-
Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 08-11-2022 to 08-11-2022Day(s) of the week: ThursdayTime: 09:30 AM-11:00 AM Central TimeInstructor: Dan ShermanTerm: OELocation: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisAlthough some might think classical music is removed from the world of politics, there has long been a political overtone to how classical music is presented and its performers received. This (non-political!) class will discuss fascinating history of how classical music has interacted with larger political history in the two world wars and in particular the... read moreAlthough some might think classical music is removed from the world of politics, there has long been a political overtone to how classical music is presented and its performers received. This (non-political!) class will discuss fascinating history of how classical music has interacted with larger political history in the two world wars and in particular the Cold War. The course will cover roughly 100 years from the First World War, and include material related to the current situation in the Ukraine. -
Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 08-11-2022 to 08-11-2022Day(s) of the week: ThursdayTime: 12:00 PM-01:30 PM Central TimeInstructor: David LindauerTerm: OELocation: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisTo promote the success of the Allied landings on D-Day, British and American planners organized an enormous array of deceptions to distract the Germans and draw their attention away from the real landings. This presentation looks at those plans, how they were conceived and the many ruses, plants, and false information used to protect the plans'... read moreTo promote the success of the Allied landings on D-Day, British and American planners organized an enormous array of deceptions to distract the Germans and draw their attention away from the real landings. This presentation looks at those plans, how they were conceived and the many ruses, plants, and false information used to protect the plans' security. -
Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 08-12-2022 to 08-12-2022Day(s) of the week: FridayTime: 09:30 AM-11:00 AM Central TimeInstructor: Steven Gimbel, Professor of Philosophy, Gettysburg CollegeTerm: OELocation: Zoom - Washington Metro OasisIsaac Newton created the most important scientific theory in history. This theory not only accounted for the falling of apples and the motion of planets, but gave rise to a scientific worldview that many thought could explain everything. But that result bothered Newton, who thought it squeezed God out of the picture. We will explore Newton's life, science,... read moreIsaac Newton created the most important scientific theory in history. This theory not only accounted for the falling of apples and the motion of planets, but gave rise to a scientific worldview that many thought could explain everything. But that result bothered Newton, who thought it squeezed God out of the picture. We will explore Newton's life, science, and beliefs to see the genius behind the science.
-
Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 09-29-2022 to 09-29-2022Day(s) of the week: ThursdayTime: 09:30 AM-11:30 AM Central TimeInstructor: David LindauerTerm: OELocation: Zoom -Washington Metro OasisThe Mongol Horde enjoyed a fearsome reputation as a largely undefeated fighting force. They conquered China, terrorized Eastern Europe, sacked Baghdad, and attacked the Mamluks in Egypt. Their military prowess won them the largest contiguous land empire in history: Their conquests stretched from Eastern Europe to the Pacific Ocean. This course takes a look... read moreThe Mongol Horde enjoyed a fearsome reputation as a largely undefeated fighting force. They conquered China, terrorized Eastern Europe, sacked Baghdad, and attacked the Mamluks in Egypt. Their military prowess won them the largest contiguous land empire in history: Their conquests stretched from Eastern Europe to the Pacific Ocean. This course takes a look at how a small Asiatic tribe was able to accomplish all this and exercise an influence that lasted for more than 300 years over world history. -
Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 09-29-2022 to 09-29-2022Day(s) of the week: ThursdayTime: 12:00 PM-01:30 PM Central TimeInstructor: Denver Brunsman, Associate Chair, Department of History, George Washington UniversityTerm: OELocation: Zoom -Washington Metro OasisIn recent years, few eras have received more historical attention than Reconstruction, typically defined as the period between 1865 and 1877. Historians have particularly examined why America failed to realize racial equality in the aftermath of the Civil War. Oasis regular Professor Denver Brunsman of George Washington University will share the recent... read moreIn recent years, few eras have received more historical attention than Reconstruction, typically defined as the period between 1865 and 1877. Historians have particularly examined why America failed to realize racial equality in the aftermath of the Civil War. Oasis regular Professor Denver Brunsman of George Washington University will share the recent insights by scholars about what Reconstruction accomplished and did not accomplish. In addition, Professor Brunsman will explain why the period following the Civil War was critical to the growth of Washington, DC, as a vibrant national capital.
-
Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 10-06-2022 to 10-06-2022Day(s) of the week: ThursdayTime: 09:30 AM-11:00 AM Central TimeInstructor: Steven Gimbel, Professor of Philosophy, Gettysburg CollegeTerm: OELocation: Zoom -Washington Metro OasisJames Clerk Maxwell is as important to the history of physics as Einstein, Newton, and Galileo, yet his name is little known. We will examine both his physics (his theories of electricity and magnetism and his establishment of the existence of molecules) and his life (his working class background, his religion, his taking of the first color photograph in... read moreJames Clerk Maxwell is as important to the history of physics as Einstein, Newton, and Galileo, yet his name is little known. We will examine both his physics (his theories of electricity and magnetism and his establishment of the existence of molecules) and his life (his working class background, his religion, his taking of the first color photograph in history) so that this eccentric genius gets the credit he deserves. -
Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 10-07-2022 to 10-07-2022Day(s) of the week: FridayTime: 09:30 AM-11:00 AM Central TimeInstructor: Barbara Paulson, European Travel SpecialistTerm: OELocation: Zoom -Washington Metro OasisVersailles? Been there, done that. But still looking for what to do outside of Paris for a day or two? Check out another royal residence at Fontainebleau (e.g., Louis VII, Napoleon who resigned here); famous artists’ homes in Giverny and Auvers-Sur-Oise (Monet, and van Gogh, respectively); a nearly 1000-year old tapestry in Bayeux (Normandy); small group... read moreVersailles? Been there, done that. But still looking for what to do outside of Paris for a day or two? Check out another royal residence at Fontainebleau (e.g., Louis VII, Napoleon who resigned here); famous artists’ homes in Giverny and Auvers-Sur-Oise (Monet, and van Gogh, respectively); a nearly 1000-year old tapestry in Bayeux (Normandy); small group tours of private champagne makers in Reims, and the mustard capitol – Dijon. European Travel Specialist Barbara Paulson offers you some Paris day trip options.
-
Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 10-07-2022 to 10-07-2022Day(s) of the week: FridayTime: 12:00 PM-01:30 PM Central TimeInstructor: Richard BellTerm: OELocation: Zoom -Washington Metro OasisDid the American Revolution make ordinary working people happy? How did their inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness change in the immediate aftermath of the war? In this talk’s first half University of Maryland historian Richard Bell focuses on working white people in port cities like Boston, New York, and Philadelphia and asks... read moreDid the American Revolution make ordinary working people happy? How did their inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness change in the immediate aftermath of the war? In this talk’s first half University of Maryland historian Richard Bell focuses on working white people in port cities like Boston, New York, and Philadelphia and asks whether post-war peace eased the economic hardships and insecurities the conflict itself had brought on and whether the end of the fighting ushered in a new economic order in which people on the bottom could not only pursue prosperity but actually achieve it. Then, in the talk’s second half, we pivot to examine the postwar struggles of rural folk, the farmers who accounted for the majority of America’s white population. Our mission is to get to the bottom of Daniel Shays’ Rebellion, a 1786 uprising by 2,200 western farmers and veterans to overthrow the Massachusetts government and burn Boston to the ground. -
Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 10-13-2022 to 10-13-2022Day(s) of the week: ThursdayTime: 12:00 PM-01:15 PM Central TimeInstructor: Brian RoseTerm: OELocation: Zoom -Washington Metro OasisFrom the earliest days of television, making people laugh was one the central goals of TV programmers. Successful radio formats like the sitcom and the comedy/variety show moved to television in the late 1940s, joined a few years later by the late night comedy talk show. For the next seven decades, these three formats dominated the airwaves. This... read moreFrom the earliest days of television, making people laugh was one the central goals of TV programmers. Successful radio formats like the sitcom and the comedy/variety show moved to television in the late 1940s, joined a few years later by the late night comedy talk show. For the next seven decades, these three formats dominated the airwaves. This presentation will survey the extraordinary landscape of American TV comedy, examining how comedy changed from the vaudeville shtick of Milton Berle and the slapstick artistry of Lucille Ball to the social satire of Saturday Night Live and the self-reflexive absurdities of David Letterman and The Simpsons.
-
Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 10-19-2022 to 10-19-2022Day(s) of the week: WednesdayTime: 12:00 PM-01:30 PM Central TimeInstructor: Daryl Davis, MusicianTerm: OELocation: Zoom -Washington Metro OasisWolfgang Amadeus Mozart was the child prodigy par excellence, playing songs on the harpsichord at four years old and composing simple music at five. Musicians like Mozart don't come along often, but every once in a great while, another prodigy emerges whose abilities rival the most experienced masters. This class will introduce you to some of the most... read moreWolfgang Amadeus Mozart was the child prodigy par excellence, playing songs on the harpsichord at four years old and composing simple music at five. Musicians like Mozart don't come along often, but every once in a great while, another prodigy emerges whose abilities rival the most experienced masters. This class will introduce you to some of the most impressive yet unsung musicians who will leave you in awe.
-
Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 10-20-2022 to 10-20-2022Day(s) of the week: ThursdayTime: 09:30 AM-11:00 AM Central TimeInstructor: Bonita Billman, Art History LecturerTerm: OELocation: Zoom -Washington Metro OasisYou may feel you have been here before, for Waddesdon was an inspiration for Biltmore in Ashville, NC. Part of the National Trust. Waddesdon Manor, built by the Rothschild family, is full of English Grand Manner portraits, French furniture and Sevres porcelain and countless other treasures. We’ll take a tour of the house, and revel in the art objects,... read moreYou may feel you have been here before, for Waddesdon was an inspiration for Biltmore in Ashville, NC. Part of the National Trust. Waddesdon Manor, built by the Rothschild family, is full of English Grand Manner portraits, French furniture and Sevres porcelain and countless other treasures. We’ll take a tour of the house, and revel in the art objects, the architecture and garden.
-
Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 10-20-2022 to 10-20-2022Day(s) of the week: ThursdayTime: 12:00 PM-01:00 PM Central TimeInstructor: Danny FingerothTerm: OELocation: Zoom -Washington Metro OasisStan Lee was the most famous American comic book creator who ever lived. Thanks to his many cameos in Marvel movies and TV shows, he was and remains the voice and face of comics and popular culture. Lee created world-famous characters including Spider-Man, the Avengers, and the Hulk, but his life was haunted by conflict and controversy. Join Danny... read moreStan Lee was the most famous American comic book creator who ever lived. Thanks to his many cameos in Marvel movies and TV shows, he was and remains the voice and face of comics and popular culture. Lee created world-famous characters including Spider-Man, the Avengers, and the Hulk, but his life was haunted by conflict and controversy. Join Danny Fingeroth, author of “A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee,” to learn about the man who changed the world’s ideas of what a hero is and how a story should be told.
-
Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 10-24-2022 to 10-24-2022Day(s) of the week: MondayTime: 09:30 AM-11:00 AM Central TimeInstructor: Richard BellTerm: OELocation: Zoom -Washington Metro OasisSalem, 1692: Two young girls living in the household of one of the town’s ministers are acted strangely—having fits. The doctor is called and he tells the minister that his girls are suffering from the action of the Devil’s ‘Evil Hand’ upon them. Join University of Maryland historian Dr. Richard Bell for a deep dive into witch-hunting in early... read moreSalem, 1692: Two young girls living in the household of one of the town’s ministers are acted strangely—having fits. The doctor is called and he tells the minister that his girls are suffering from the action of the Devil’s ‘Evil Hand’ upon them. Join University of Maryland historian Dr. Richard Bell for a deep dive into witch-hunting in early America. We’ll begin at the beginning: What did people in colonial America believe about witch-craft and how did they try to hunt it and fight it? What were the hall-marks of an American witch-hunt and why is the outbreak of witch-hunting in one sleepy port town in Massachusetts in 1692 still so well-known today? We’ll examine that infamous episode in depth, probing its most troubling corners. Why did that tragic episode in Salem claim so many innocent lives? Did anyone face justice for their role in perpetrating this outrage? And how have historians tried to explain the peculiar dynamics, impact, and legacy of what happened in Salem? -
Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 10-25-2022 to 10-25-2022Day(s) of the week: TuesdayTime: 09:30 AM-11:00 AM Central TimeInstructor: Dan ShermanTerm: OELocation: Zoom -Washington Metro OasisPerhaps best known as America’s first star conductor, Leonard Bernstein was an accomplished composer whose works were sometimes criticized for eclecticism as they drew from many sources including jazz and Jewish liturgical music. This course will review Bernstein’s career as composer outside of the theatre and place it in tradition of American... read morePerhaps best known as America’s first star conductor, Leonard Bernstein was an accomplished composer whose works were sometimes criticized for eclecticism as they drew from many sources including jazz and Jewish liturgical music. This course will review Bernstein’s career as composer outside of the theatre and place it in tradition of American “classical” music, including works of Charles Ives and Bernstein’s mentor Aaron Copland. The class will include numerous performance clips, including some from Bernstein’s legendary “Young People’s Concerts.” -
Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 10-26-2022 to 10-26-2022Day(s) of the week: WednesdayTime: 12:00 PM-01:30 PM Central TimeInstructor: Barbara Paulson, European Travel SpecialistTerm: OELocation: Zoom -Washington Metro OasisWelcome to this introduction to Spain’s southern fugue of cultures and geography - a Catholic church fully enclosed in an Islamic mosque; bustling cities (e.g., Seville and Granada), mountain villages (e.g., Ronda and Mijas), and sunny beaches (e.g., Marbella and Estepona); bullfighting and flamenco; world-class art and Picasso’s birthplace; a wild-life... read moreWelcome to this introduction to Spain’s southern fugue of cultures and geography - a Catholic church fully enclosed in an Islamic mosque; bustling cities (e.g., Seville and Granada), mountain villages (e.g., Ronda and Mijas), and sunny beaches (e.g., Marbella and Estepona); bullfighting and flamenco; world-class art and Picasso’s birthplace; a wild-life refuge that serves game; and local markets and orange trees everywhere. These are just some of the highlights of this virtual visit hosted by European Travel Specialist Barbara Paulson.
-
Sessions: 1Class Date(s): 10-27-2022 to 10-27-2022Day(s) of the week: ThursdayTime: 09:30 AM-11:00 AM Central TimeInstructor: Melvin Goodman, Adjunct Professor, Int'l Relations, Johns Hopkins Univ.Term: OELocation: Zoom -Washington Metro OasisThere have been major changes in the geopolitics of the Middle East. The United States is trying to “pivot” to Asia; Iran has expanded its presence in neighboring states; and Israel has concluded diplomatic and commercial arrangements with Arab states. What does this... read moreThere have been major changes in the geopolitics of the Middle East. The United States is trying to “pivot” to Asia; Iran has expanded its presence in neighboring states; and Israel has concluded diplomatic and commercial arrangements with Arab states. What does this portend?