SPRING 2025 Course dESCRIPTIONS

Classic Film Discussion

Coordinator

Course Description

Lights, camera, action! Join and discuss films selected primarily from Turner Classic Movies (TCM) shown the previous week and watched at your convenience in your own home. Think of us like a book club for movies! We discuss the history and social relevance of the films, and learn about film techniques, cinematography, and the resumes of the directors and actors. You will be invited to join the Google Meet via email the morning of the discussion. Some movies may be shown off-hours so participants should have the ability to record, tape, or stream movies or obtain a DVD from their local library to fully participate.

Reading US History: The Scopes Trial and the Debate over Science and Religion

Coordinator

Course Description

Read and discuss a Pulitzer Prize-winning history of the debate over teaching evolution in public schools. Edward J. Larson’s Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion reexamines the 1925 trial of a school teacher for violating Tennessee’s law banning Darwinism in classrooms. The case pitted William Jennings Bryan against Clarence Darrow. Larson shows how the case has been misinterpreted in popular culture and how it continues to reverberate in education and politics. We will discuss the Preface, Introduction and Chapter 1 of the 2020 edition at our first meeting. Download Course Syllabus. Download Coordinator Bio.

Drawing as a Sacred Activity

Coordinator

Course Description

Connect with your INNATE, Creative Self using the practice of both observational and imaginative drawing. The author of the book, Drawing as a Sacred Activity, by Heather C. Williams, will lead the course, offering many exercises! Bring pencil and paper and curiosity and a willingness to learn and be surprised by the creativity you can draw out of yourself!

Novels Old and New

Coordinator

Course Description

Come and join us as we read and discuss the following books: 2/17, 2/24/25 Stolen by Ann-Helén Laestadius; 3/3, 3/10 Beartown by Fredrik Backman; 3/17 Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi; 3/24, 3/31 The Magician of Lublin by Isaac Bashevis Singer; 4/7, 4/14, 4/21 Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.

Exploring Creativity

Coordinator

Course Description

This class is an ongoing workshop where individuals work on their personal art goals in a sharing environment. Participants can exchange knowledge and offer “gentle” feedback to each other if they want to. Bring the supplies you will need for your own project. We are fortunate to use this space. Come and make a commitment to yourself to do art at least two hours per week. Join a group of people who enjoy working on their art together in a peaceful and supportive environment.

Money Skills for Retirees

Coordinator

Course Description

Retirees have different financial challenges than younger people. In general, we are no longer saving for retirement, but we are continuing to grow and use the money that we saved. We’ll cover topics such as the importance of diversification, taxes and investment decisions, ROTH conversions, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), basic and more complex investing, strategies for spending our retirement savings and using tools (like the Morningstar rankings) in making investment decisions. The class is designed so that we’ll learn just as much from the experiences of our classmates as we will from guest speakers. Each semester we plan a mix of presentations, guest speakers and reviews of our investing successes and failures.

Photographer's Journey to Three Medieval Cathedrals in Southeast England

Coordinator

Course Description

The medieval cathedrals of England are among its architectural wonders. This four-part series will use extensive photographs to illustrate the architecture of these magnificent buildings with a brief review of the relevant events in English history. After an overview of the Saxon, Norman and Gothic architectural styles in the first session, the cathedrals of Rochester, Chichester and Canterbury will be discussed in detail including the construction methods for medieval stone buildings. For each cathedral, photographs of the cathedral city and surrounding countryside and historical sites will be included to place the cathedrals in their surroundings.

Alicia's Book Club

Coordinator

Course Description

Join us to read good books and engage in good discussions on the second Tuesday of the month. Participants will receive the book list upon registration.

Biography

Coordinator

Course Description

We are biography readers who enjoy sharing their experiences. Presentations are participants’ responsibility. It is optional for participants to do a presentation. We look at biographies of widely different people in various contexts – historical, political, show business, environmentalists, etc. 

Short Stories and Essays

Coordinator

Course Description

For those who love reading and discussion, this is the perfect entertainment. One hour each is devoted to a short story and an essay. There is always a lively, opinionated, and friendly atmosphere with a welcome for all participants. Come join us as we delve into the ever-fascinating world of short stories and essays created by some of the best writers who have put pen to paper. Texts to be used: The Art of the Story: An International Anthology of Contemporary Short Stories, by Daniel Halpern and Best American Essays 2023, edited by Vivian Gornick.

Partners in Crime: History and Mystery of Personal Relationships in Golden Age Detective Novels

Coordinator

Course Description

In this class we will combine literary and historical analysis as we examine novels by the four Queens of Golden Age detective fiction, who, atypically, gave their detectives strong partners: Agatha Christie in The Secret Adversary, Ngaio Marsh in Artists in Crime, Dorothy L. Sayers in Strong Poison, and Margery Allingham in Sweet Danger (with the alternate title The Fear Sign). We’ll begin with essays criticizing and defending them (links will be provided) and draw our own conclusions from the clues provided by the novels themselves. The books will be available at Mystery to Me bookstore at a discount to class participants plus through their Bookshop.org webpage or from your favorite new and used book outlets. Some hunting may be necessary.

Jazz

Coordinator

Course Description

We are a congenial group of jazz enthusiasts ranging from eager newcomers to seasoned aficionados. All jazz genres are thoughtfully presented through class participation, documentaries, and visiting jazz musicians and scholars. We welcome all levels of jazz knowledge and no musical skills are required. (NOTE FOR PARTICIPATION: We encourage class participation. There are no assignments, however, your enthusiasm is deeply appreciated and presentations are welcome.)

History of the Hollywood Musical – TUEs.

Coordinator

Course Description

This is a chronological history of the film musical beginning with Sweethearts and continuing on through each decade. The films have been chosen due to their historical significance as well as their popularity at the box office. Download the Course Schedule.

The Musical Evolution of the Beatles 1962 - 1970

Coordinator

Course Description

This course will highlight how the popular music group, The Beatles, changed the music of the last half of the 20th century. A general study of what makes their music so unique and groundbreaking will be emphasized.

Current Events - AM

Coordinator

Course Description

This class will discuss local, national, and international events. Some topics will be hot and current, and others will be ongoing issues. Topics will be determined each week at the start of the session. All viewpoints are encouraged. The format will be very casual and interactive. Participants are encouraged to share relevant links via email during the week about topics for discussion.

Buddhist Mindfulness: How To Do It; How To Understand It

Coordinator

Course Description

Mindfulness allows individuals to focus on the present without judgment, significantly reducing stress, anxiety, and negative emotions while improving self-awareness, emotional regulation, concentration, and overall well-being by enabling a more conscious approach to thoughts, feelings, and actions. There are a variety of styles of mindfulness practice. The style taught here is a classic one that is Buddhist-based, without requiring adherence to Buddhism as a religion. The class focuses on mindfulness of breathing, body, emotion, thinking, and activities of daily living. The format includes the practicing of mindfulness, as well as information about the “why” behind the “how” of the practice.

Global Affairs and the Media

Coordinator

Course Description

We focus on international events and concerns, addressing American issues only as they relate to the rest of the world. An invited speaker or a member of the group will make a presentation of about 40 minutes followed by your questions and comments for perhaps 20 minutes. We'll take a break and then pull some chairs into a circle, and discuss items of interest that members have brought to the meeting (members are invited to bring a news clipping or news item summary). We hope to increase our exposure to high-quality sources of news and information.

Discussions in Philosophy

Coordinator

Course Description

We will continue to read and discuss the book The Stone Reader: Modern Philosophy in 133 Arguments, by Peter Catapano and Simon Critchley, published by Liveright, available in hard cover, paperback, or eBook formats. This is a fun book with a series of short essays on philosophical topics, fueling lively discussion about how those concepts apply to today’s world. New members do not need to read preceding sections of the book. The essays stand alone. We’ll begin this term at “Some Hard Moral Cases”, on Page 519 of the paperback, and proceed through “Economics and Politics”, “The Modern Family”, and other societal topics.

Current Events PM

Coordinator

Course Description

This is an in-depth discussion course on current events in Wisconsin, the United States and the World. Course members choose the topics and lead and moderate a discussion or two. We email readings and website links prior to each discussion. Each presenter may invite a guest with some first-hand knowledge or experience on the topic for the discussion.

Seasons of Hell: Written Testimonies of Holocaust Survivors

Coordinator

Course Description

The Nazi purpose in the Holocaust was not just mass killing. It was also a sadistic desire to force victims, especially Jews, to become as the Nazis wished them to see themselves – utterly subhuman only worthy of death. By contrast, any victim with a chance of withstanding such a fate had to find ways of subverting it. So, our goal in the course is to witness these two processes at work through intensive study of three of the most valuable survivor memoirs supplemented by film.

Writing Life Stories (for women and men)

Coordinator

Course Description

Every week, class members will write a 1-2 page essay about something that happened in their lives. I will provide prompts to help spur your thoughts, but following the prompt is not required. We will read the essays aloud during the class meeting. During the readings, we will practice respectful and nonjudgmental “active listening.” Active listening is being fully engaged while another person is talking to you. It is listening with the intent to understand the other person fully, rather than listening to respond. Active listening includes asking curious questions such as, "How did you feel?" or "What did you think?" (Wikipedia)

Writing Workshop - WED

Coordinator

Course Description

“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. Maybe you haven’t written the first word. Possibly you’re polishing that manuscript. Our writers’ group will provide you with the feedback, structure and support you need to push forward or get started. All writers are welcome, regardless of your experience or the type of writing you wish to pursue.

Andy Millman’s writing has appeared in several outlets, including “Whistling Shade,” “Points in Case,” “Midwest Review,” “The Big Jewel,” “Zest Literary Journal,” “Black Heart Magazine,” “Flash Fiction Magazine,” “The Helix,” and “Pif Magazine.”

Film History

Coordinator

Course Description

I love movies! If you love cinema as much as I do and enjoy learning about the evolution of film over the years, you will definitely enjoy this semester of film history. I will cover films of the 1940s, part of the golden age of Hollywood Cinema. I’ll have several international films in the collection as well. I will introduce each film with background on pertinent aspects of the historical times and the movie’s place in cinema history. We will watch the film in class and then have what I hope to be a spirited discussion after the movie. The first two weeks of class will be led by Laura Batzer as I will be out of town. Download the Film History Schedule.

Pinney Lane Book Discussion Group

Coordinator

Course Description

This book discussion group meets on the first Wednesday of the month to discuss a novel: March 5, April 2, and May 7. The book selections are determined in the spring of each year and assigned to a specific month. Group members volunteer to lead the discussion one month out of the year, and also select a month to bring treats to share with the group one month out of the year. Books selected for January and February are shown on the syllabus. Download the Syllabus.

History of the Hollywood Musical – THR.

Coordinator

Course Description

This is a chronological history of the film musical beginning with The Jazz Singer and continuing on through each decade. The films have been chosen due to their historical significance as well as their popularity at the box office. Download the Syllabus.

What in the World Happened

Coordinator

Course Description

This course is made up of presentations on eclectic historical topics of interest. Examples of topics come from natural disasters, historical battles, assassinations, political events etc. Presentations last 45 minutes to an hour (or more, depending upon presenter and topic), with time remaining for questions and answers. Enthusiastic Q & A’s are the norm. Topics this semester are determined by the group.

1961-1975: 15 years that Changed America

Coordinator

Course Description

The course covers the period from 1961-1975, focusing on the fundamental changes that happened politically, culturally, etc. that significantly changed our nation and set the stage for many of the issues and challenges that we are confronting today. Emphasis will be on the civil rights movement, Vietnam War, The Great Society, reconfigured of politics, divisions in cultural values, rising youth culture, women’s movement, sexual revolution, LGBTQ movement, music, technology, etc. Weekly links to readings will be emailed to participants. Classes will include video presentations and discussions.

On Being Mortal: Retaining Quality of Life as We Age

Coordinator

Course Description

To cover the challenges of aging, ranging from avoiding social isolation, maintaining adequate healthcare coverage and caregiver support, to living with purpose and satisfaction, while maintaining independence. Emphasis will also be placed on resources available within Madison WI. End-of-life planning, including an executor handbook, will be covered. Course will consist of presentations, handouts, and guided conversations with participants. Two optional in-person field trips will be offered: one on using the Madison bus system, and another at a local coffee shop for the final session. Download the Syllabus. Download Coordinator Bio.

BOOK STUDY GROUP OF Poverty, by America

Coordinator

Course Description

Using Matthew Desmond’s 2023 book, Poverty, by America, we will examine Desmond’s analysis of American poverty and his prescriptions for ending poverty. Particular attention will be directed toward his singular perspective that we (the prosperous middle class) are the direct beneficiaries of poverty and therefore have a moral obligation to become “poverty abolitionists.” The goals of the class, therefore, are to deepen our understanding of poverty and, to the extent possible, evaluate Desmond’s proposals – both structurally and personally – for coming to grips with what appears to be a permanent feature of American life. Those familiar with Desmond’s earlier work, Evicted, are well acquainted with his solid use of data along with personal engagement with those affected by the structures we tolerate and foster. As part of this study the class will also look at the national movement called Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and the Madison equivalent, the Madison Forward Fund. Both are innovative, and controversial, approaches to poverty. Download the Syllabus.

Writing Workshop - THURS

Coordinator

Course Description

“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. Maybe you haven’t written the first word. Possibly you’re polishing that manuscript. Our writers’ group will provide you with the feedback, structure and support you need to push forward or get started. All writers are welcome, regardless of your experience or the type of writing you wish to pursue.

Andy Millman’s writing has appeared in several outlets, including “Whistling Shade,” “Points in Case,” “Midwest Review,” “The Big Jewel,” “Zest Literary Journal,” “Black Heart Magazine,” “Flash Fiction Magazine,” “The Helix,” and “Pif Magazine.”

The Play's the Thing

Coordinator

Course Description

Each semester we read (aloud) and discuss three or four plays using an integrated approach which allows everyone to participate. Participant volunteers will each present a brief background of each play and playwright before reading begins. This semester we will read: The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Three Sisters, Appointment with Death and R.U.R.

Please note that the March 20 class will meet in the Lake Room at Christ Presbyterian Church.

It's TV series time!

Coordinator

Course Description

It's TV Series Time! Join us every Thursday night for eight weeks to critique the critically acclaimed Netflix series Ripley. With fourteen Emmy nominations and four Emmy wins, this cinematic masterpiece series is worthy of a group discussion and analysis. A Netflix subscription is necessary to watch this series in the convenience of your own home.

Our Declining Social Fabric

Coordinator

Course Description

"What's going on?" might have been the first question on your mind after hearing the results of the November 2024 election. Do you feel out of sync with society today? Has it strayed too far from common sense and decency? This course will take a look at recent trends that contribute to our declining social fabric: authoritarianism, alienation, fraying bonds, brain rot, Christian nationalism, polarization, coddling, fragility, bro culture, anti-intellectualism, nastiness and more. We'll also examine leading Western moral philosophies to see how they might lead us (if not others) to the good place.

Reading the Classics: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Coordinator

Course Description

This semester we will read The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. It is considered by some to be the most American of American classics. We will read the Penguin Classics edition with an ISBN of 9780143039433. For the first class please read through chapter 6, page 60.

PLATO Travel

Coordinator

Course Description

PLATO Travel Group participants are adventurous, curious, and eager to share their experiences and information from trips all over the planet. Members present travelogues of their adventures and information on their destinations in a friendly atmosphere where exchange and discussion are welcome. The group compiles information on various travel companies and tips for specific trips, and members socialize and explore trip materials during a mid-presentation break. We encourage members to bring friends interested in a trip topic and/or joining PLATO, and armchair travelers are always welcome!

Shakespeare's Tragedies: Method and Meaning

Coordinator

Course Description

We examine five often staged tragedies: Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Hamlet and King Lear. Discover how the Bard created his tragic masterpieces as we read plot outlines and analysis by expert critics and watch key scenes from DVDs of the plays. Join our lively group as we learn how Fate and/or character flaws may lead to "dusty death" for our protagonists.