by bartmann | Mar 12, 2025
Forests represent some of the planet’s most vital ecosystems, covering substantial areas and significantly influencing human society and the global economy. However, human activities, especially climate change, are profoundly reshaping forest structures and functions....
by bartmann | Mar 12, 2025
This course explores the pressing issue of political tribalism, often known as affective polarization, which many believe poses a significant threat to our democratic institutions. We will critically examine the nature of these tribalistic ideologies, drawing insights...
by bartmann | Mar 12, 2025
Russia has never gotten Pasternak’s Dr. Zhivago out of its system. This course will take us deep into the most controversial novel written during the Soviet era. Tolstoyan in its sweep, Dr. Zhivago is a stunning indictment of the system that attempted to engineer...
by bartmann | Oct 10, 2024
In this engaging four-week course, we delve into Antonín Dvořák’s iconic Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, celebrated as one of the greatest contributions to the cello repertoire. Through captivating presentations and live performances, participants will journey...
by bartmann | Oct 10, 2024
Eating is not merely a biological function but a fascinating behavior that reflects the intricate relationship between humans and their food. Unlike other species, humans profoundly transform their food, from cultivating wild apples to crafting them into diverse...
by bartmann | Oct 10, 2024
This course delves into the divergent perspectives of America as depicted by Edward Hopper and Norman Rockwell. Rockwell captures the nation’s warmth and unity, while Hopper exposes its solitude. We will examine how their portrayals of color, class, and gender...
by bartmann | Oct 10, 2024
Unlike comedy and tragedy, the history play was a recent form when Shakespeare turned to it. Depending on the play’s historical sources, the plot could follow either a tragic or a comic pattern and conclude either in resolution and triumph or in conflict and defeat....
by bartmann | Oct 10, 2024
In “Hawai`i’s Ancient Past,” we delve into the islands’ rich history and evolution—spanning natural phenomena, the Polynesian settlers, and the unique ecosystem developed in isolation. Through interdisciplinary research including biology,...
by bartmann | Oct 10, 2024
“Using one word for another isn’t special; it’s what we do all the time. Translators just do it in two languages,” professor and translator David Bellos has written. In this course, we will explore literature from around the world, gaining deeper insight by examining...
by bartmann | Oct 10, 2024
This course delves into the millennia-old partnership between humans and horses, revealing how it has influenced transportation, sports, and warfare. We’ll explore the evolution and science behind horse movement, highlighting its impact on society. Special...
by bartmann | Oct 10, 2024
Christianity is no longer primarily a western religion. In 1900, 82 percent of all Christians lived in Europe and North America. Today, that percentage has shrunk to 30 percent. Still, there are now just as many Christians across the world as there were in 1900. What...
by bartmann | Oct 10, 2024
Explore the concept of collective intelligence, where group behavior leads to efficient problem-solving. Discover how natural and engineered systems, like ant colonies, cellular societies, and computer networks, exhibit intelligent behaviors similar to human...
by bartmann | Oct 10, 2024
This seminar will be taught by several professors in the Department of German Studies. Classes will focus on areas of each professor’s expertise and range from the Middle Ages to contemporary German literature, culture, and language. Key topics include medieval...
by bartmann | Oct 10, 2024
This course will explore four contemporary novels by four women authors inspired by Homer’s two great epics The Iliad and The Odyssey. Inheriting an almost 3000-year-old literary legacy, the last 25 years have seen an astonishing profusion of Homer-inspired creative...
by bartmann | Oct 10, 2024
Embark on a captivating journey through the intricacies of Zen Buddhism. This course offers an in-depth exploration of its rich history, core tenets, and relevance in both Eastern and Western societies. Delve into a diverse array of perspectives, from philosophy and...
by bartmann | Oct 10, 2024
In this seminar, we will explore how democratic ways of living can help us sustain democracy in dark times. Our country has been characterized as a “faltering” democracy for more than a decade by international monitoring groups. Commentators have focused on the rise...
by bartmann | Jun 14, 2024
In this course, we will explore the Renaissance via the life and literary genius of Francesco Petrarca, famously known as Petrarch. Considered the father of the Italian Renaissance, Petrarch’s scholarship and advocacy for the importance of classical Rome were...
by bartmann | Jun 14, 2024
This course seeks to break down the controversies surrounding Critical Race Theory. We begin by defining the many terms that have moved out of scholarly circles and into the headlines, social media, and school board and legislative debates: critical race...
by bartmann | Jun 14, 2024
The 1920s are frequently romanticized in popular culture as an era of unprecedented freedom and flamboyance, with images of flappers and clandestine speakeasies serving bootleg liquor. While some of that is accurate, this portrayal only scratches the surface of a...
by bartmann | Jun 14, 2024
China’s rich history often remains elusive to the Western world. This course will shed light on the history of thought in China and provide students with a solid framework for future engagement and understanding. We will explore China’s key intellectual...
