Poundstone and that’s just the P’s.

We will discuss the prior week’s news in the first hour. In the second hour a topic that is current will be determined by the facilitators and articles will be sent out for that discussion. The facilitators of this class express a Progressive point of view on American politics, especially during this election year. They welcome Conservative or other points of view and encourage discussion as part of our learning experience.

Explore the guiding Jewish values that help inform choices on common medical questions. This course will equip participants with the tools to chart a path through four areas of medical ethics: experimental treatments, extending life, pregnancy questions, and caring for a body. Gain an enriching perspective on how the Jewish ethical tradition helps us confidently navigate fateful decisions.

Have you ever laughed and cried at the same time? Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt frequently triggers that amazing reaction. This fascinating memoir is told in a lyrical Irish voice that will charm you. With numerous tales, McCourt reveals a miserable childhood of hunger and pain. This persevering lad is intelligent and eager to succeed but is held back from furthering his education because he is dressed in rags. Beyond all expectations, he manages to elevate himself to become a renowned writer, teacher, and lecturer. You will enjoy taking this astonishing journey with him.

This novel won the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics’ Circle Award, and spent 117 weeks on the New York Times hardcover best-seller list.

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt, Scribner Paperback, 1996

No Class October 1st 

Most of us remember the first presidents up to Andrew Jackson, then draw a blank up to Abraham Lincoln, and later know most of the 20th century presidents. But what about those in between? They were characters to be sure, and their terms produced some very significant events for which often they don’t get credit. Let’s revisit them and perhaps gain a new appreciation for some.

The large rivers listed below will be described physiologically, hydrologically, culturally, and politically. Many of these rivers form international borders and are important sources of commerce for more than one country (so-called trans-national river basins). The sessions will show extensive maps, personal and stock photographs and charts related to each river. Descriptions of the historical water use, water rights, international agreements, disputes, impacts of climate change, water quality, and socio-economic issues for each large river will be discussed via Power Point© presentations and group discussions. This constitutes the fourth course on world rivers in a series developed and presented by the Co-Facilitators on behalf of the University of Denver’s OLLI program.

The Facilitator’s personal experience on the river will be highlighted as appropriate. Risks to the rivers also will be addressed as future issues.

Climate change is all about people. A few people (climate scientists) see it coming. Some people seek solutions (climate politicians) and still others oppose those solutions (climate deniers). Climate activists demonstrate, showing their anger and frustration. Climate journalists report on progress and setbacks. Biologists register alarm while theologians provide spiritual context for the threat to planet earth. Financiers and economists propose ways to deal with climate change while averting economic disaster. Entrepreneurs see opportunity in re-engineering the modern economy while farmers revamp their agricultural methods.

Through biographical sketches we will meet climate actors on the warming global stage. Here are a few of them: Scientists Charles David Keeling and James Hansen; Senators James Inhofe, Lisa Murkowski, and Sheldon Whitehouse; lawyer Julia Olson; financier/politician Michael Bloomberg; regulator Rostin Benham; negotiator Christiana Figueres; activist Greta Thunberg; author Elizabeth Kolbert; administrator Gina McCarthy; meteorologist Mike Nelson; and religious leader Pope Francis.

This course will walk through the history of Denver, exploring the successive waves of immigrants who have made their home in the Mile High City. This journey will include the stories of immigrants from Mexico, New Mexico, Ireland, China, Germany, Russia, Japan, Italy, Greece, Poland, Vietnam, Central America, and South America. Particular attention will be paid to the labor that these communities performed, how they struggled for fair wages and conditions in their workspaces, and how they contributed to the larger culture that has come to define Colorado.

For those of you who are tired of being bombarded by all the bad news on TV every day, this class is intended to lighten and brighten your world. I’ll be showing and discussing some of the most beautiful Japanese prints made over the last 150 years. Their impact is felt around the world.

When the United States ended Japan’s isolationist foreign policy around 1854, Japan entered a new period marked by rapid modernization, industrialization, and cultural change. This class will delve into Japanese print art resulting from Japanese societal changes beginning in the Meiji period (1868-1912). Out of necessity, it will show contrasts and similarities with prior Edo period prints. I will discuss the evolution of Japanese society and print artists, their lives, and their work over approximately a 150-year period (to the present). This includes the shin-hanga (new prints), sosaku-hanga (creative prints), and kindai-hanga (modern or contemporary prints) movements. Japanese prints have had a huge impact on Western art over the last 350 years.

Prepare to be awed by this art form that is infused with Western influences yet remains essentially Japanese and is still popular today. No extracurricular reading is required.

Can we as humans really explore space? Why are we so intrigued by this concept?

Exploring space holds immense appeal for several reasons, ranging from scientific discovery and technological advancement to inspiring humanity and ensuring our future survival. Space missions capture the imagination and inspire people around the world. Achievements like landing on the Moon or sending rovers to Mars foster a sense of pride and wonder. As we gaze up into the sky, can you picture yourself up there, exploring and experiencing the unbelievable expanse of space. The innate human desire to explore and understand the unknown drives space exploration. It is a fundamental aspect of our nature to seek out new frontiers and expand our horizons.

This is not an in-depth discussion of space exploration since the field is so voluminous, to infinity and beyond. We will look at the evolution of this field and imagine where it is going in the future. There will be at least 4 guest speakers who are experts in their field, Lunar, SETI, Space Force, and Planet IQ.

Did you know that Frankenstein (1818), Mary Shelley’s iconic monster story:

• was written by a teenager who eloped with the already-married poet Percy Shelley and had recently borne him a child who had died,
• begins with the letters of an obsessed polar explorer,
• was created because of a ghost-story challenge among literary friends, who were discussing galvanism and the origins of life, during a rainy summer spent in Switzerland,
• the author gives the name Frankenstein not to the monster, but rather to the young scientist who creates him.

Join us as we read the novel, view film clips, and discuss the famous writers in Shelley’s circle, as well as the ethical limits of experimentation, Enlightenment attitudes toward science, the implications of bad parenting, and the psychological, political, and gendered readings of the book. We will work together to unpack the unending fascination of this modern myth – just in time for Halloween.

You know you’ve been meaning to write your memoir for years. Perhaps you’ve started and then abandoned the project as too daunting, too time-consuming, something you’ll get around to someday. We’ve all been there. This class is designed for those who may feel unqualified as a writer, who “don’t have anything to write about,” who don’t know where to begin or how to proceed and all of those other excuses you’ve been carefully accumulating over the years. We’ll learn how to break down this project into doable pieces, how to find topics that matter and how to put them into words without driving ourselves crazy in the process. A memoir is not a volume of an assigned length—it’s any collection of anecdotes you put together in your own familiar words for people who will deeply appreciate your efforts, and who will, as a result, never forget you. It’s time to do it!

Join us for our 4th in a series of most highly rated and enjoyed films of a decade. Having done the films of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, this term we look at the films of the 1990s. Examples are Shawshank Redemption, Forrest Gump, Good Will Hunting, and A League of Their Own. We will also select from 10 other excellent films of the decade using our 1980s film class for guidance. During the course you will see many great actors (Ben Affleck, Robin Williams, Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Geena Davis, Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helen Hunt, Holly Hunter, Jodie Foster, Andie MacDowell, Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Minnie Driver) and the work of great directors and writers (Darabont, Zemeckis, Van Sant, Marshall, Fincher, Nichols, Ramis, Brooks, Hansson, Demme, Spielberg.).

As we get older, the risk of falling tends to increase significantly due to a gradual decline in balance abilities. This decline may begin in middle age and progress slowly, making it easy to ignore - until a fall happens. To address this, incorporating balance training into our personal health management strategy is essential, allowing us to take proactive steps toward maintaining stability and preventing falls.

Minding Your Balance™ training addresses this need, drawing on lessons from the martial art Ki-Aikido to take a groundbreaking look at balance and its fundamental relationship to mind and emotion. Easy to learn mind body exercises, scientific insights, and stories of applications in everyday life provide participants with tools to immediately improve balance control. Participants work individually and with partners. Activities can be done seated and standing; all activities are adaptable to different needs and abilities.

Although we often think of movies as merely escapist entertainment, many filmmakers have sought to spotlight injustice and social problems. This course will study fiction films–chosen from the 1940s to today, Hollywood, independent, or foreign offerings–that seek to shape attitudes. Students will watch the film beforehand on their own; class time will be spent looking at clips and particularly studying a) how movies try to make their messages entertaining, b) how much they digress from history, and c) how they stir audience emotions.

Primary movies: The Grapes of Wrath, The Bicycle Thieves, In the Heat of the Night, Z, El Norte, North Country, Spotlight

We will have eight sessions to enjoy a variety of music-oriented documentaries. This class is for music lovers who will learn about many aspects of the world of classical music: how a concert grand piano is made, celebrated pianists in conversation and in concert, piano competitions for amateurs and professionals, how children learn to play music, and the meaning of music for musicians and for people in difficult times. We will view one film per session, discuss and share stories and experiences.

Few people realize that Horror Films did not develop or did not fully exist until after World War 1 when German veterans returned home and began to make the movies for which Horror and German Expressionism are still known. Some of the films to be explored and discussed:

“J’accuse” (France – 1919)

“Nosferatu” (Germany – 1921)

“The Golem” (Germany – 1920)

“The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (Germany – 1921)

“The Phantom Carriage” (Sweden – 1921)

“Haxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages” (Sweden – 1922)

“The Phantom of the Opera” (US – 1925)

“The Fall of the House of Usher” (Spain – 1928)

“All Quiet on the Western Front” (US – 1930)

“M” (Germany – 1931) “Dracula” (US – 1932)

“Frankenstein (US – 1933)

These films may still chill us today, but they were born in the mud and stench and death of World War 1, as thousands faced the daily horror of No Man’s Land and then found a need to express their horror following the war. The great war poetry of Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen will also be explored and discussed.

We live in an incredible epoch of exploration. We are discovering not merely new continents, like the explorers of old, but whole new worlds circling other stars. Since the first extrasolar planet was discovered in 1995, astronomers have found more than five thousand others in our cosmic neighborhood. We wonder. It’s our nature. How did we get here? Are we alone in the universe? How does the universe work? The James Webb Space Telescope is an ambitious scientific endeavor that will answer these questions. Webb builds on the legacy of previous space-based telescopes to push the boundaries of human knowledge even further, to the formation of the first galaxies and the horizons of other worlds. The class will review the latest startling findings from the Webb and other telescopes to describe our growing understanding of the universe- our home!

Join Anne and Bill as they look behind the curtain of our modern food supply system. Questions to be explored:

• How do supermarkets seem to always be filled with tasty looking food?
• Why is the arrangement of food similar in different locations?
• Why buy what we do?
• How far does food travel to reach us?
• What is lifelike for an 18-wheel long-haul truck driver carrying your groceries?
• Is our food supply safe?
• Why does the seafood department shut down for such a long time?
• What happens to supermarket food during a power outage?
• What percent of our food is wasted?
• What is a food desert?
• What is monoculture and organic farming?
• How much of our food is local?
• What happened to all the small farms?
• What is community supported agriculture?
• How does a food co-op work?
• What effect will climate change have?
• Is our food system sustainable?
• ow much of our food is ultra-processed?
• What do food additives do?
• Are they safe?

The course will deal with the main issues that dominate the news media. These include the way the conflict is reported in the media. We will look at what the driving forces influence the media to report as they do. We ask, “Can the media really be unbiased? Is there a tendency to be “politically correct” and what are the financial incentives to the media in its quest for viewer numbers?”

We will delve into the deep roots of the US-Israel relationship. Why does the world’s major power have such a close relationship with tiny Israel? The majority Christian population in the US and the connection to the Bible is explored as well as the technological advances, especially in the military field that benefits the US. Is the $3.8 billion from the US to Israel a good investment?

The challenges to a much advocated “Two State Solution” will be examined. Is it what both sides in the conflict want? It has been proposed in one form or another for about 100 years. What is preventing its happening? The Palestinian refugee problem, the tribal nature of the Middle East and any other issues the attendees wish to discuss will be welcome.

The sessions will be devoted to the explanation of the four indictments filed against Donald J. Trump and the criminal proceedings currently governing them. Since the so called “Hush-Money Trial” in Manhattan will likely have concluded, there will be an in-depth analysis of the proceedings and evidence that likely impacted the case’s outcome. The status of the three-remaining cases in D.C., Georgia and Florida will be continuously updated during the six-week sessions, as well as the nature and kinds of future proceedings that may likely occur in each of them until their conclusion. Unlimited lively and robust discussion will be encouraged.

This course provides learners with an introduction to the history and wise teachings of the sacred folksongs called spirituals, created and first sung by African peoples enslaved in in America. Following the outline of the 2023 revised edition of Wade in the Water: The Wisdom of the Spirituals, the course highlights some of the principal functions and teachings of the spirituals, which were created in a specific time and place (chattel slavery in America, 18th and 19th centuries), but yet have transcended the circumstances of their origins to speak to universal issues of human dignity, freedom and justice. Teaching in the course employs lecture, discussion, recorded song samples, and communal singing (no worries, there is no musical talent required!). An optional field trip (attendance at a concert of The University of Denver Spirituals Project Choir) is highly recommended. Information about concert dates will be shared during the course.

Required Text: Arthur C. Jones, Wade in the Water: The Wisdom of the Spirituals (Revised Edition). Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2023

In these troubling, stressful times, a sense of humor isn't merely a luxury but a necessity. Steve hopes this class will serve as a relief from the day-to-day negativity around us. Even if you don't get a belly laugh, he hopes to at least see smiles.

Comedy is ubiquitous and we can only sample some of the comedians who have made us laugh through the years. We will consider some history and some sociology of comedy, but, hopefully, we will mostly laugh.

Economics is boring…unless it’s your money. “Thinking Like an Economist” will teach you to make rational choices in personal, work, and political decisions. You’ll learn why incentives matter, how to evaluate risk in purchasing, the myth of true value, predicting future values, and the economics of ignorance. Your newfound grasp of these and other economic principles will give you more confidence in managing your money and understanding how our economy works. We will discuss these fundamental economic principles plus current economic news that affects our daily lives.

This class will use the Great Course video series “Thinking Like and Economist”.

So, what created this mess? William Faulkner wrote: “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” This class will dive deeply into Palestine’s past and how it has contributed to, and ultimately shaped, the current-day tragedy in the Holy Land.

We will begin with 3000 BCE:

• Who were the Canaanites and where did they come from?
• How did the Israelites end up in Palestine?
• How did the series of conquerors and rulers shape the country?
• How did the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam influence Palestine?

We will explore the last 150 years:

• Where did the Zionist movement begin and why was it so successful?
• Why did Great Britain support the creation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine?
• Why did the newly formed United Nations advocate a two-nation solution in 1948?
• Why did the Jews win the wars of 1948 and 1967 so decisively?

And finally, what is the situation today?

This is an eight-week course that will include lectures, videos, and a lot of discussion. The class will be offered both in person at OLLI South and on-line. Each class will be limited to 35.

This course focuses on water as a major natural resource. It includes the study of the hydrologic cycle, and related weather concepts, competing water uses, current and future water issues, and approaches to water management both internationally and in the state of Colorado.

The relationship of water to human use is examined in terms of history, policy, infrastructure, and technology. Topics introduced in this class include hydrology, hydrogeology, basic meteorology, water quality, water/wastewater treatment, wastewater, and water resources management. Additional topics discussed will be the Denver Metro Area water resources, water law, ethics of water use and management, and the “wicked” issues that we face presently and in the future.

This course will take participants on a meaningful survey of the 5000+ women composers documented throughout history, beginning with Medieval ‘rock star’ Hildegard von Bingen and finishing with Pulitzer Prize winners and innovative newcomers of our time. No prior knowledge of music is necessary to ignite your curiosity and engage in this material. We will do a lot of listening for discovery and comparison, and we will engage in discussion from time to time. Prepare to be amazed at the richness of genius in these women!