| Omnilore -- CSUDH's Peer-Taught Learning
in Retirement Organization
CSUDH-OLLI Peer-led Courses
OLLI-CSUDH (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Cal State
University Dominguez Hills) is a lifelong learning organization
capable of offering a broad array of non credit, intellectually
stimulating educational experiences. These experiences include
peer-led study/discussion courses, facilitator-led courses,
educational lectures, short courses and workshops (including
computer classes and career-transition programs), special
events, and day trips and travel opportunities. Membership
in this organization also affords access to selected university
resources such as library, department symposia, Open University
discounts, and other benefits.
Omnilore is a program of OLLI-CSUDH. Study/discussion groups
form the core of the Omnilore program. A study/discussion
course consists of between eight and sixteen members who research
and discuss a given subject. There is no instructor, but members
act as coordinators.
Attendance at orientation required prior to registration.
OLLI members pay additional fee of $90 to register for the
year.
Learn more at omnilore.org.
Schedule of Fall 2008 Peer-led Courses
The Fabric of America
How did a few small badly managed European colonies in a virgin
wilderness inhabited by tribes of stone-age cultures become
the most advanced, wealthiest and powerful nation in the history
of the world? From our early schooling in American history
and geography we learned of the first settlements in what
later became this great nation. Find out about the power residing
in the borders and boundaries that, piece by piece, formed
states and a nation, and also inspired the sense of identity
that has ever since been central to the American character.
Today’s national boundary is only the outermost layer
in a pattern of lines that make up the political fabric of
the United States.
As Americans pushed westward, the borders established by
surveyors such as Andrew Ellicott, perhaps the country’s
greatest surveyor, around whose exploits The Fabric of America
revolves created property, uniting people in a desire for
the government and laws that would protect it. What Americanized
the immigrants was not the frontier experiences, but the fact
that it took place inside the United States frontier. Those
same lines had the ability to divide as well as unite, as
the great battle over internal boundaries during the Civil
War would show.
Presentations can be made on the biographies of the individuals
influencing these boundaries as well as analysis of the events
that shaped them.
Common Reading: The Fabric of America: How Our borders
and Boundaries Shaped the Country and Forged Our National
Identity, by Andro Linklater (Walker & Co., 2007,
316pp.)
How Culture Shapes Nations
Learn how culture can affect a nation’s development
for better or worse. We’ll examine what success means
in this context and, through dramatic contemporary case studies,
determine whether there is an emerging cultural model that
can lead to a better world for our children. We’ll tackle
the question of which cultural values and religions are most
conducive to social justice and prosperity and take a look
at the factors that trigger cultural change. We’ll see
what happens when culture and politics collide in such countries
as China and Russia and why economic progress moves at a snail’s
pace in Latin America. You’ll come away with a better
understanding of the importance of culture to a nation’s
success and the role of good public policy in shaping a nation’s
economic and political future. Members will research and give
presentations on topics of interest, and discuss sections
of the core text.
Common Reading: The Central Liberal Truth: How Politics
Can Change a Culture and Save It from Itself, by Lawrence
E. Harrison (Oxford Univ. Press, 2006)
Supplemental Reference (not required, suggestion for presentation
research):
Culture Matters, by Lawrence Harrison and Samuel
P. Huntington (Basic Books, 2000)
The U.S. Constitution, Applying It To America’s
Problems – Past, Present And Future
The U.S. Constitution is one of the greatest political documents
ever written. We need to be reminded of the Constitution’s
amazing resilience and adaptability, how essential it is to
our nationhood, and why it’s important for the country
to rekindle the Constitutional Conscience as we face the challenges
of the 21st century. This S/DG will explore the collective
genius that created our Constitution and how the genuine political
genius of Madison enables today’s majority to rule without
ruining the rights of the minority. We’ll study the
troubled state of contemporary American politics and consider
how we can rectify America within the structure of a constitutional
system predicated more on the pursuit of self-interest than
the spread of republican virtues. Topics for presentation
might include: historical influences on formation of the Constitution;
politics and ideas in the making of the Constitution; issues
with ratification; biographies of James Madison, Alexander
Hamilton, John Jay, Roger Sherman; what the Constitution meant
to early Americans; the Constitution and the New Deal; the
Constitution and Watergate; the Constitution and Issues for
the 21st century.
Common Reading: The Genius of America, How the Constitution
Saved Our Country and Why It Can Again, by Eric Lane
and Michael Oreskes (Bloomsbury USA, 2007)
Making a Difference: How One Person Can Change the
World
In a world that has so much need and where Government support
is declining, there are many inspiring stories of individuals
who have made a difference with their commitment and passion.
Some of these individuals are well known and have ample resources
– the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation or Oprah Winfrey’s
support for an African girls’ school, for example. Others
are less well known and struggle for funding. Two examples
of the latter are Dr. Paul Farmer’s quest to rid the
world of tuberculosis and AIDS, which is documented in Tracy
Kidder’s book Mountains Beyond Mountains, and Greg Mortenson’s
remarkable work in building schools, especially for young
girls, in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan, as described
in his book, Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote
Peace . . . One School at a Time.
Former President Bill Clinton has written about these men
and many other similar efforts in his book Giving: How Each
of Us Can Change the World. Each member of this S/DG will
research and present one such story. The discussions will
center around how each of us can make our own difference.
Common Reading: Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the
World, by Bill Clinton, 256 pages
Beyond the Epic: The Life And Films of David Lean
David Lean has been called one of the greatest narrative
film directors of the 20th Century. Film historian Gene D.
Phillips's "Beyond the Epic: The Life & Films of
David Lean" places the cinematic achievements of David
lean into proper perspective - one that accords Lean the high
place he deserves among twentieth century filmmakers. Among
his movies are the panoramic classics "Dr. Zhivago"
and "Lawrence of Arabia"; "Great Expectations"
and "Passage to India" adapted from major novels
of different centuries; and the war movies "In Which
We Serve" and "Bridge on the River Kwai." Lean
worked with Alec Guiness, Katherine Hepburn, Omar Sharif,
Charles Laughton, and Julie Andrews--all of whom acknowledged
his indelible impact on their performances as well as the
finished movie.
The author analyzes details of scenes from the films to
cast light on Lean's techniques and masterful intentions;
and he often notes commentary and critiques by critic, actors,
and others for additional perspectives and appreciations of
Lean's work. As his major, most memorable films show--"Lawrence
of Arabia," for example--Lean was able to create and
project romanticism, expansive emotions, genuine characters,
and variously the sweep of history or the genius of literature
without sensationalism or sentimentality. This is his characteristic,
extraordinary, achievement in the world of film.
Class members will select several David Lean films to be viewed
before class for later discussion. Presentation topics will
address some aspect of each film considered as a work of art
so as to help class appreciation of it.
Common Reading: Beyond the Epic: The Life and Films
of David Lean, by Gene Phillips (hardcover, November
2006; $30.36, Amazon)
The Rise of the Documentary Movie
Not long ago, if you wanted to see a documentary film, you
probably had to take a course, go to a movie festival, or
catch it on PBS. But the commercial success of recent documentaries
has changed all that...nowadays you may have to stand in line
to get a ticket to such popular "docs" as March
of the Penguins, Bowling for Columbine, Supersize Me, etc.
While your basic Hollywood studio movie is primarily made
to make money, a documentary is the expression of its creator's
personal passion. This S/DG will explore the world of modern
masters of the documentary, from the early Nanook of the North
to Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. Presenters will choose
a film that class members can view at home before each class
session, and discuss the director's purpose, the film's techniques,
and its effect on public opinion. Documentary films are available
at public libraries, and via Netflix, which stocks over 300
such films in 28 different genres, ranging from biographies
(Marlon Brando) to history ( the Alamo), travel/adventure,
and -- most fascinating -- Miscellaneous.
No Common Reading
Genetic Genealogy
We each inherit half our DNA from each parent, but not all
of it is equally split: the Y chromosome always comes from
the father, and the mitochondrial DNA always comes from the
mother. Thus, except for mutations, a man's Y chromosome is
identical to his father's, his father's fathers, and so on
back into the mists of time. The same is true on the maternal
line for mitochondrial DNA. This allows geneticists to trace
one's ancestors back to the last common ancestor on either
side, the so-called mitochondrial Eve and Y-chromosome Adam.
Some geneticists claim that the genetic lines of 80% of Europeans
can be traced back to seven women who lived in Europe between
45,000 and 10,000 years ago. Similarly, the study of the Y
chromosomes makes it possible to trace back male genetic lines.
The Oxford Genetic Atlas Project claim that between 73% and
98% of the men living in Ireland and 60% of the men living
in England, Wales and Scotland can trace their genetic lines
to the clan of one ancient Irish king. As amazing as that
sounds, how about the discovery that 16 million men are descendants
of the same male ancestor – probably Genghis Khan.
In the past twenty years genetic research has made remarkable
discoveries. This S/DG will research and discuss some of them
and, if you are so inclined, you can order a DNA testing kit
from the National Geographic’s Genographic Project for
$99 and find out where your long lost ancestors came from.
Common Reading: Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey,
by Spencer Wells (available at amazon.com for $8.23)
Supplemental Reference (not required, suggestion for presentation
research):
The Seven Daughters of Eve, Bryan Sykes (available
at amazon.com for $11.53)
Karen Armstrong and A History Of God
This course will carefully consider Karen Armstrong’s
1993 book A History of God. We begin with the premise that
throughout recorded history mankind has demonstrated a sense
of wonder and mystery as part of the human experience, often
expressed as a search for something “other.” Her
book traces the ever-changing and often contradictory ways
in which men and women have conceived and defined God in the
three monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam with some material on the religions of Asia. Is compassion
the sine qua non of religion? Are we now in a new axial age,
as she posits, to change these religions to better work for
their adherents? There will be a lively discussion.
Common Reading: A History of God, by Karen Armstrong
(Ballantine Books, 1994, $16, pbk)
Water and the Politics of Water
The supply of water in the world remains constant but the
need for water grows. In addition, water is not distributed
where it is most needed. In this course we will study how
water is obtained and managed and the conflicts that arise
when the use of water transcends national boundaries. As examples,
we may consider problems in water-stressed areas such as the
Middle East, Northern Africa, China, and our western states
(especially California). Members will research and give presentations
on topics of interest, and discuss sections of the core text.
Common Reading: Water, the Fate of our Most Precious
Resource, by Marq DeVilliers (First Mariner Books, 2001;
$16, pbk)
Stumbling on Happiness
Think you know what makes you happy? Daniel Gilbert would
bet that you think you do, but you are most likely wrong.
In his witty and engaging new book, Harvard professor Gilbert
reveals his take on how our minds work, and how the limitations
of our imaginations may be getting in the way of our ability
to know what happiness is. Gilbert, professor of psychology
at Harvard is an influential researcher in "happiness
studies," an interdisciplinary field that has attracted
psychologists, economists and other empirically minded researchers.
Using his recent book as a common reading, this S/DG will
look at scientific explanations of the limitations of human
imagination and how it steers us wrong in our search for happiness.
Members will research and present on related topics of interest,
such as Happiness and the Brain, Emotions, the Happiest Nations
in the World, Denmark, Bhutan and Gross National Happiness,
the Happiness Industry, Memory, Optimism versus. Pessimism,
Martin Seligman.
Common Reading: Stumbling on Happiness, by Daniel
Gilbert, Amazon $10, and numerous used book sites. 336 pp.
The Histories – by Herodotus
Herodotus was a Greek historian living in Ionia during the
fifth century BCE. He traveled extensively through the lands
of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea and collected stories,
and then recounted his experiences with the varied people
and cultures he encountered. Cicero called him “the
father of history,” and his only work, The Histories,
is considered the first true piece of historical writing in
Western literature. With lucid prose that harks back to the
time of oral tradition, Herodotus set a standard for narrative
nonfiction that continues to this day. He chronicles the rise
of the Persian Empire and its dramatic war with the Greek
city-states, and, within that story includes rich veins of
anthropology, ethnography, geology, and geography, pioneering
these fields of study, and explores such universal themes
as the nature of freedom, the role of religion, the human
costs of war, and the dangers of absolute power.
Our core text is richly illustrated with side notes and
historical maps and has a wealth of appendices, by a phalanx
of experts, on everything from the design of Athenian warships
to ancient units of liquid measure. Additional topics for
personal research topics can be gleaned from an extensively-hyperlinked
FREE Internet Classics version from The Perseus Project.
We are encouraged to reflect deeply: what lessons can we
draw from reading these epic war stories “between East
and West” (i.e. “vs. Persia”) at the beginning
of written history – and, of our stories of “almost
similar conflicts” (i.e. “vs. Iraq-Iran”)
that are written in our newspapers today?
Common Reading: The Landmark Herodotus: ‘The Histories’
by Herodotus, edited by Robert B. Strassler, translated
by Rosalind Thomas, introduction by Andrea L. Purvis (Amazon:
$29.70)
2008 Presidential Election Issues
In this S/DG we will research and discuss the important
issues of the 2008 Presidential election, including but not
limited to: Iraq, The Economy, Medical Insurance, The Environment,
Immigration, Globalization, Education, Tax Cuts, Iran, and
Cuba
No common Reading. Class members may use newspapers, magazines
or the Internet as sources of presentation material.The Thousand
Year War in the Mideast
Events on the other side of the world a thousand years ago
can affect us more than events in our own hometowns today.
The events of the Thousand Year War have been the cause of
great shocks to our economy and investment markets, including:
the oil embargoes, the Iranian hostage crisis, the Iraq-Kuwait
war, and the Caucasus Wars over the Caspian Sea oil basin.
These shocks are likely to remain so for decades to come.
Learn about the Russians, Serbs, Croats, the Balkans, Kosovo,
the Ottoman and Mongol empires, Turkey, Greece, Iran, Iraq,
Indonesia, Russia, Oman, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Kurdistan,
and more. Forewarned is forearmed. Where this war is leading
is important in managing one's career, business and investments,
as well as to reach an informed opinion regarding U.S. involvement
in Mideast affairs.
Our author, Richard Maybury, discloses his bias succinctly
- he believes in a higher law above any government's which
favors personal liberty, free markets and an international
neutrality as advised by George Washington in his Farewell
Address. Although Maybury’s book is short and easy to
read there will be many topics for spirited discussion and
personal research. The author's perspective in differentiating
between a people and the actions of their government might
be controversial to some and refreshing to others. We will
discuss many lessons that might be learned from adopting this
view of history.
Common Reading: The Thousand Year War in the Mideast,
by Richard Maybury
(May 1999, Blue Stocking Press, paperback, $17.95 Amazon)
Language – What a Difference a Word Makes
Language is something we often take for granted. It is the
tool that allows us to think, communicate, solve problems,
and elicit emotional responses from others. Yet we almost
never take the time to think about language itself and how
important it is in constructing our identity. This S/DG is
sure to awaken in you a surprising new awareness of the words
you use everyday. Some of the areas for research include theories
about the origin and nature of language, the uses we have
for language, both good and bad, the role of context and metaphor
and their relevance in an age in which we are constantly bombarded
with words, and the way the languages of art, science, politics,
and religion affect the ideas we choose to adopt.
The impact of American English, rich with regional variety,
is felt in every field: popular culture, arts and literature,
science and technology, medicine and politics. It's the language
of international industry, Wall Street, the Pentagon, the
space shuttle and, of course, the Internet. In the common
reading, journalist and co-author Robert MacNeil zigzags cross-country
to explore how Americans use the language today, how it's
developing and how people feel about it. On a journey that
takes us from the Northeast, through Appalachia and the Deep
South, and west to California, we observe everyday verbal
interactions and in a host of interviews with native speakers
glean the linguistic quirks and traditions characteristic
of each area. While examining the histories and controversies
surrounding both written and spoken American English, he addresses
anxieties and assumptions that, when explored, are highly
emotional, such as the growing influence of Spanish as a threat
to American English and the special treatment of African American
vernacular English. And, challenging the purists who think
grammatical standards are in serious deterioration and that
media saturation of our culture is homogenizing our speech,
they surprise us with unpredictable responses.
Common Reading: Do You Speak American? by Robert
MacNeil and William Cran (Doubleday, 2005)
The Trillion Dollar Meltdown
Are you confused about how the value of American debt could
vaporize so fast, threatening to take down the global financial
system? Are you wondering what should be done to prevent another
systemic crisis in the markets? Are you puzzled over what
it all means? Join this S/DG and learn a lot more. Find out
about the mechanics of slicing and dicing collateralized debt
obligations (CDO’s) and why these and similar securitized
credits and derivative securities went spectacularly bust.
Is there more to the credit crisis than merely an inflated
housing market, or a simple subprime problem? Residential
mortgages, commercial mortgages, junk bonds, leveraged loans,
credit cards, and complex securitized bonds could reach one
trillion dollars. (The International Monetary Fund recently
picked that number for the global write-off.) The figure could
be double or triple should there be widespread panic. Little
wonder that the Federal Reserve Board has been working so
hard to stave off financial contagion.
Presentations can be made on book reports on George Soros’
book The new Paradigm for Financial Markets or Kevin Phillips
book: Bad Money, Reckless Finance, Failed Politics and the
Global Crisis of American Capitalism as well as the buyout
of Bear Sterns, collateralized debt obligations, residential
mortgages, leveraged buyouts, Federal Reserve policies, international
implications , or many other related subjects.
Common Reading: The Trillion Dollar Meltdown, by
Charles R. Morris (194 pages)
Studying and Enjoying Poetry – Part 2
If you enjoy reading poetry, would like to write poetry,
love sharing favorite poems, like to analyze poetry, or would
just like to be introduced to poetry, this is a class for
you. The suggested class format will consists of two oral
readings of one or more poems, followed by a brief introduction
to the author and some background on the poem, and a brief
analysis and discussion of the poem. There will also be a
discussion of a chapter of the core text, which will be led
by one of the class members. We will strive to allow time
for open reading of poems brought in by class members.
The discussion text is a well-written presentation of the
elements of poetry organized into topics such as word texture
& sound, images, rhyme & repetition, meter, subject
& style, and interpretation. Each chapter includes a selection
of 15 to 25 pages of poems illustrating the topic under discussion.
The book is by a skilled writer and includes many popular
and interesting poems by well-known and highly talented poets.
The book is available at low cost in paperback format.
The class will be conducted in an easygoing informal style
designed to maximize participation and will encourage sharing
and reading of poetry.
Note: Although this is a follow on continuation of the class
offered this summer, it is not necessary to have taken the
summer course to take this one.
Common Reading: The Discovery of Poetry, A Field Guide
to Reading and Writing Poems, by Frances Mayes (author
of Under the Tuscan Sun and professor of creative writing
at the University of San Francisco)
Shakespeare: All The World’s a Stage …
But in our brave new world, the stage and that window are
at the Franklin Center. Again this fall we will form a repertory
troupe of Omnilorean New Globe Players to read, study, and
discuss some of the Bard’s great plays. With players
standing and with a few props, we propose to do reading walk-throughs
of Macbeth, Measure for Measure, King John, & A Midsummer’s
Night Dream — subject to confirmation by pre-meeting
attendees “at one fell swoop” (Macbeth, Act 4,
Scene 3). (Macbeth also brings us “Out, damned spot!,”
his greatest tragic female villain, insanity, and Shakespeare’s
take on fate vs free will …)
Class members can either serve as part of one team’s
Board of Directors, or give a presentation, or both. The Board
of Directors of each play is responsible for researching sources
and themes of the play, casting roles for the repertory, and
leading discussions on the research, symbols, images, motifs,
and all manner of rhyme and reason. ‘Tis fair play to
enhance classes with videos, music and costumes, and to bring
your own questions and even beyond-the-plays topics from the
Shakespearean era for discussion. Check out http://www.omnilore.org/members/Curriculum/SDGArchive/2008a_Spring/SSP/
to view last trimester’s Shakespeare-class website of
links of internet references relevant to our plays and downloadable
organizing artifacts. Directors & players provide materials
for this ever-evolving website.
There are no prerequisites, theatrical or otherwise. You
will find that the bard of Stratford-on-Avon will teach us,
just as he’s taught others for four hundred years. With
plenty for the novice as well as the veteran, it is a foregone
conclusion members will leave this class with a fuller understanding
of the masterful story construction, realistic characters
with depth and humanity, and the rich, evocative language
which have earned Shakespeare the title of greatest writer
in the English language.
Common Reading: Selected Plays
Short Stories From Around the World – Part
2
This is a continuation of the Summer 2008 “Short Stories
from Around the World.” This international anthology
of short stories includes 78 stories from 36 countries; the
writers were all born in the 20th century from 1938 to 1970--many
are well known, many will be new to most of us. The summer
class was very popular, necessitating three parallel classes.
Since none of these classes were able to discuss more than
20% of the stories, there are dozens of stories to choose
from, and any Omnilore member may sign up for the fall S/DG.
There is a tendency, especially from writers from emerging
nations, to state their position via fiction—politically,
artistically and socially—to define the world in which
they find themselves. Here you will find the extremes of human
nature. The stories are narratives well told; documents of
our condition, seemingly limitless in their array of setting,
tone, dialogue, and method of story telling.
Common Reading: The Art of the Story: An International
Anthology of Contemporary Short Stories, edited by Daniel
Halpern (Penguin Books, 2000)
Modern Symphonies
As the growing distance from the last century has begun
to clear our view, we have started to realize that, despite
frequent critical abuse, the music of the twentieth century
had its share of enduring masterpieces. This course offers
a guided tour of selected symphonic compositions by composers
such as Debussy, Ravel, R. Strauss, Sibelius, Rachmaninoff,
Shostakovich, Stravinsky, and Bartok; we will discover what
their works have brought to the concert repertory that has
earned them a secure place in the canon of Western music.
Common Reading: The Rest is Noise: Listening to the
Twentieth Century, by Alex Ross (hardcover – October
16, 2007)
The Writing Mind
This S/DG concentrates on fostering creativity and improving
techniques of the writer through the production of original
pieces of writing, literary critique and presentations by
each group member. Presentations are on literary topics or
on the philosophy, subtleties or techniques of writing. Each
member will be responsible for; a presentation, at least two
submissions of original fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or other
form of writing, and for reading and critiquing submissions
from other group members.
Common Reading: None Suggested
Annual membership fee:
* $90 per individual
* $150 per couple
There are currently more than 250 enthusiastic
Omnilore compatriots, mostly living in the South Bay. Omnilore
is actively seeking new members from a diversity of backgrounds.
If you're interested in learning more, please call (310) 540-6011
and leave a message requesting more information,
or e-mail jbouchard@csudh.edu
or write to:
Omnilore
P.O. Box 7000-236
Redondo Beach, CA
90277
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