Tuesday Courses   

In our movie series, Greg and Larry have featured great male actors from the 1930s through the 50s. It is time to recognize female movie greats from the same era. We start with the original The Thin Man with Myrna Loy, followed by Rosalind Russell’s delightful performance in His Girl Friday, and then two of our favorites, Claudette Colbert from It Happened One Night and Ingrid Bergman from Casablanca.   And then we will skip forward eight years into the 1950s and include three movies with spectacular actresses from a new generation.

Join us for a term of unforgettable stars and movies, where we show these movies and then discuss them.

• 1934- The Thin Man - Myrna Loy
• 1939- It Happened One Night - Claudette Colbert
• 1940- His Girl Friday - Rosalind Russell
• 1942- Casablanca - Ingrid Bergman
• 1950- All About Eve - Bette Davis, Anne Baxter & Celeste Holm
• 1953- Roman Holiday - Audrey Hepburn
• 1958- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - Elizabeth Taylor
• 1959- Some Like It Hot - Marilyn Monroe

Each week participants will consider a different critical or current issue. The group will analyze at least three perspectives or viewpoints for addressing this issue. We will use the Deliberative Democracy framework to thoughtfully review each of these ideas. Topics will be selected by the group in a survey in the first session. Class members are encouraged to bring open minds and analytical thinking to our discussion-oriented class.

Mrs. Moore and her son’s fiancé Adela travel to India, determined to experience “the real India,” beyond the club-bound official British colony. While exploring the Malabar Caves, Adela suffers an ambiguous assault and their Indian friend Dr. Aziz is charged with the crime. The ensuing trial destroys friendships and questions the reliability of “truth,” especially when class and race are involved. In this subtle picture of India under the British Raj, well-meaning characters are doomed to find that cultural and sexual misunderstandings damage their own and others' lives. In a novel considered one of the best of the 20th century, Forster, a member of the Bloomsbury Group, calls upon his own experiences in India. Although Indian independence is 20 years in the future, Forster exposes the imperial system as dangerous to people on both sides of the divide. Class discussion will allow us to explore current examples of similar misunderstandings.

Required Text: E. M. Forster, A Passage to India. Intro by Pankaj Mishra, Penguin Classics, ISBN 978-0-241-54042, or equivalent.

What made American Bandstand more than just a dance show? From its debut in 1952 to its final broadcast in 1989, the program shaped teen identity, influenced fashion, broke racial barriers, and launched music careers. In this lively two-part course, educators Barb Kreisman and Jack Kronser will explore the show’s enduring cultural legacy, share behind-the-scenes stories, and reflect on how Bandstand influenced them while growing up. As they recall, “Watching every afternoon, we felt connected to something bigger—Bandstand shaped our tastes, our dancing, and our sense of belonging as teenagers.”

Part one examines Bandstand as a cultural time capsule. Experience the excitement of the opening theme and vintage title cards, then revisit how the show introduced a national teen culture long before social media. We’ll discuss the program’s role in spotlighting Black performers and interracial dancing on national TV, while tracing the rise of dance crazes from the Stroll and the Twist to the Hustle and the Moonwalk. Through music clips, Rate-a-Record activities, and audience reflections, we’ll uncover why Bandstand became a symbol of American youth.

Part two takes you backstage to discover insider stories about the move from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, teen dancer fan clubs, and the controversy of lip-sync versus live performances. We’ll examine Dick Clark’s influence on the record industry, including the “payola” scandals and his reputation as a music mogul. Comparisons with Soul Train, MTV, and TikTok reveal how media culture has evolved—and what might make Bandstand work today. Add in fashion-through-the-decades show-and-tell, trivia challenges, an audience-voted Bandstand Hall of Fame, and we’ll close with a finale dance party worthy of “Bandstand Boogie.”

Ever notice players calling out tiles with unusual names while studying colorful cards? That's American Mahjongg—a captivating game of skill and luck where players race to complete hands using tiles.

This class teaches everything needed to confidently join experienced players. The objective is simple: be the first to create a matching hand from the card using all your tiles.

Weeks 1-4: Learn tile names and suits, game setup, dealing procedures, card reading, hand selection, tile passing, and the pick-and-discard process.

Weeks 5-8: Practice games with classmates while developing skills.

Throughout the course, we'll cover basic strategy and proper mahjongg etiquette, transforming that "interesting but hard to learn" impression into genuine competence and enjoyment at the table.

Students will need to order the 2026 card through The National Mahjongg League at https://nationalmahjonggleague.org/. The card can be ordered as early as January 01, 2026, but will not be available until April.

The four-week course will provide students with a high-level introduction to astronomy, emphasizing observing what’s in the sky. Through a combination of presentation, interactive discussion, and hands-on, students will learn what astronomy is, including key terms and concepts, common observing equipment, how to use it, and more. The first session will focus on the basics. The second session will cover how and what to observe, using the unaided eye, binoculars, and telescopes. A variety of observing aids to enhance the observing experience will be highlighted. The third session will look at meteorites from a collector’s perspective, and their importance in understanding the history of our solar system. Students will be provided with their own small specimen of a real meteorite at the end of the third session. The fourth session will be a tour of DU’s historic Chamberlin Observatory, open to students from the first three sessions.

Between the years 600 BCE and 50 CE, Judaism experienced a profound transformation: first from its exposure to Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian culture, and next from the effects of Hellenization, including Greek philosophy and science. Alexander the Great conquered most of the Middle East by 320 BCE and his successors extended Greek language and culture throughout the region. These cultural shocks engendered such religious ideas as the struggle between heaven and hell, carried out by angels and demons, life after death, and new concepts of the cosmos. These ideas gave birth to new religious communities such as Qumran (of the Dead Sea Scrolls) and later Christianity. By 200 CE Judaism had purged most of these ideas, but they survived within Christianity, Gnosticism and Greek Mystery religions. This course will explore these events from earliest Israel and how they affected the development of Christianity.

Recommended Reading: The Crucible of Faith, Phillip Jenkins

All civilizations eventually collapse. Historically, the average lifetime of civilizations is about 250 years, the age of the United States. The life cycle of civilizations follow a similar pattern of 7 stages, with common factors contributing to eventual collapse. From climate change to economic turmoil to the rise of authoritarianism, current circumstances indicate that the US and much of the world are now in the crisis and decline stage, with collapse on the horizon.

In this course we will address the seven stages of civilizations, current trends that point to civilization collapse, the grief cycle as a model of the personal experience of collapse, practical steps you can take to survive and adapt to collapse, indigenous cultures as a model for sustainable communities, and how to be content and resilient in the face of collapse.

What is a “conspiracy theory?” Why has it become popular in recent decades? How do we understand its role in the culture and in politics? How does it relate to misinformation and disinformation. How has the term been used/misused? How do the social scientists, social theorists and the philosophers think about “conspiracy theory” and all that it means for our contemporary period? The course will explore these issues.

We will use the book Conspiracy/Theory, a book of critical essays by professors from different disciplines edited by Joseph Masco and Lisa Weeden. There will be a limited amount of supplemental reading to guide our discussions. The course will be in the form of a seminar which will require reading each week so that we can all benefit from an informed discussion.

Required text: Conspiracy/Theory by Joseph Maasco and Lisa Weeden Duke University Press, 2024 ($28.98 paperback)

This is a discussion of the current week's events in the first hour. Dick will do the first week overview. Then the facilitators would like two people in class to volunteer each week to do an overview of the week before. The second hour will be a discussion of a specific topic.

"This Current Events course will be a discussion-based course addressing a mix of international, national and local issues with general broad outlines and selections determined by a survey of class participants in the first class. Likely issues will include: International- the Gaza and Ukraine peace plans, climate change, immigration, threats to democracy; National- Congressional dysfunction, the role of the United States Supreme Court, healthcare costs and access, tariffs, "culture war" issues and free-speech, artificial intelligence, financial deregulation; Local-Colorado state budget issues, K-12 education, City of Denver sports stadium decisions. Issues to be discussed in the upcoming class will be identified at the conclusion of the prior week's class; readings from national and local publications (2 to 3 readings) will be selected by the facilitator and electronically distributed so that each participant will have a common basis for discussion."

The Ed Sullivan show reflected - arguably defined - American entertainment culture for 23 years spanning TV's infancy to its adulthood. Families gathered around the TV set on Sunday nights year after year. Over time, recording artists developed the widespread belief that appearing on the show was essential to success. Performers covered the waterfront: rock-and-roll singers and groups, opera divas, crooners, torch singers, acrobats, animal acts, comedians, ventriloquists, and scenes from Broadway plays and musicals as well as movies. There were live interviews of news-makers (Fidel Castro!), hour-long biographies along the lines of "This Is Your Life," and international road shows. The course will trace Sullivan's pre-TV career and his heavy-handed oversight of production. It will feature abundant video clips (Elvis, Beatles, etc.) and segments of two excellent documentaries.

Recommended: A Thousand Sundays: The Story of the Ed Sullivan Show by Jerry Bowles

Overexploitation of groundwater aquifers occurs worldwide. The Atlantic and Coastal Plains Aquifer in the U.S. exemplifies recent trends to rely more on groundwater. Emerging topics include undersea freshwater aquifers, how groundwater pumping is altering the rotation of the earth, and geoengineering to mitigate climate change. As water scarcity becomes more acute—by 2030, freshwater demand may exceed supply by 40%. Water-supply contamination and water-management issues are affecting drinking-water supplies in rural areas. A case study in Guanajuato state in Mexico will involve water-supply contamination, regulatory conflicts, and frustrations by local community activists to resolve this issue. Mitigation of climate change using geoengineering may help reduce freshwater demands. Some proposed geoengineering methods include three broad categories: (1) carbon dioxide removal (CDR); (2) solar radiation management (SRM); and (3) earth surface interventions such as glacial geoengineering and ocean heat management.

The Colorado Front Range faces numerous environmental challenges that impact living in Colorado. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the products we use, and the recreation sites we visit all face environmental challenges we need to understand. This 4-week presentation-discussion course using a zoom format will provide a foundation for understanding the scientific principles, health impacts, and mitigation options for Front Range environmental challenges, including:

• Is the Suncor refinery the largest polluter in the Denver metro area?
• Is radon infiltration of homes a serious health risk?
• Why does the Front Range fail to meet federal air quality standards?
• Are ‘forever’ chemicals and microplastic contaminants a drinking water threat?
• How safe are Rocky Mountain Arsenal and Rocky Flats after Superfund cleanup?

The course includes some general science; however, no science background is required or assumed. Discussions will also include how political and economic factors impact environmental perceptions.

We invite you to join us for a preview of the 2026 and 2027 Pioneer Journeys alumni travel portfolio. In this Zoom webinar, we will walk you through a curated collection of small-group adventures—from the Norwegian fjords, Alaska, Madagascar, Cuba, Costa Rica, Antarctica and more. These programs, traditionally offered to DU alumni, parents and friends, are now being introduced to OLLI Enrichment as an exciting new travel option.

You’ll see how each itinerary is crafted for curious travelers, with rich educational content, well-located hotels and ships, built-in free time, and chances to connect with your travel companions. We’ll also outline pricing basics, what’s typically included, how faculty hosts enhance the experience, and what kind of traveler is the best fit for each departure.

Bring your questions; there will be time for Q&A, plus guidance on how to choose the right journey, when to book, and how you can sign up and find detailed itineraries on the Pioneer Journeys website. If you’re thinking about a big trip in 2026 or 2027, this is where you start.

Experience the joy and energy of singing with others as you engage your body, brain, and breath in learning both new and familiar songs! Making music together creates an instant sense of community, connection, and camaraderie. In this spirited class, you’ll explore simple, empowering tools that strengthen your voice, sharpen your listening, and support healthy breathing. Together, we’ll build a vibrant shared knowledge of diverse musical styles and cultures—one song at a time. Only sing when you’re alone? Come feel the excitement of voices joining yours and the confidence that blossoms when we sing together! Think you can’t sing? If you can talk, you can sing—truly! This class is upbeat, welcoming, and full of fun. There is no music reading; we’ll learn by listening, repeating, and jumping right in. Bring your curiosity, your enthusiasm, and your voice, and discover how joyful group singing can be!

Required: 20 minutes minimum of standing/movement several times in the 2 hours.

Required: personal water bottles

People often talk about "ethics" but the term is usually vague and unclear. This class will explore how various philosophers have analyzed ethics and how those ideas apply today. We will definitely bring up several ethical issues in class but it is important to note that this will not primarily be a "case study" course. It is a class designed to discuss different ways philosophers in history and today have thought about how we should live together on this planet. Discussion is encouraged in all classes.

Frank Lloyd Wright designed nearly 1,000 buildings and helped define modern architecture. This course explores highlights of his practice, from Prairie houses to Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum, alongside lesser-known projects like affordable housing and city planning. We’ll examine how Wright’s work reflected cultural shifts in technology, science, and politics, offering a deeper understanding of his lasting influence on architecture and modern design.

This Osher Online course, offered through the Osher National Resource Center, lets you learn with fellow lifelong learners nationwide, guided by a world-class expert. OSHER ONLINE COURSES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

The League of Women Voters of Jefferson County is partnering with Jefferson County Public Library to offer a series of workshops on media misinformation/disinformation and how media is polarizing the country. We're using the book "True or False: A CIA Analyst's Guide to Spotting Fake News" by Cindy L. Otis as the basis for the workshops and modeling them on the Great Decisions format.

Workshops include:

Week One: The evolution of media and recent changes brought by deregulation and technology

Week Two: How to recognize and combat bias in ourselves and the media

Week Three: How to spot and avoid "fake news" and begin to bridge the political divide

Week Four: The dangers of AI

Week Five: A panel discussion with local experts to address the dangers of media disinformation and how to combat them

The workshops will include presentations and encourage audience participation through planned activities and discussions.

Recommended Reading: True or False, A CIA Analyst’s Guide to Spotting Fake News, available at the News, available at the library or on Amazon.

Come join this class and immerse yourself in engaging presentations. Four separate shows feature first-person dramatic presentations of four historical characters who lived epic lives in America. The presentations will highlight each of their lives as well as discussions of their character's historical importance. The performances also feature historically accurate costumes for the era, as well as accompanying historical props. The course will follow the Chautauqua format: first-person presentation, Q&A of historical character, followed with Q&A of scholar. The four historical figures will be: #1: El Vaquero—America's First Cowboy. The Origins of Ranch, Rodeo and Cowboy Culture. #2: Mariano Medina—Pioneer Mountain Man, Adventurous Trapper, Successful Businessman. The equal of Kit Carson. #3: Manuel Lisa—Northwest Explorer, Trapper, and Businessman—the equal of Lewis and Clark. #4: Casimiro Barela: Legendary Colorado Legislative Leader: The Father of the Colorado Senate, The Perpetual Senator.

Science has answered many questions, but we are still just scratching the surface on understanding the human brain. Nevertheless, one thing becomes clearer with each new discovery: the brain is massively powerful! This is the third part of Dutch's Neuroplasticity series. In this 4 week course, participants will learn how breathing and stress affect our brains. We'll learn several breathing drills and discuss ways to mitigate stress to improve brain performance. We will take a "deep dive" into the mighty cerebellum and explore concepts and drills to improve performance of this crucial brain area. We will also explore how the cerebellum helps with balance and learn cerebellum drills to improve balance. Each class is half lecture and half brain-based exercises. Modifications for exercises will be available to make them accessible for everyone. It is not necessary to attend these classes in order. You can start here with Part III!

These books are recommended, not required: The Tell-Tale Brain by Ramachandran, and Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, by Nestor

The "Arsenal for Democracy," as President Roosevelt urged America to become. But wait…what was required to make this change? Unemployment in America was still at 4 million workers right before Pearl Harbor. Suddenly with Pearl Harbor, everything changed in America. Some of these changes lasted well after the war. We will look at these changes. We start with America's reaction to the attack and the rush to enlist. We encounter involuntary internment of US citizens. Rationing affected everyone. Industry retooled to go on a war footing. Worker shortages added Rosie the Riveters and mass movements of people. Hollywood joined in with war-related movies, bond drives, and stateside and overseas USO tours. Finally, the GIs returned. How had they changed during their time overseas? How had America changed? Join us as we look back at America during the war and discuss what was going on "On the Home Front."

The "Arsenal for Democracy," as President Roosevelt urged America to become. But wait…what was required to make this change? Unemployment in America was still at 4 million workers right before Pearl Harbor. Suddenly with Pearl Harbor, everything changed in America. Some of these changes lasted well after the war. We will look at these changes. We start with America's reaction to the attack and the rush to enlist. We encounter involuntary internment of US citizens. Rationing affected everyone. Industry retooled to go on a war footing. Worker shortages added Rosie the Riveters and mass movements of people. Hollywood joined in with war-related movies, bond drives, and stateside and overseas USO tours. Finally, the GIs returned. How had they changed during their time overseas? How had America changed? Join us as we look back at America during the war and discuss what was going on "On the Home Front."

Whether you are discovering OLLI at DU for the first time, or have taken several OLLI classes, if you’ve ever wondered, “Would I or could I ever facilitate an OLLI class?”, this course is for you! During our time together you will have an opportunity to: explore possible topics you might want to teach, investigate developmental characteristics of life-long learners, consider how to facilitate classes for life-long learners, develop skills in managing productive, inclusive classroom participation, discover current, research-based resources to enhance your topic, and build your understanding of the course proposal process. Also, classroom experiences with seasoned facilitators, peer critique of proposals, and optional class presentations will provide you with the confidence and expertise to begin your journey to a rewarding and renewing facilitation experience. This class is open to all OLLI members interested in facilitating a class and is provided at no cost to participants.

How much of who we are is shaped by the places we live and experience? This course invites reflection on the psychological and emotional relationships between people and their environments. Drawing on psychology, geography, architecture, and design, we will explore environmental psychology and how physical environments shape behavior, cognition, identity, and memory. Using place-based methods, we will discuss concepts such as place attachment, identity, and cognitive maps. We will reflect on memory, home, trauma, displacement, and nature’s role in well-being.

This Osher Online course, offered through the Osher National Resource Center, lets you learn with fellow lifelong learners nationwide, guided by a world-class expert. OSHER ONLINE COURSES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

Across Colorado, gardeners are saving water, supporting biodiversity and beautifying their yards with native plants. But what does it really mean to garden for pollinators and wildlife? In this two-session course, you will explore the growing “native plant” movement and how to be part of it.

In our first session, we’ll debunk common myths about pollinator-friendly gardening and discover why native plants are essential to local ecosystems. We’ll also review flowers, shrubs and trees you can add this spring to provide three seasons of blooms and year-round habitat. In our second session, we’ll dig deeper into landscaping practices that sustain the full life cycles of bees, butterflies and birds. Along the way, you’ll meet some of the common—and not so common—species you might encounter in your own garden. Time permitting, we’ll also discuss how to elevate your practices by participating in citizen-science projects that contribute to broader conservation efforts.

As both a gardener and sociologist, Jared Del Rosso believes that what we cultivate matters—to other species, our communities, and the future of biodiversity. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just beginning, you’ll come away with practical, inspiring strategies for creating a thriving, sustainable yard. While the course focuses on CO native plants, much of what it covers is adaptable to other places.

This course delves into how a bastion of learning was stitched together across the last three decades. We will explore the development via a variety of architectural approaches, both obvious and subtle, that resulted in the campus being recognized as one of the most beautiful collegiate campuses. Reinforced by three short tours of new builds, renovations, and site projects, we will follow a course that explores lessons learned, reasons for the projects, and the commitment of four chancellors that has transformed the campus into one that our students and community show exceptional appreciation for. In-class discussions will be informed by the master planning history of the campus, the approach to design, and the alignment to core principles of durability, sustainability, and functionality. The final session will broaden to consider how DU compares and fits within the continuum of American collegiate campus planning and design.

Recommended: From the Rockies To The World by Allen D. Breck, Campus and An American Planning Tradition by Paul Venable Turner

From earliest times, people have passed down stories of magic and mystery, of impossible deeds and heroic struggles. Jungian psychology sees these stories as meaningful maps that show us the good and the bad about ourselves, our "shadow" sides if you will, as well as the archetypal forces at play in our daily psychology. Fairy tales or folk tales are not just meant for children but hold universal truths clothed in metaphors and symbols. Myths grow out of a unique cultural psyche of a community, telling us the particulars of a culture. They have reached across time to speak directly to us. Jungian analyst Edward Edinger notes: "Myths are not simply tales of happenings in the remote past but eternal dramas that are living themselves out repeatedly in our own personal lives and in what we see all around us." In this class we will explore selected fairy tales and myths.

If you have ever marveled at the buildings, bridges, roads and water distribution systems of the Greco-Roman world, this is the class for you. Ancient technology is incredibly interesting and even astonishing. How did they do it 2500 years ago? Classical-era technology often reflects the social, political, and cultural context of these civilizations and has influenced our modern world in substantive ways. Lacking modern engineering tools and expertise, ancient engineers were exceptionally clever in designing their systems which often displayed the ingenuity of their creators with great clarity. The course will span a 1300 year period from 800 BC to 476 AD when the last Roman emperor was deposed. Join us in this fascination discovery as we ask the big questions: “How and why was it built? How did it work? How did it fit in that distant culture?”

Seven Colorado Authors League writers will be sharing their unique paths to becoming published in this fascinating speakers series. Learn about their books, their techniques, their successes and their failures. Genres include science fiction, historical fiction, historical nonfiction, poetry, thriller, children's and romantic comedy. There will be ample time for Q&A and an optional writing exercise. Please note these are all different League authors from those who led the fall session.

The Frozen River is one heck of a good historical mystery novel. Author Ariel Lawhon takes us into the 18th century world of midwife Martha Ballard who cares for the women and babies of Hallowell, Maine. She also investigates a gruesome murder, protects rape victims, fights against a warped justice system, and challenges egotistical doctors.

This a well-written story of a real-life, smart, strong feminist in an era when women were treated as far less than equal. It’s also a cautionary tale about those men who demean, dishonor and try to destroy women.

Join us as we explore complex societal themes that are as vital today as they were 250 years ago during America’s infancy. Some scenes are very painful and some characters despicable. Yet there is great moral courage and heroism in this novel.

We’ll read about 60 pages for each class and send out discussion prompts each week to help create respectful, spirited class conversations.

Required Text: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

The First World War was the defining moment of European history in the 20th century. It led to the collapse of four empires: Russian, Austro-Hungarian, German and Ottoman. It greatly weakened the British Empire and hollowed France for the rest of the 20th century. It redefined the nature of European imperialism and led to the growth of communism, Nazism, fascism, and isolationism. It redefined national borders and led to the creation of numerous "national" states in the Balkans and central Europe. It was the precursor to World War II. Why was Europe so fragile that so much collapsed? And how did these catastrophic events come about? This course will address the antecedents of the war in the 19th century and the events in the 20th century that led to this conflict. Although this was a worldwide war, its main battlefields were in and about Europe. The course will focus on the European events that led to the war.

Cultural symbols are everywhere — on our screens, in our politics, throughout our communities and in our own stories. They’re ancient, powerful, and multiplying precipitously; they quietly shape our choices, identities and collective imagination. Symbols guide, warn, inspire and/or divide us. But they speak a language older than words.

This course will examine cultural symbolism and uncover how profoundly it influences us. We’ll trace the journey of symbols from prehistoric markings and sacred icons to the hyper-speed imagery of the digital age and AI. In honor of America’s 250th birthday in 2026, we will spotlight some American iconic symbols.

Through selected readings and guided discussions, we’ll deconstruct powerful symbols from business, politics, pop culture and America’s history, revealing why some images unite us, while others separate us. Join me in decoding the language of symbols and how they help us make sense of ourselves, each other, and the culture we share.

Gunfighter showdowns, horseback train robberies, and Indian-war last stands are among the most familiar devices in American culture. So are Western landscapes that signify both the heroic conquest of nature and its quiet contemplation. In this course, we’ll look at the history shaping these aspects of Colorado and the West, and their evolving cultural significance. We’ll begin with Indian-white conflict in the post-Civil War era, focusing on the Great Sioux War of the 1870s. Next we’ll look at frontier violence, using gunfighters and outlaw gangs to explore what one historian called “the western civil war of incorporation.”

We’ll then shift to how the West was reconceived from a place of hardship to one of inspiration and easy living. Besides historical scholarship, we’ll examine how writers and impresarios turned these western themes into new genres of entertainment and leisure that remain potent today.

Required: Elliott West, Continental Reckoning: The American West in the Age of Expansion (University of Nebraska Press, 2023); Ron Hansen, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Harper, 2007); free registration to JSTOR online journals repository; streaming of three movies (The Searchers, Little Big Man, The Missing)

Since the birth of the documentary (Nanook of the North, 1922), filmmakers have invited us to witness the world’s uncomfortable truths — exposing injustice, inspiring reform, and reframing our view of reality.

In this course, you will explore powerful films that reveal the cracks in our environment, politics, and economies. Select documentaries, including An Inconvenient Truth, The Fog of War, Paris Is Burning, and Inside Job challenge what we think we know — and what we may choose to ignore.

Each week, short readings, film screenings*, and guided discussion introduce us to storytellers who dared to speak truth to power. Together, we’ll ask: what did these documentaries change — and what still needs changing today?

We’ll also identify the documentary style each film used – was that effective or not? Would you use another technique?

"Join us in exploring one of the world's major religions. This course is designed for those who want to better understand Islam's rich history, diverse traditions, and its role in today's world. We will journey from 7th century Arabia to the present, discovering the life of Muhammad, the birth of a revolutionary faith, and how Islam has evolved. We'll examine such questions as: What made Muhammad's message so transformative? How did Islam spread so rapidly? What role have women played in Islamic history? What caused the Sunni-Shia division? How do Muslims today navigate tradition and modernity. Through guided discussions and thoughtful conversation, participants will gain a nuanced understanding of history, theology, and current issues. This course provides a space for questions, reflection, and the sharing of perspectives."

Required Reading: No God but God The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam by Reza Aslan. The Updated Version in Paperback $17.00

Something as ubiquitous and eternal as stupidity has naturally received formal consideration by many philosophers.

In this discussion course, we will load formal theories of irrationality into AI and then explore them using a chatbot. The goal will be to decide whether AI can help ordinary people avoid leading unexamined lives and falling into regret over their decisions. With the participants setting the pace, weekly topics will range from Daniel Kahneman’s cognitive biases and Jonathan Haidt’s moral foundations framework to Frankfurt’s lying versus "BS" in public discourse and Dunning-Kruger’s warning that overconfidence is often a lack of self-awareness. Throughout the course, we'll use AI tools to spot propaganda in historical texts, distinguish between spin and lies in media, and find self-deceptive patterns in our own narratives. We might even configure AI to speak in real time, taking the persona of each thinker we've studied, asking questions that let us consider AI's analytical accuracy and its own biases.

This course will examine the rise of contemporary Paganism from the abolishment of the last anti-witchcraft law in England in 1952 through today. We will look at major figures and scholarship, and students will be urged to participate actively in discussions. But Paganism is an embodied religion, and learning about it also requires active engagement in its practices. Therefore, students will be invited to join, as participants or observers, in rituals based on Wicca, the largest contemporary form of Paganism. There will be no required readings, but the facilitator will provide resources for discussion and a list of Pagan events in Denver to attend if students wish.

A New York hedge fund (Alden Global) purchased the Denver POST in 2010 and then began to systematically reduce its budget and sell the building it had occupied for over a hundred years. Another large corporation (Nexstar) owns a controlling interest in TV networks that offer local programming and may make changes with little concern for accurate reporting. Radio, TV, and print news media in Colorado will change over the next few years. A few large corporations may soon own and control news sources. Let’s explore what this could mean for our access to news.

What does the First Amendment say about protecting access to news sources? What is disinformation and misinformation? Does the truth still matter? Where do you get your news? How confident are you in what you read and hear? How much difference will it make to our grandchildren who owns and controls their news?

Why do you think the way you do, and how could reality be changed? Do you know, absolutely know, that you know the facts of something, and that it is immutable? How can your senses change things in your brain, and what is normal anyway? And what about my memory—I know it's rock solid. Why can't I remember some things and yet not remember other stuff? What about dementia and Alzheimer's and how do you know if you might have it, especially since you may have it 20 or more years before your symptoms? Some of the newest findings in neuroscience will be discussed and how this affects your life.