Classes

Literary Works That Changed the American Mind

The transformative power of literature has had a profound effect on the development of our country and continues to shape our lives today. Inspired by Promised Land: Thirteen Books That Changed America by Jay Parini, noted American literature scholar and Editor-in-Chief of The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Literature, this course explores fifteen significant works of American literature, expanding on the selections included in Perini’s book.

Join Dr. William Fry for an intriguing eight-week examination of the power of the pen.

Week 1: A survey of many American books that changed the fabric of American life. We will discuss titles, themes and the significance of these books.

Week 2: Discourses on Various Important Subjects (1738) by Jonathan Edwards; The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (1771-never completed).

Week 3: Selected Essays (1840’s-1850’s) of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.

Week 4: Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) by Harriet Beecher Stowe; Up From Slavery (1901) by Booker T. Washington; Souls of Black Folks (1903) by W.E.B. DuBois.

Week 5: The Jungle (1906) by Upton Sinclair; The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.

Week 6: Black Boy (1945) by Richard Wright; The Pillar and the City (1948) by Gore Vidal.

Week 7: Notes of a Native Son (1955) by James Baldwin; On the Road (1957) by Jack Kerouac.

Week 8: Silent Spring (1962) by Rachel Carson; The Feminine Mystique (1963) by Betty Friedan.

Painters of all levels are invited to come together for instruction, inspiration, and encouragement. Review the basic elements of painting and receive plenty of individual attention in a small and supportive class environment. Work on projects of your choice or those suggested by the instructor. Discuss methods for color mixing, techniques for paint application, and ideas for still life, landscape, and portrait. Bring any art supplies you have. Additional supply needs will be discussed at the first class.

This course will provide an examination of the sites that were most critical to the development of ancient Egyptian civilization and have yielded its most spectacular discoveries, including: the Pyramids and Great Sphinx of Giza, the Valley of the Kings & King Tutankamun’s tomb, and the treasures of Tanis, among others. The archaeological evidence is explored for each selected site (or clustered group of sites/discoveries) and its importance explained. Chronological emphasis will be from the Predynastic Period (ca. 3500 BC) through the New Kingdom and its aftermath (ca. 950 BC).

Week 1: Introduction to ancient Egypt & the era before the Pharaohs. Sites discussed: Nabta Playa, Heirkonpolis, Naqada

Week 2: The Pyramid Age: The Old Kingdom. Sites discussed: Saqqara, Giza, Heliopolis

Week 3: The Enlightenment & Age of Literature: The Middle Kingdom. Sites discussed: Abydos, Lisht/Dahshur

Week 4: Cultural Apex and a Monotheistic Interruption: The New Kingdom – Part 1. Sites discussed: Karnak temples, ancient Thebes & Amarna

Week 5: A Renaissance: The New Kingdom – Part 2. Sites discussed: Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel, Deir el Medina

Week 6: Beginning of the End: The Third Intermediate Period and Later. Sites discussed: Tanis, Nubia, Alexandria

The narrative of Russian music unfolds through the history from the reign of Empress Katherine the Great and her relationship with the leading Italian composers of that time and from the creation of the first music school in Russia – Saint Petersburg Court Chapel, to the 20th century cataclysms that affected not only Russia, but the entire world – October revolution of 1917 led by Vladimir Lenin and subsequent usurpation of total state control by Josef Stalin.

Weeks 1 and 2: The 19th Century and the Blossoming of Nationalism in Music
Mikhail Glinka created the first Russian national opera and the Mighty Five, a group of composers led by Mily Balakirev developed unique personal music language resulting in such popular pieces as “Scheherazade” by Rimsky-Korsakov and Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky.

Week 3: Peter Tchaikovsky, His Orchestral Masterpieces and the Politics of Change
Tchaikovsky’s approach to composition absorbed the best achievements of the German and French symphonies, but clashed with the much more nationalistic tendency led by Mily Balakirev. At the same time brothers Nicholas and Anton Rubinstein created the first Russian conservatories in Saint-Petersburg and Moscow.

Weeks 4 and 5: Rachmaninoff and Scriabin
Young Sergei Rachmaninoff was seen as the heir of the great Russian Romantic tradition after the death of Tchaikovsky. Alexander Scriabin created mystical and innovative piano and orchestral works on the verge of atonality.

Week 6: Change and Reflection
The political clouds gathered and finally the Russian monarchy and the ancient traditional order was overturned in October of 1917 creating chaos and sharply dividing the Russian society. Rachmaninoff left Russia and became one of the greatest pianists of all time, but his last compositions expressed sharp pain and nostalgic longing for the world that was forever lost.

Weeks 7 and 8: Regime Change: From Creative Freedom to Total State Control of the Arts
After relative creative freedom allowed by Lenin’s Bolshevist Proletarian government, Stalin assumed total state control over the arts. Dmitri Shostakovich wrote the highly original Symphony #1 and sympathized with the social changes in the beginning of 1920s. Sergei Prokofiev traveled abroad establishing himself as a great piano virtuoso and prominent composer. Lured by the Soviet propaganda, he made the fateful decision to return to Russia in 1934, right before the Stalinist’s purges began.

When discussing the works and genius of Michelangelo, the general conclusion is that all has been said and done with this titan of art history. Truthfully, is this really the case? Michelangelo lived a very long time, 88 years, and witnessed the great historical events and changes of his time, while creating some of the most memorable and brilliant works in the history of art. This lecture series will seek to investigate Michelangelo in new ways, demonstrating that he was truly a man of his time, creating an ideal vision of the world while simultaneously reflecting the uncertain and unstable environment around him. By unpacking and investigating works such as the David, the Medici Tombs and his monumental works for St. Peter’s we will see Michelangelo in a new light — examining experience, memory, fame and immortality.

Week 1: Youthful Michelangelo and the Ideal of the High Renaissance – how to become a genius when the world is falling apart.

Week 2: Julius II & the Pursuit of Immortality: The Tragedy of the Tomb and the Triumph of the Sistine Chapel.

Week 3: “My soul can find no staircase to heaven unless it be through earth’s loveliness” Michelangelo & His Contemporaries: Raphael, Titian & The Mannerists.

Week 4: Clement VII, Michelangelo and the Tragedy of Fame: San Lorenzo’s Most Unusual Library and the Eroticism of Death in The Medici Chapel.

Week 5: “When One is Pope, One does not Live Long”. The Resurrection, no strike that, The Last Judgment of the Sistine Chapel; the works for St. Peter’s.

Week 6: “Lord, grant that I may always desire more than I can accomplish.” The Late Works of Michelangelo and the changing world around him.

The Meaning of Ancient Greek Gods, for the Ancients and for Us

Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung, and countless poets and artists have found inspiration in the ancient Greek gods for their own ideas. This class will examine a select few of these ancient gods, female and male, for the meaning they held for the ancient Greeks, who worshipped these deities in important rituals. We will then explore why they still resonate for us today, creatively, mythically, psychologically or other ways. The class will highlight these deities: Aphrodite, Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Persephone, Dionysos, Hermes.

An Introduction to Tucson’s Remarkable Fine Arts Community

Tucson’s art scene consistently earns high positions in national rankings for cities its size, due to a lively mix of working artists, artisan/crafts studios, galleries large and small, important museums and a rejuvenated Arts District in New Downtown. First-class artists abound, regularly exhibiting in galleries and museums both local and nationwide. The University of Arizona School of Fine Arts is a breeding ground for many successful artists and its faculty show their art world wide. Tucson also has its own artist colony, Rancho Linda Vista in nearby Oracle, Arizona. Our class will focus on the best painters, sculptors, photographers and other artists who have made Tucson their home, including past masters, former residents, established and mid-career players, new arrivals and the up and coming young artists. Guest speakers will include influential artists discussing their theories, practices, passions and insights plus collectors and representatives from museums and galleries. Join us for four classroom sessions and a guided field trip to the Tucson International Airport collection of Tucson art.

Week 1: Climate and Character
Introduction to the Tucson contemporary art scene, history, key institutions and people.

Week 2: Past Masters and Ex-Patriots
Artists who led the way and important artists who began their careers in Tucson.

Week 3: The Working Artists
Current established artists of renown and mid-career artists showing in local galleries and independently.

Week 4: The Brave and the New
Young promising talents at the threshold of their careers.

Week 5: Tucson Airport Collection
Walking tour of the large public art collection featuring Tucson artists.

From “Forever Young” to “Autumn Leaves”

Dylan’s middle and later albums have a lot of gems, most of which are not well-known. He’s an imaginative and versatile songwriter, performer, arranger, producer, and band leader. His best selections have elements of blues, rock, storytelling, and occasional crooning, plus some gospel, folk, hymn tunes, and love songs. Our emphasis will be on the music and how it conveys the meaning of his words. Enjoy a combination of lecture, discussion, and guitar performance in this four-session exploration of Dylan’s lesser known music.

Session 1: Love songs to his wife and children; parting company with The Band after a fruitful collaboration; his first tunes that combine overt religion with blues-rock.

Session 2: Dylan’s infamous Christian phase produced some exceptional tracks; some are loud and powerful and others are quiet and contemplative.

Session 3: Roots music and traditional songs are the centerpiece; plus his most famous later single song.

Session 4: Bob goes deep into Frank Sinatra’s catalog; a bizarre Christmas album; the most imaginative rocking blues you have never heard!

Enjoy a culinary and cultural tour that will awaken your senses to the sights, sounds and culinary delights of downtown Tucson. The tour begins at the Mercado San Agustin where you will learn about the history surrounding the area and enjoy the first delicious tasting at Agustin Kitchen. From the Mercado we hop on the streetcar (ticket included in the price) to Broadway and Church where we walk through the historic sights of downtown, stopping for pre-selected tastings at four additional locally owned restaurants. At each restaurant stop you will meet either the chef or owner who will speak about the inspiration behind their cuisine and answer questions. This is a fun, informative and tasty way to learn about our city’s history, the local restaurants and experience the newly launched modern streetcar.

The itinerary includes approximately 2 miles of walking. Tasting menus are preselected by the chefs and cannot be customized to meet special dietary needs.