1. Verdi
Comes of Age: Ernani, Rigoletto and Otello Dick Cantwell rncantwel@hotmail.com
Until about 40 years ago, the music of Giuseppe Verdi was regarded as fit
only for organ grinders, and fans of his operas were seen by the elite as the
worst of musical clods. Then, in the
1970s, a reassessment began - together with a reassessment of many other 19th-century
Italian bel canto operas - so that today even the
snobs are forced to admit that Verdi is at least worth a listen and in fact is
one of the two greatest of 19th-century opera composers - the other
being Richard Wagner. It is the aim of
this course to trace and document this development by watching and coming to
appreciate operas from three of Verdi’s creative periods: the early, and more traditional Ernani (1844), the “turning of the corner” Rigoletto, and the triumph of music drama Otello (1887).
We audience members, along with Verdi, can come of age!
Dick Cantwell is a retired Carleton
faculty member. His academic field was Central European cultural history, but
he is a lifelong student of vocal music in all its forms: opera, operetta and German Lieder (song) and
has given CVEC courses in all of these areas. He has supplemented this academic
knowledge by participation over the years in many productions of the Northfield
Arts Guild and the Northfield Musical Theater.
2. Was It Shakespeare? Philip Spensley pspensley@earthlink.net
There is still considerable
controversy as to whether the country boy from
Philip Spensley is Professor Emeritus of Theatre,
3. SOCRATES CONFRONTS THE GODS
Perry Mason pmason@carleton.edu
Upon its emergence in classical
impiety and of corrupting his young followers by his practice of
philosophy. We will look at “the case of Socrates” from a variety
of viewpoints so as both to see what was actually at stake in this
ancient clash and to illuminate contemporary issues of our own having to
do with philosophy and religious practice and belief. Textbooks; Patricia Curd
(ed.), A Pre-Socratic Reader.
Publishing Co., 1996. ($10.95). Hesiod, Theogony and Works & Days (trans. Lombardo)
Perry C. Mason is a Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Carleton,
where he taught philosophy of religion and ancient Greek philosophy for over
thirty years.
4. TONY HILLERMAN’S MYSTERIES AND THE GREAT
SOUTHWEST Mary Flaten ursa@deskmedia.com
In this course, the discussions of at least 7 of Hillerman’s
Chee and Leaphorn novels
will include looking at photos and maps of the landscapes and landmarks he
describes. We will examine some of the
cultures of the area, gleaning traits, taboos, customs and some history from
the novels. Although most of the
mysteries take place on the Navajo Reservation, interactions take place with
Hopis, Zunis and other
Mary Flaten lived in
5
How would you like to see
Jane B. McWilliams, Moderator,
has been a resident of
The main topic will be the ongoing dialogue between science and religion, using Barbour’s paperback, When Science Meets Religion. Successive chapters deal with methodology, astronomy, the Big Bang, quantum physics, evolution, human nature, and views of how God and nature are related. The recent controversy over Intelligent Design offers an interesting case study. We will also look at ethical issues arising from applied science and technology, such as stem cell research, genetic engineering, and artificial intelligence. Finally we will consider religious responses to the global crises of environmental degradation, energy, and resource depletion. Textbook; Ian Barbour, When Science Meets Religion (Harper $16.95 or $ll.53 plus postage from Amazon.com).
Ian Barbour has retired from Carleton College where he taught physics, religion and environmental studies. He has written or edited a dozen books on science and religion, of which recent volumes have been translated into 14 languages.
Economics greatly influences our personal lives and our entire society. Economics is a way of thinking and we will unravel this thinking using a variety of approaches. Key ideas from economic theory will be examined using examples from daily life. These ideas include; how and why we decide to consume and produce, marginal versus sunk costs, private versus government goods, international trade, interest rates and more. Questions that arise from the present U. S economy will be discussed. We will examine the birth of the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain and its growth in the United States. This was a fascinating time when practical men developed an economy followed by the development of interesting and useful theories. This will extend to an examination of modern international trade and finance that falls under the label of globalization. In particular our emphasis will focus on India and China, with reflections on other Asian nations. Readings will be supplied in the form of a packet of small articles and notes.
Bill Carlson is Professor Emeritus in Economics at St. Olaf College. His principle teaching emphasis was statistics and quantitative economics. In addition he has led a number of International Study Programs leading students to many places in the world. He has written three textbooks, numerous papers, including considerable research on highway accidents. He was the only member of the St. Olaf faculty with an undergraduate degree in Mining Engineering.
The Broadway Musical. . . Its beginnings and evolution to present times. An overview of music, lyrics, plots and style since before 1900 to Now. Why has the “Musical” been so popular? Using multi-media, we will share ideas and styles of many of the more popular musical plays. The course will be a “tour” of Broadway Musicals with a focus on how they reflect life’s experiences and the culture of the times when written.
Myrna Johnson served as Artistic Theater Director at the Northfield Arts Guild for 37 years. During that time she directed and produced many Broadway musicals and “regular” plays. In 1974 she and several other theater people established the Northfield Musical Theater (NMT) in conjunction with NAG Theater. As a company, NMT produced one, two, or three musicals each summer for over 25 years. Myrna retired as Artistic Director of NAG in 1996 but she has remained active as Theater and Guild Archivist.
Reading and class discussion will focus on four twentieth century American novels: John Dos Passos’ 1919, William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury, Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and Saul Bellow’s Henderson the Rain King. We will focus on the role of the narrator and the protagonist, the conflict (exterior and interior), the perception of reality, and the importance of symbolism and irony.
Marion Hvistendahl retired to
.
10. Patterns and Symmetry Judy Cederberg cederj@stolaf.edu
We will explore a variety of patterns found in nature, quilts, tile floors, wallpaper and Islamic art to determine characteristics responsible for their beauty, sense of balance, and harmony – qualities often described by the term symmetry. Starting with simple figures, we will construct patterns using symmetry-generating motions. We’ll learn how these symmetry motions help us understand elementary geometric concepts and how similar motions create beautiful computer-generated shapes known as fractals. This course will gently introduce mathematical ideas from a different perspective than most saw in school and will not require use of formulas or algebraic techniques. Brief handouts will explain major ideas in the course.
Judy Cederberg was a member of the St. Olaf mathematics faculty for 39 years. Her major area of mathematical interest is geometry and she is the author of the college text, A Course in Modern Geometries (2nd Ed., 2001). Her recreational interests include travel and gardening.