Spring Summer 2012 Course Offerings

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Spring 2012
April 14 – May 26, 2012

Mondays

From Buffoon to Philosopher King: The Many Faces of Abraham Lincoln
This course will examine the different visions Americans have held about Lincoln from his own time to the present.  While most Americans have regarded him as a “secular saint” and granted him a place in the pantheon of our nation’s greatest heroes, others have ridiculed him as a country bumpkin, or decried him as a dictator.  Most contemporary historians see the “Great Emancipator” as the foremost advocate for African American freedom and equality, but others view him as a racist and hypocrite.  We will sift through the kaleidoscopic images of Lincoln as they evolved over the years, and make an assessment of which views are valid, and which are unfair. 

Mick Chantler, MA, recently concluded his 36 year career in teaching at Sonoma Valley High School, and now works part-time as a counselor at Hanna Boys Center in Sonoma.   As a lifelong student of the Civil War era, he was pleased to organize the Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration for the City of Sonoma in 2009.  In 2010 he coordinated the seminars in American History series at the Sonoma Valley Library.  Most recently, he taught his Lincoln course at the Sonoma State OLLI.  Mick’s other interests include the history of baseball, and he is a long-standing member of the Society for American Baseball Research.  He is also a member of the Lincoln Forum.  Currently he is developing a course on Thomas Jefferson and the Early American Republic.
Mondays, April 16 – May 21, 2012
10:50 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. (6 classes)
Location: Guzman Lecture Hall, Dominican Campus

Comedy on Stage and Screen
This course will explore the history and present state of comedy.   From ancient Greek ritual performances to contemporary YouTube sketches, comedy has served as a fundamental form of human expression and release.  What makes us laugh?  How important is a “happy ending” to comedy?  What are the specific traits of farce, parody, and satire . . . of standup and sitcom?  These are the sorts of questions that will be addressed and answered in these lectures, with ample illustrations from stage and screen.  

Larry Eilenberg, PhD, has had a distinguished career in the American theatre as an artistic director, educational leader, and pioneering dramaturg.  Dr. Eilenberg earned his B.A. at Cornell University and his Ph.D. and M.Phil. at Yale University.  He is Professor of Theatre Arts at San Francisco State University, where he served three terms as Theatre Arts Department Chair. He has also taught at Yale, Cornell, the University of Michigan, and the University of Denver.  Artistic Director of the renowned Magic Theatre during the period 1992-2003, Dr. Eilenberg has also served as a commentator for National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition,” as a U.S. theatrical representative to Moscow, and as a popular lecturer on comedy.
Mondays, April 16 – May 21, 2012
1:45 – 3:30 p.m. (6 classes)
Location: Guzman Lecture Hall, Dominican Campus

American Fiction Book Club: American Romanticism
This club will discuss distinguished American fiction of the past 150 years. Discussion, which will be guided by the participants, will include focus on the ways in which each novel reflects American society as well as its literary qualities. If time permits, the works will be compared with their film versions. Members may read any edition of the novels. The group will designate all novels after the first meeting.

Moderators: Betsy Thompson and Andrew Kives

Monday, April 23: Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlett Letter
Monday, May 7: Herman Melville, Billy Budd
Monday, May 21: Novel to be selected
4:00 – 5:30 p.m. (3 classes)
Location: Guzman 111, Dominican Campus
Cost: Basic and Session Members pay $30
Maximum of 20 participants

Tuesdays

The Ancient History of Modern Astronomy
Astronomy is the oldest science.  The motions of the heavens were the first phenomena of nature to yield to scientific inquiry.  In the 17th century, astronomy became the focus of an intellectual revolution that we call “modern” science.  But when Isaac Newton said he “stood on the shoulders of giants” he wasn’t referring to Galileo or Kepler or Copernicus, he was using a metaphor used by many generations before him. The “giants” were ancient Greeks. This class will explore the brilliant achievements at the Museum of Alexandria and what was accomplished using only sharp eyes and sharper minds. We will follow the impact on Christian, Jewish and, especially, Islamic cultures – all of which made their own contributions to its renaissance in  Western Europe. The class will make use of recent historical research to demonstrate the sophistication of the ancients, reconsider Copernicus’ “revolution”, and take a closer look at the science and trial of Galileo to explore how and when astronomy became “modern”.

John Dillon was a NASA Fellow in zoology and philosophy at Duke University and studied history of science at Cambridge University. He is a member of the History of Science Society and for many years has taught extension courses in the history and philosophy of science at UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz, SF State, and Stanford University.  He has led numerous natural history and astronomy programs around the world for major museums and environmental groups and recently retired as Curator of the Randall Museum in San Francisco.
Tuesdays, April 17 – May 22, 2012
0:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (6 classes)
Location: The Tamalpais
                 501 Via Casitas, Greenbrae

The World’s Great Architecture
This course will examine great works of world architecture from ancient times to the modern period. Examined chronologically from an architectural history perspective, the course will focus primarily on the architecture of the Western world although reference will also be made to concurrent architectural developments in non-western cultures. Emphasis will be placed on understanding great architecture as reflective of the ideas and values of the culture in which it has been produced.

Wood Lockhart, PhD, studied architecture at Yale University and received his doctorate in the History of Art and Architecture from Northwestern University. He is the former Chair of the Art History Department at Dominican University and has been teaching at the university since 1975. Wood is also a retired United Airlines Captain and, over a thirty-six year flying career, has visited and photographed virtually all of the architecture which will be discussed in the course.
Tuesdays, April 17 – May 22, 2012
1:45 – 3:30 p.m. (6 classes)
Location: Guzman Lecture Hall, Dominican Campus

Travel Club
Come get great ideas on where and how to travel internationally. The purpose of this informal group is for seasoned travelers to share their knowledge and experience with the beginning traveler. No experience is required to join and all experience is welcome. The moderators will from time to time select specific destinations or topics for discussion. Whenever possible, these will be announced in advance.

Moderators: Carol Fitzgerald, M.A. and Winnie Coleman

Tuesdays, April 24; May 8, 22
3:45-5:15 p.m.  (3 classes)
Location: Guzman 201, Dominican Campus
Cost: Basic and Session Members pay $30
Maximum of 20 participants

Wednesdays

The Life and Times of Leonardo da Vinci
Was he an inventor of genius? An ecologist ahead of his time?  Was he a revolutionary, an artist, or a pure product of the Renaissance? Join us in exploring the life and times of this fascinating man who, through his extraordinary work, strongly influenced contemporary art, history, engineering and science. We will look beyond the myth and analyze the legend and his real life; travel through history and learn about the Italian Dynasties of the Medicis, Borgias and Sforzas – the powers that be – who made it all happen; and finally learn about the French court of King Francis I of Valois where da Vinci spent his last years. This class will be a combination of lectures and slide presentations.

Erica Harkins-Blatt, MA, received her degrees in French Literature in Bucharest, Romania, and at the University of Paris in France. She has twenty years of teaching experience.  In addition to her background in Humanities, Erika also has a scientific background with a master's degree in Organic Chemistry.
Wednesdays, April 18 – May 23, 2012
10:00 – 11:45 a.m. (6 classes)
Location: Guzman Lecture Hall, Dominican Campus

Courtroom Dramas in the Movies and Theater, Part II
This course will explore three of the most notorious trials of all time: The Eichmann trial in Jerusalem, the Leopold and Loeb trial and the OJ Simpson trial, both criminal and civil.  We will also view and discuss scenes from three films that focus on religious trials, "Joan of Arc", "The Crucible" and "The Merchant of Venice".   Guest actors will read parts of "The Crucible".  On the comedy side we will encounter Hepburn and Tracy in "Adam's Rib" about married lawyers opposing each other in a criminal trial, and "A Civil Action" starring John Travolta as a hotshot lawyer suing a chemical company for pollution.

Oak Dowling, JD, is a retired attorney with 43 years of practice, including 31 years in San Rafael. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School and a native of Chicago.  For 22 years he has been a part time law instructor at College of Marin.   In his law classes, he has used courtroom drama to demonstrate legal principles.  As an avocation, he has performed in theater in Marin and San Francisco over the past 15 years.
Wednesdays, April 18 – May 23, 2012
1:30 – 3:15 p.m. (6 classes)
Location: Congregation Kol Shofar
                 215 Blackfield Dr. Tiburon

Thursdays

History of the Irish People
Why do we all have the urge to wear green on St. Patrick's Day and enjoy the moment of "being a bit of Irish?"  The Irish people and their history continue to captivate and fascinate us.  So much has come forth from such a tiny island.  The Romans could not conquer the Irish.  Western literacy and knowledge was quietly preserved by the Irish monks after the Fall of Rome. From pre-history to modern history, the Irish have managed to survive and thrive.  This course will examine the history of the Irish people from the Celtic foundations, through the missionary work of St. Patrick, Irish influence during the Dark Ages, Viking invasions, the British rule, the Potato Famine and the great Irish Diaspora which followed.  We will look at the great cultural achievements of the Irish including: art, literature, music, and theater.  Lastly, the Irish expatriates, notably their experiences in the United States and their impact on American history and culture, will be examined.   What did this hard-working, fun-loving people bring to us from "the old country" and what impact on American culture can be attributed to the Irish influence?

Jean Bowler, MA received her Master’s degree from Dominican University of California.  Her thesis on the Battle of Saipan (June 1944), reflected a life-long interest in military history.  A native of Marin County, she has taught several history classes with the OLLI program.
Thursdays, April 19 – May 24, 2012
10:15 – 12:00 p.m. (6 classes)
Location: Osher Marin Jewish Community Center
                 200 N. San Pedro Rd San Rafael

Theater Appreciation Club
This club will meet three times during the Spring Session.  Its purpose is to give members the opportunity to sample the excellent and varied community theater that exists in the North Bay.  Class meetings will be used to discuss playwrights and upcoming performances. Registrants for the course must purchase all theater tickets. 

Moderator: Sandy Levitan, MA

Thursdays, April 26; May 10, 24
3:45 – 5:15 p.m. (3 classes)
Location: Library 207, Dominican Campus
Cost: Basic and Session Members pay $30
Maximum of 25 participants

Fridays

The Case Against Democracy
The American political experiment is based on the assumption that government is answerable neither to a monarch nor to an aristocratic class, nor even to God. Instead, it is assumed that the legitimacy of government is rooted in the consent of the governed.   But— it's that season again. Here at the beginning of the 21^st century, doubts are finding forceful assertion― doubts about the capacity of ordinary citizens to govern themselves, to take charge of the processes of history. The course will review these doubts, doubts that serve as the basis of the case against democracy, from a historical perspective. The assumption of the course is that, in order to effectively refute the various arguments against democracy, we must be familiar with those arguments— we must be aware of their philosophical and anthropological bases, we must be aware of the values on which they are founded, we must be aware of the grounds of their persistent appeal.

Bill Garrett, PhD, is Professor of Philosophy and Religion at John F. Kennedy University.  He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees in philosophy from San Francisco State University, and his Ph.D. in religion and philosophy from the California Institute of Integral Studies.  He has for the past 36 years taught courses in the history of ideas, including courses in religion, culture, philosophy, and literature. For the past ten years, he has taught at various venues of the Osher Lifelong Learning Program, and at the Fromm Institute in San Francisco.  In 2005, he published Bad Karma: Thinking Twice about Reincarnation, released by the University Press of America. He has recently published Marie Stopes: Feminist, Eroticist, Eugenicist, released in 2007. He is presently working on a book on evolutionary theory.
Fridays, April 20 – May 25, 2012
10:15 – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Margaret Todd Senior Center
                1560 Hill Rd Novato

Ethics and Modernity: Our Search for Meaning
In these times of flux and transition the fundamental concepts of right and wrong and the ethical foundations of our culture are either ignored or under siege.  Join us as we study a blend of classical, ancient and contemporary ethicists / philosophers and apply their standards and insights. We will discuss the search for meaning in the way we live, speak, shop and vote.

Henry Shreibman, PhD, Rabbi, DD, has been an adjunct faculty member over the last three years at Dominican University and UC Davis in Comparative Religion, History, Ethics, and Philosophy.  In 2008 Shreibman was awarded the Teacher of the Year at Dominican University as an adjunct. He served as the Head of School of Brandeis Hillel Day School for 13 years and was on the governing board of the California Association of Independent Schools.  Dr. Shreibman has been an observer of changes in the Middle East, having lived, worked and travelled in Israel and Egypt and as a member of the peace movement known as Peace Now.
Fridays, April 20 – May 25, 2012
1:30 – 3:15 p.m. (6 classes)
Location: Congregation Kol Shofar
                 215 Blackfield Dr. Tiburon

Saturdays

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution: An Exploration
What is the philosophical background of the Declaration of Independence and what is the crucial link between the Declaration and the Constitution, written eleven years later? What are the messages and assumptions of the Constitution and how has the Constitution changed over the last 225 years?  In this course, we will address these and other important questions regarding the two most important foundational documents of our Republic.

Hank Fearnley, PhD, has taught History and Political Science at the college level for over thirty-five years, most of which has been spent at the College of Marin.  He received an M.A. in History from Georgetown University and a Ph.D. in History from U.C. Santa Barbara   In 1999 he received a Fulbright-Hays Scholarship to study the impact of globalization on Malaysian and Singaporean politics and society.  Professor Fearnley has been honored with numerous teaching awards from Alpha Gamma Sigma, the College of Marin student honor society.
Saturdays, April 14 – May 26, 2012
10:00 – 11:45 a.m. (6 classes) No class on May 12 (make-up class will be held on May 26)
Location: Guzman Lecture Hall, Dominican Campus

Summer 2012
July 10 – August 2, 2012

 Tuesdays

When the Brain Goes Awry
When the brain is healthy it functions smoothly and automatically. However, the brain is a delicate organ, and despite the protection of the skull, it can be damaged in several ways. In addition, the brain, like the rest of the body is susceptible to numerous diseases. This course will cover (i) the normal functioning of the healthy brain, (ii) what happens when things go wrong inside the brain, and (iii) what is science doing to treat brain disorders.

Mohammad El Majdoubi, PhD earned his doctorate in Neuroscience and Pharmacology from the University of Bordeaux, France. He completed his Post-Doctoral Training at the University of Pittsburgh before joining the University of California San Francisco as a Research Scientist and Director of the Morphology Core Facility.  Dr. Majdoubi is currently an Associate Professor of Neurobiology at Dominican University of California, where his research is focused on the neuroendocrine differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells.
Tuesdays, July 10 – July 31, 2012
10:50 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. (4 classes)
Location: Guzman Lecture Hall, Dominican Campus

Thursdays

The Wilder World of Billy Wilder
A Jewish refugee from Hitler’s Europe, Billy Wilder fled Berlin for Hollywood in the mid 1930’s, and within a few years he was one of its most extraordinary and versatile writer-directors.  His deft command of American vernacular and his acerbic wit infused high drama (Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard) and raucous comedy (Some Like It Hot), often combining both (The Apartment).  This course will analyze his five-decade career using clips from his films.

Richard Peterson is Director of Programming for the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center, a three-screen cinema owned and operated by the California Film Institute, the non-profit organization that also produces the annual Mill Valley Film Festival. He has presented programs and series at the Rafael since the beautifully restored theater’s re-opening in April 1999. Previously, Peterson served as Film and Video Curator at Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Artistic Director for the USA Film Festival in Dallas and Curator of the Hollywood Entertainment Museum. He has taught film history on the university level and published essays and criticism.
Thursdays, July 12 – August 2, 2012
10:50 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. (4 classes)
Location: Guzman Lecture Hall, Dominican Campus