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May 19 Monday10:00 am – 12:00 pm Sessions: 1Instructor: Michael FarisLocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisJoin us for an engaging and thought-provoking session on the Futurism art movement and its complex relationship with fascism. This presentation will delve into the origins and key characteristics of Futurism, a 20th-century avant-garde movement that emphasized speed, technology, youth, and... read more
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May 19 – June 2 Monday10:00 am – 11:00 am Sessions: 3Instructor: David WoodruffLocation: Zoom - Rochester OasisDancer and Spy for Hire She never held any high political office. Didn’t invent any new technology or make a scientific discovery. She had such an impact on society that people still talk about her… over 100 years after her death. Beaten and abused, she made her own rules in a time dominated by men. Mata Hari was a woman who refused to conform to the... read more
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May 20 Tuesday9:30 am – 10:45 am Sessions: 1Instructor: Tyler Anbinder, Emeritus Professor of History, The George Washington UniversityLocation: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisHow similar are the experiences of our immigrant ancestors to those of current immigrants to the United States? Tyler Anbinder, emeritus professor of history at The George Washington University, and the author of four books on American immigration history, will compare today's immigrants to the great waves of immigrants from Ireland, Italy, and Russia who... read more
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May 20 Tuesday10:30 am – 11:45 am Sessions: 1Instructor: Johnny RabbitLocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisIn this class we will explore the first broadcasts from the 1904 World's Fair as well as other key broadcast moments in Saint Louis. These will include Saint Louis University's experimental station during World War II, the first commercial AM and FM stations, KMOX's 100-year anniversary, and more. I will also provide insight into my 71-year broadcasting... read more
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May 20 Tuesday12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Sessions: 1Instructor: Steven Gimbel, Professor of Philosophy, Gettysburg CollegeLocation: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisThe founding of Western thought traces back to a group of thinkers from Greece, Turkey, and Italy in the 4th century B.C.E.. They crafted not only theories about the nature of reality, but mathematical puzzles and ethical conundrums. Heraclitus thought that change was the essence of being, but Parmenides disagreed holding change to be impossible and his... read more
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May 20 Tuesday1:00 pm – 1:45 pm Sessions: 1Instructor: Mary BartlingLocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisBeyond the science fiction tropes in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five, there are key moments which address the devastation caused by war's aftermath. Join us to explore how the novel's non-linear, time-traveling structure mirrors the disorienting effects of PTSD, a condition many soldiers face due to their wartime... read more
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May 21 Wednesday12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Sessions: 1Instructor: Joan Hart, Art History Instructor, Museum One, Inc.Location: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisGustav Klimt symbolizes the height of Viennese art at the beginning of the 20th century---an unusually creative and innovative period in painting, music, and literature. At the core of his works are the iconic The Kiss and his “golden” portraits of the Viennese super-rich such as the $135 million dollar masterpiece of Adele Bloch-Bauer. This program... read more
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May 22 Thursday9:30 am – 11:00 am Sessions: 1Instructor: Seth Kibel, Musician and ComposerLocation: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisExplore the music and lives of two of the most iconic 20th century bluesmen - Robert Johnson, who may, or may not, have sold his soul to the devil, and McKinley Morganfield, better known as "Muddy Waters," who took the blues and "plugged it in" for a new generation. Classic recordings, video clips and live performances from the instructor will keep this... read more
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May 22 Thursday12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Sessions: 1Instructor: Denver Brunsman, Associate Chair, Department of History, George Washington UniversityLocation: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisProfessor Denver Brunsman will salute the founding mothers, sisters, and daughters who assisted George Washington in bringing to life the United States. Raised by a resilient single mother, Washington secured his status as an elite gentleman and political leader through his marriage to the wealthy widow Martha Dandridge Custis. As one of America’s few... read more
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May 22 Thursday1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Sessions: 1Instructor: Amanda HunterLocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisJoin Amanda Hunter on a captivating journey through the icy waters of the High Arctic, where fascinating marine mammals thrive in one of the planet’s most extreme environments. Discover ice-dwelling whales, social seals, and the formidable polar bear—the King of the Arctic. Learn about their extraordinary adaptations, survival strategies, and vital... read more
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May 22 Thursday1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Sessions: 1Instructor: Richard LoscialeLocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisLove has no age limit! This class helps seniors navigate dating with confidence, focusing on fresh starts, meaningful connections, and personal growth. Explore key topics like setting realistic expectations, and the benefits of maturity in relationships. Through interactive activities, you'll define your ideal partner, reflect on personal strengths, and... read more
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May 27 Tuesday11:00 am – 12:00 pm Sessions: 1Instructor: Bev SchuetzLocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisFrom humble beginnings as an impoverished immigrant, Joseph Pulitzer rose to build a newspaper empire, beginning in St. Louis. Despite battling ill health, eventual blindness, and a mysterious debilitating condition, he revolutionized journalism, established the first school of journalism, and created the prestigious Pulitzer Prizes. His remarkable legacy... read more
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May 27 Tuesday12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Sessions: 1Instructor: Allen Pietrobon, Asst. Professor/Global Affairs, Trinity Univ.Location: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisCrippling economic problems. Factory automation leading to job losses. Fears related to mass immigration that led to crackdowns and bans. Corporate titans cozying up to politicians. Sound like 2025? Actually, we’re talking about America in 1875-1900, “The Gilded Age,” when Americans grew increasingly divided and angry at their political leaders. The... read more
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May 27 Tuesday1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Sessions: 1Instructor: Mary MuellerLocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisWe all know that as users of technology devices and websites, we are vulnerable to data hacks, scammers, and prolific advertising. Sometimes, ads and emails come in so targeted to our personal lives that we think someone has read our minds. While there is no way to guard our privacy and personal data perfectly, we CAN do things that tighten our security.... read more
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May 27 Tuesday2:00 pm – 3:30 pm Sessions: 1Instructor: Rowena McClinton, Ph.DLocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisJourney into St. Louis’ past as a booming fur trade hub! By the mid-1700s, the city thrived with 1,000 residents, safeguarded by Pierre Chouteau’s alliance with the Osage Nation. But after Lewis and Clark’s 1806 expedition, U.S. expansion ignited fierce competition. Manuel Lisa and John Jacob Astor built vast trading empires, stretching from St. Louis... read more
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May 28 Wednesday9:30 am – 11:00 am Sessions: 1Instructor: George Scheper, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, Advanced Academic Programs, School of Arts and Sciences, JHULocation: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisTravel to the heights of the Peruvian Andes to the spectacular archaeological site of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Over the centuries, Machu Picchu has acquired archaeological and historical importance, of mythic and symbolic significance. We’ll tour the main structures of this lost city and... read more
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May 28 Wednesday12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Sessions: 1Instructor: Joan Hart, Art History Instructor, Museum One, Inc.Location: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisWould you like to learn about some of the visionary artists of Canada, our neighbor to the North? This program will be focusing on the Group of Seven, famed for their dramatic and striking landscapes inspired by the Canadian wilderness. You may not have heard of artists like Franklin Carmichael or J.E.H. MacDonald or Lawren Harris who worked mainly in the... read more
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May 29 – June 12 Thursday9:30 am – 11:00 am Sessions: 3Instructor: Gideon Amir, Hebrew ScholarLocation: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisIn this three-part course, we will explore biblical texts that are often misinterpreted or more nuanced than they appear at first glance. Some passages say something quite different from common belief, while others remain deliberately ambiguous, allowing for multiple interpretations shaped by tradition. Drawing inspiration from From Gods to God by Avigdor... read more
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May 29 Thursday9:30 am – 11:00 am Sessions: 1Instructor: Cynthia Peterman, Museum Teacher Fellow, US Holocaust Memorial MuseumLocation: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisIn 1944, the Roosevelt administration established the War Refugee Board to rescue and provide temporary relief to victims of World War II and the Holocaust. The Emergency Refugee Shelter at Ft. Ontario was the only place in the United States designated as a refuge. Why this happened so late in the war, why there was only one place in the U.S. for refugees,... read more
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May 29 Thursday10:00 am – 12:00 pm Sessions: 1Instructor: Carol Diaz-GranadosLocation: Zoom - St. Louis OasisThis class will cover the major cultures of the Four Corners region of the American Southwest (Arizona, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico). We will take a look at both the outstanding artifacts and the amazing architecture found... read more