186. BRITISH ARCHITECTURE

This course will be comprised of a chronological survey of the built environment of England, Wales and Scotland from Stonehedge to the present. We will investigate Norman, Gothic, Tudor, Georgian, Regency, Victorian, Modern and other styles along with the lives and ideas of their creators.

187. THE WORKS OF STEPHEN SONDHEIM

MARC COURTADE

Join us as we explore the major works of Stephen Sondheim, who reinvented the form of the Broadway musical. More than any composer/lyricist of his generation, Sondheim expanded and defined the American Musical as we now view it. We will begin with a discussion of the lyrics written for the music of other composers, including West Side Story, Gypsy, and Do I Hear a Waltz, and examine rhythms and rhymes. We will then spend several classes discussing the works that define his genius as both lyricist and composer, including: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Pacific Overtures, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, and Assassins. We will also take a look at the "flops" Anyone Can Whistle and Merrily We Roll Along. This course will utilize recordings to facilitate discussions, and examine the relationship between lyrics, music and drama.

Week I – September 8
Bio
West Side Story (1957)
Gypsy (1959)

Week II – September 15
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962)
Anyone Can Whistle (1964)
Do I Hear a Waltz (1965)
Evening Primrose (1966)

Week III – September 22
Company (1970)
Follies (1971)

Week IV – September 29
A Little Night Music (1971)
Pacific Overtures (1976)
Sweeney Todd (1978)

Week V – October 6
Merrily We Roll Along (1981)
Sunday in the Park with George (1984)

Week VI – October 13
Into the Woods (1987)
Assassins (1990/2004)
Passion (1994)

188. CURRENT EVENTS

ADRIAN PERACCHIO

Each week Mr. Peracchio will discuss international and national stories vividly and accurately. The recipient of several national journalism awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for general news reporting, Mr. Peracchio has also served as a member of the Round Table Council for Foreign Affairs at Newsday.

TUESDAY

189. UTOPIAS AND DYSTOPIAS

JOHN LUTZ

First coined by Sir Thomas More, the word “utopia” represents a transposition of two Greek words “ou topos” meaning no place and “eu topos” meaning good place. Its opposite, dystopia, might best be described as a place of utter misery and wretchedness. In this session, we will examine both philosophical and literary attempts to construct ideal societies and direct social criticism at less than ideal existing ones. We will read the following works:

Plato’s Republic, Aristotle’s Politics, Sir Thomas More’s Utopia, Edwin Abbott’s Flatland, George Orwell’s Animal Farm

190. EARLY CHRISTIANITY

This course will trace the evolution of Christianity from its beginnings as a sect of Judaism to its establishment as the state religion of the Roman Empire. We will explore the formation of the New Testament canon from a large body of early Christian writings, and will discover how a variety of views about the nature of Jesus evolved into an orthodox theology.

September 9 – October 21
(No class on September 30)

191. MODERN MUSIC

The twentieth century brought differences in lifestyle. Scientific discovery gave us new inventions while philosophical thought brought new insights. A society caught in this struggle would be jostled no matter what.

What transpired as we entered the new century? Music, which is often a reflection of the times, gave us new sounds. Rapidly changing times were filled with new uses for music: the cinema, phonograph, radio and the Broadway theatre. Jazz, a creation of the New World, would inspire the old and all this would survive in a world influenced by war and vast changes.

192. CURRENT EVENTS

Each week Mr. Peracchio will discuss international and national stories vividly and accurately. The recipient of several national journalism awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for general news reporting, Mr. Peracchio has also served as a member of the Round Table Council for Foreign Affairs at Newsday.

193. GREAT EGYPTIANS

Meet the personalities behind the great achievements of ancient Egyptian civilization, religion and mythology. King Sneferu, the pyramid builder, Tutankhamen, the boy King, Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt, Ramses the Great, the powerful warrior, Hatshepsut, the queen who ruled as king, and Akhenaten, the heretic king all shaped the colorful history of ancient Egypt---all will be discussed and illuminated with slides.

194. IMAGES OF AMERICA: A PICTORIAL JOURNEY FROM COLONIALISM TO IMPRESSIONISM

In America the visual arts developed slowly and progressed throughout the nineteenth century to achieve a status that rivaled Europe’s. This course traces the development as it pertains to painting the human figure in portraiture, history painting, and genre scenes. The individual styles of major artists, such as John Singleton Copley, William Sidney Mount, George Caleb Bingham, Thomas Eakins, and Winslow Homer, are highlighted within the spectrum of artists studied. Discussions of social and political issues, such as the native American Indian, slavery, and the Civil War, contribute further to the discovery of what makes American art distinctively American.

195. JAZZ OF THE 1950s

The end of the Swing Era in the 1940s saw the beginning of BeBop. The stars of the new style, Dizzy Gillepsie and Charlie Parker, influenced the “cool” and progressive musicians of the ‘50s. We will look at the BeBop stars along with Thelonius Monk, Stan Kenton, Dave Bruebeck, Jerry Mulligan, Stan Getz, and more. The emphasis will be on the different styles of music and the way it was put together. Many recordings, some saxophone demonstrations, and, of course, a few interesting stories about the musicians will be included.

196. FRANZ KAFKA

Known for his powerful depiction of the alienated condition of the individual in the modern world and the absurdity of human existence, Franz Kafka’s greatest works represent the inner psychological landscape of human experience with terrifying clarity and startling originality. We will read two of Kafka’s great masterpieces and some shorter works if time allows: “The Metamorphosis” and “The Trial.”

196A. BODIES ON DISPLAY: PERSPECTIVES, 19th CENTURY TO PRESENT

This course seeks to explore some of the rich historical materials treating aspects of the human body as it has been viewed, exhibited, analyzed, and objectified in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. We will examine some key primary works, fiction, film, photography, and a selection of interpretive studies that consider the social and cultural construction of bodies in America. The readings in this course are intended not to add up to some neat thesis but to raise questions of interpretation and meaning. From the history of freak shows and blackface minstrelsy to more contemporary displays of female and male bodies, these readings-both primary and secondary - will challenge us to think about some of the forces that have shaped - and continue to shape - the ways in which we think about the body. [Selected texts including Freak Show: Presenting Human Oddities for Amusement and Profit; Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women And the Rise of Raunch Culture; Tarzan Of the Apes; Houdini, Tarzan, and the Perfect Man: The White Male Body and the Challenge of Modernity in America; Shooting Kennedy: JFK and the Culture of Images - for a complete listing, call 516-299-2580).

197. THE ROMANTIC SYMPHONY: BERLIOZ, BRAHMS, TCHAIKOVSKY, AND MAHLER

Symphony as an art form underwent revolutionary changes with Beethoven’s immortal nine symphonies. Following upon this defining course, the landscape of the large-scale instrumental music for the next generations of composers would be changed forever in critical ways: the range of artistic expression, the cult of the individual, and the tension in unifying the past with the frontiers of the future which they were shaping. In this course we will examine the representative nineteenth-century symphonies of Berlioz, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Mahler. In addition to the music we will also discuss biographical and cultural contexts to gain fuller understanding of these masterworks. The multimedia lecture will include excerpts of the music illustrated on the piano, as well as recorded audio and video performance presentations.

Part I: Berlioz’s Fantastic Symphony
Part II: Brahms’ Symphony No. 4
Part III: Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5
Part IV: Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 (“Titan”)

4 sessions

198. ORIENTAL PAINTING: SEASONAL SCENERY

IN KWON KIM

This series will consist of demonstrations and examples provided by the teacher, but each student will also be given the opportunity to paint. A materials fee of $10 for rice paper and other supplies should be brought on the first day. The instructor will provide brushes, ink, and colors for all projects. The course will cover basic techniques including landscapes, but space is limited so register early.

Fee: $160

199. HISTORY OF IMMIGRATION

The Census Report of 2000 revealed what has been widely reported for several years: the United States is undergoing a dramatic increase in immigration. Since 1965, more than 2.5 million immigrants have arrived in New York and are entering New York City at the rate of 100,000 per year. How will these new immigrants, who are no longer primarily from Europe, affect the future of New York and ultimately the United States? Was the “Melting Pot” ever successful and can it work today? These three sessions will provide an assessment of the different waves of immigrants who have come to America and compare today’s immigrants with those who arrived at Ellis Island at the turn of the century.

3 sessions

200. SHAKESPEARE: HAMLET

This in-depth study of Hamlet will be devoted to a line-by-line analysis at each class session. The text to be used is the Pelican Shakespeare edition of Hamlet, which can be purchased either on-line or at any bookstore.

Fee: $110

201. WORLD POLITICS: NEW LEADERS AND NEW CHALLENGES

By early next year, most major nations will have new leaders: America, the large European states, Japan, Russia. There will be national elections in India and South Africa, and a leadership turnover in China is expected soon. A leadership transition is taking place in the Middle East. These changes are happening at a time of unusual global uncertainty, economic problems, dramatic rises in energy and food costs, nuclear proliferation, escalating regional wars and violence, and disturbing signs of climate change. How will the new leaders respond to these concerns? Which nations can best cope? Will there be winners and losers, and what will the political consequences be? How will the power balance between the United States, China, Russia, the European Union and the oil producers be affected? What will be the political shape of the 21st century? These and other major questions will be discussed in the context of current world affairs.

Fee: $120

202. WORLD POLITICS: NEW LEADERS AND NEW CHALLENGES

By early next year, most major nations will have new leaders—America, the large European states, Japan, Russia. There will be national elections in India and South Africa, and a leadership turnover in China is expected soon. A leadership transition is taking place in the Middle East. These changes are happening at a time of unusual global uncertainty economic problems, dramatic rises in energy and food costs, nuclear proliferation, escalating regional wars and violence, and disturbing signs of climate change. How will the new leaders respond to these concerns? Which nations can best cope? Will there be winners and losers and what will the political consequences be? How will the power balance between the United States, China, Russia, the European Union and the oil producers be affected? What will be the political shape of the 21st century? These and other major questions will be discussed in the context of current world affairs.

Fee: $120

203. WORLD POLITICS: NEW LEADERS AND NEW CHALLENGES

By early next year, most major nations will have new leaders America, the large European states, Japan, Russia. There will be national elections in India and South Africa, and a leadership turnover in China is expected soon. A leadership transition is taking place in the Middle East. These changes are happening at a time of unusual global uncertainty economic problems, dramatic rises in energy and food costs, nuclear proliferation, escalating regional wars and violence, and disturbing signs of climate change. How will the new leaders respond to these concerns? Which nations can best cope? Will there be winners and losers and what will the political consequences be? How will the power balance between the United States, China, Russia, the European Union and the oil producers be affected? What will be the political shape of the 21st century? These and other major questions will be discussed in the context of current world affairs.

Fee: $120

204. WORLD POLITICS: NEW LEADERS AND NEW CHALLENGES

By early next year, most major nations will have new leaders—America, the large European states, Japan, Russia. There will be national elections in India and South Africa, and a leadership turnover in China is expected soon. A leadership transition is taking place in the Middle East. These changes are happening at a time of unusual global uncertainty economic problems, dramatic rises in energy and food costs, nuclear proliferation, escalating regional wars and violence, and disturbing signs of climate change. How will the new leaders respond to these concerns? Which nations can best cope? Will there be winners and losers and what will the political consequences be? How will the power balance between the United States, China, Russia, the European Union and the oil producers be affected? What will be the political shape of the 21st century? These and other major questions will be discussed in the context of current world affairs.

Fee: $120

205. JEWISH LAW

How do we take ancient codes and make them relevant for today’s modern world? Travel through the pages of the Mishneh and Talmud (Jewish Oral Tradition) and see how, indeed, there is “nothing new under the sun.” This course will teach us how “Law and Order” has bound the Jewish people together and transformed our nation and other nations.

Fee: $40

THURSDAY

206. INSIDE POLITICS TODAY

Each week Professor Lader will engage the participants in a political discussion revolving around the political issues of the day, closely following the campaign to win the White House from the presidential debates and political ads to the “horse race” and electoral strategy. This class will be enhanced by the use of multimedia and the Internet.

207. BEYOND THE HORSE RACE

ADRIAN PERACCHIO

This in-depth analysis of this race for the White House, will go beyond the day-to-day battles and focus instead on the implication for future domestic and foreign policies of an administration that will be confronted with immense economic and security dilemmas.

208. CURRENT EVENTS

ADRIAN PERACCHIO

Each week, Mr. Peracchio will discuss international and national stories vividly and accurately. The recipient of several national journalism awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for general news reporting, Mr. Peracchio has also served as a member of the Round Table Council for Foreign Affairs at Newsday.

209. THE NEW YORK TIMES: A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

ABBY KENIGSBERG

This course will provide an examination and analysis of The New York Times writing from the front page to the editorials, including the op ed pieces, metro section and columns. We will discuss "leads," "nut graphs," style and tone. We will also examine headlines, layout, photographs and graphics. A consideration of the history and future of newspapers in America and The New York Times, in particular, will be part of this course. We may even answer the question of why there are so few women writing stories on the front page.

[NOTE: All students should bring two issues of the New York Times to class: the issue for the day of class and the day before.]

210. THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE ISLANDS IN THE AEGEAN SEA

DENISE GOLD

The legendary birthplace of the great god Zeus was the island of Crete. It was also home to one of the greatest civilizations of mankind, the Minoans, who left palaces and objects of art which are true masterpieces. The Mycenaeans, the Dorians, the Romans, the Arabs, the Venetians, and the Turks, at different times left their cultural mark upon this island. This course will explore, in addition to the island of Crete, the archaeology and history of the Cyclades, Naxos, Santorini (Ancient Thera), sometimes known as the lost continent of Atlantis, and Rhodes, as well.

211. THE AESTHETICS OF JOHN DEWEY

DAVID SPRINTZEN

Considered to be one of the greatest works on aesthetics ever written, John Dewey's Art as Experience is a classic of American Philosophy. In it Dewey integrates a rich aesthetic sensibility with a profound understanding of Western Philosophical thought and the originality of American cultural traditions. In studying this work, we will develop Dewey's path-breaking understanding of the significance of Darwin for Philosophy - thus providing the framework for his "Pragmatism" carefully distinguishing the aesthetic from the artistic and explore both the cultural and political significance of art, while giving careful attention to specific works of art and to the role of art criticism.

212. BEYOND CURRENT EVENTS

ADRIAN PERACCHIO

Each week Mr. Peracchio will discuss international and national stories vividly and accurately. The recipient of several national journalism awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for general news reporting, Mr. Peracchio will explore stories in-depth each week, going “beyond” what you usually see in the news.

FRIDAY

213. THE BOOK GROUP

Now in its eleventh year, the Book Group meets monthly. This academic year, the readings will focus on institutional dystopias. According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, a dystopia is "an imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives." Some, but not all, of these imaginary places are schools and colleges; some are comic, some tragic. Marisha Pessl's Special Topics in Calamity Physics ties in nicely with last year's book theme, as its chapters are structured around a core curriculum composed of important literary works. Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go is set in an English boarding school for students who have a special, and perhaps prophetic, destiny. Lucky Jim, by Kingsley Amis, is a classic of academic fiction, describing the life and hard times of a newly-minted college professor. In David Mamet's play Oleanna, a disastrously mismatched professor and student clash over that perennial source of conflict: grades.

September 5: Marisha Pessl, Special Topics in Calamity Physics. ISBN 9780739477137.

October 3: Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go. ISBN 1400078776.

November 7: Kingsley Amis, Lucky Jim. ISBN 0140186301.

December 5: David Mamet, Oleanna. ISBN 9780679745365.

214. SEMINAR ON LEONARD BERNSTEIN

This course will coincide with the 90th birthday celebration for Leonard Bernstein, and examine various aspects of his life and career. Each session will be an in-depth look at one facet of his life: the classical musician, The Broadway composer, the music educator and the man himself. A guest speaker will join us each week, with a special interview/Q&A. The course culminates with a performance of Bernstein on Broadway at Tilles Center on Saturday, October 4. Tickets to the concert as well as the public Performance PLUS! are included in the tuition price.

Friday, September 12 The Classical Bernstein

Friday, September 19 Bernstein’s Broadway with Marc Courtade

Friday, September 26 Bernstein the Music Educator

Friday, September 26 The Young People’s Concerts

Friday, October 3 A Conversation

AND

Saturday, October 4 Pre-Performance presentation at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 4 Performance at Tilles Center: Bernstein on Broadway at 8:00 p.m.

215. MORTGAGE FRAUD

Arshad Majid, JD MBA, an attorney in the forefront of mortgage fraud litigation, will discuss both civil and criminal aspects of mortgage fraud, federal and state enforcement of consumer protection laws, common tactics used by predatory mortgage industry providers and the micro and macro economic ramifications of mortgage foreclosures on the U.S. banking industry. This course will address the current mortgage crisis facing many American families and the substantial role that mortgage fraud and predatory lending have played in this nationally debilitating economic phenomenon.

216. A PLACE IN THE SUN: A QUESTION OF CLASS

BONNIE MUIR

George Stevens brilliantly adapts Theodore Dreiser's seminal novel An American Tragedyfor the screen in a film which garnered six Academy Awards. Serious matters are treated seriously and it is intriguing to observe how a supposedly classless American Society is anything but that. Elizabeth Taylor here emerges as that icon of beauty, the benchmark against which all other women would be measured for years to come. Montgomery Clift's performance resonates with repressed passion and intensity. Shelley Winters is powerfully pitiful as the girl who would never be Elizabeth Taylor. The supporting players are worthy of this outstanding company. To accompany this screening, Professor Muir has created a lecture which will set the film within the social and historical context from which it emerged. The intellectual issues will be considered. All of this will be leavened with some fascinating anecdotes about the Stars, the Studio, the Shoot and about Stevens himself - that master craftsman of the Cinematic Art.

217. BUDDHIST MONUMENTS: STORY, DANCE, AND MUSIC (300 BC – 800 AD)

This presentation highlights interesting and significant monuments which helped preserve the relics of the Buddha and disseminate the teachings of the Buddhist faith. Many of these monuments have been designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Emperor Asoka's edicts on stone pillars champion the cause of nonviolence and righteous living; the ornamental gateways of the Great Stupa of Sanchi reveal the grandeur of visual narratives and convey an expression of joyful participation; the Mahabodhi Temple Complex has a sanctity, being the site directly associated with the life of Buddha and his enlightenment; and the rock-cut cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora bring to view exquisite murals, sculptures, and many types of structures such as viharas (monasteries), chaityas (prayer halls), and three-dimensional mandalas. Through these monuments we gain an understanding of various phases of Buddhism - Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana, and are touched by the compassionate world of Buddhism.

218. “MARDI GRAS: MADE IN CHINA”

This documentary film by David Redmon is the winner of eighteen domestic and international awards and has been nominated for the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival. “Mardi Gras: Made in China” is a very powerful film that makes the unlikely connection between Mardi Gras in New Orleans (pre-Katrina) and the factory workers of China.

Beads, the ubiquitous symbol of Mardi Gras where thousands of the cheap plastic trinkets are tossed, are shared and worn by revelers who collect them as a trophies in a night of wild partying, but where do these trinket treasures come from? Who actually makes them? These are the questions raised in the film.

In the documentary, Redmon follows the “bead trail” to the Tai Kuen factory in the Fuzhou province of China, where young teenagers work long hours for low pay in prison-like compounds far from their homes. Redmon obtained remarkable and rare footage in China, resulting in stunning contrasts between the young party-goers of Carnival in New Orleans and the even younger factory workers in Tai Kuen. This sly and engrossing film gives an up-close and personal view of the realities of globalization, and through interviews with the factory owner, workers and Mardi Gras revelers, offers an illuminating and thought-provoking juxtaposition of cultures and values. Join us for this intriguing film which will be screened in its entirety with Professor Going as your “guide.”

Fee: $15

219. THE FIRST AMENDMENT: FREEDOM OF RELIGION

CHRIS WILLIAMS

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." As part of his ongoing Hutton House discussions of the recent decisions of the United States Supreme Court, Professor Christopher Williams presents a detailed look into First Amendment jurisprudence relating to the protection of religious freedom in America. When the U.S. Constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1787, it did not contain the essential freedoms now outlined in the Bill of Rights, because many of the Framers viewed their inclusion as unnecessary. However, after vigorous debate, the Bill of Rights was adopted. The first freedoms guaranteed in this historic document were articulated in the 45 words written by James Madison that we have come to know as the First Amendment. The First Amendment's "establishment clause" is generally read to prohibit the Federal government from establishing a national church ("religion") or excessively involving itself in religion, particularly to the benefit of one religion over another. Following the ratification of the 14th Amendment and through the doctrine of incorporation, this restriction is held to be applicable to state governments as well. Without the First Amendment, religious minorities could be persecuted, the government might well establish a national religion, protesters could be silenced, the press could not criticize government, and citizens could not mobilize for social change. Join us for this stimulating and informative event.

220. POLITICS AND RELIGION: DO THEY GO TOGETHER? AN EPISCOPAL PRIEST REFLECTS IN ELECTION YEAR

SIMON FOSTER

In this session, Father Simon will look at what politics and religion are about and suggest ways the two can be seen to belong together, especially when they are not supposed to belong together or to be spoken about in the same breath. He will look at the importance of dialogue between the two and the challenges/issues that arise if they are not integrated or seen to contribute to one another. He will consider founders of different religions and consider whether or not they were political.

221. WHAT POSITIVE THINGS LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, “QUEER” AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE OFFER RELIGION AND SOCIETY: AN EPISCOPAL PRIEST REFLECTS

SIMON FOSTER

Father Simon will look at the history of the Gay Movement since the Stonewall riots and reflect on academic Queer Studies in the Social Sciences and Theology. He will put this in the context of his experience as a human being and co-journeyer in life as well as a priest and pastor.