The instability of Rococo Europe after the violent French Revolution and the devastating Napoleonic wars resulted in the exploration of intense and passionate emotion, creating what we call Romanticism. Examine the work of visual artists David, Gericault, Delacroix, Turner and Constable, and the music of Beethoven, Berlioz and Chopin who provided the dramatic underscoring to illuminate this remarkable period.

From the late 40s to the late 60s, TV variety shows ruled the airways. On any night you could tune into The Ed Sullivan Show, The Texaco Star Theater, Your Show of Shows, The Chevy Show or The Colgate Comedy Hour.

Join Richard Hanson for trip down Television Memory Lane with TV pioneers Milton Berle, Jackie Gleason, Dinah Shore, Sid Caesar and a host of others. The early days of television come alive with vintage footage of the shows that brought music and laughter into the living rooms of homes across America.

Explore the archaeology and history of Japan and Korea from the early paleolithic era up through modern colonial interactions, including the occupation and annexation of Korea by Japan at the end of the Joseon Dynasty. Consider cultural developments in the two countries and enjoy an overview of modern Korea and Japan with an eye towards tourism, travel, and culinary exploration.

From Prohibition to anti-smoking campaigns, to the current efforts to paint the drug problem as a foreign threat, the US war on drugs is an integral part of our nation’s history. Examine the origins of the drug trade and the consequences of US efforts to control it from the 1800s to today, with a focus on the economic, political and social issues connected to America’s longest war – the war on drugs.

Join the co-founders of the Rogue Theatre for an exploration of The Tempest, one of Shakespeare’s most fanciful and philosophical plays. Consider the language, the characters, the influences, the derivatives, the costumes, the music, famous productions, and the court of King James in four afternoons of laughter, awe and discovery.

As Impressionism became the dominant style near the end of the Nineteenth Century, artists and composers began to search for even more modern forms of expression. Join us to examine the cultural, social and political environment in the last quarter of the Nineteenth Century and compare the work of Seurat, Gaugin, Cezanne and Van Gogh to the compositions of Debussy, Satie and Ravel.

The Sonoran Desert is the greenest of the world’s deserts with an astonishing diversity of plant and animal life, home to ancient civilizations and recent newcomers from all over the world. Explore the literature of this magical place as you read and discuss four classics: Ofelia Zepeda’s Ocean Power: Poems from the Desert; Luis Alberto Urrea’s The Devil’s Highway; Barbara Kingsolver’s The Bean Trees; and Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian.

Step back to the late ’60s and early ’70s, when the hills above Los Angeles overflowed with music, friendship, and creativity. Take a nostalgic four-week journey through the songs and stories of Laurel Canyon — featuring the music of Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, The Eagles, Carole King, and more, with performances by some of Tucson’s finest vocalists: Sarah Tolar, Katherine Byrnes, and Mindy Ronstadt.

Enter the fascinating world of Noel Coward, playwright, composer, and an icon of style. Explore his works for the stage and his enduring popular songs, while also delving into the struggles and triumphs of his personal life. Step back in time with actor and director Betsy Kruse Craig as your guide and enjoy performances by the cast of the Invisible Theatre production of Oh, Coward!