View OLLI Enrichment Courses   

Taboo language can reveal a culture’s ideals and history. From Roman graffiti to Clark Gable’s famous “damn,” studying cussing opens a window onto values, religion, gender expectations, and social power. “When I got my mouth washed out with soap as a kid,” says instructor Geoffrey Stacks, “I learned firsthand that taboo language is about more than words, it’s about what a culture values and fears.” As author Melissa Mohr observes, “People swear about what they care about,” so tracing taboo words over time uncovers evolving societal values.

We begin with a historical overview of swearing and how its meanings have shifted. Ancient Roman insults reveal what they prized; a medieval medical text uses the c-word before it became obscene; and Victorian prudery over piano “legs” shows how culture shapes and censors language.

Next, the course examines swearing and law. From the FCC’s obscenity rules to George Carlin’s Seven Words routine and today’s media landscape, we explore how societies regulate speech. Finally, Stacks investigates what swearing reveals about the human brain. Why do some people with Tourette’s utter taboo words? Why can people with aphasia lose speech but still curse? Through the lens of taboo language, you’ll gain insight into our biological and cultural relationship with words.

This course explores explicit language and its cultural context. Some taboo words will be referenced, but students won’t say them aloud. 

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.”

Pining for Paris? Jonesing for a bite of good art (along with a fresh pain au chocolat)? Take an imaginative journey to the great museums of the French capital with art historian and Denver Art Museum educator Molly Medakovich. For centuries, Paris has been a cultural darling of Europe and an international center for art, and its famous museums house some of the most treasured masterpieces in the world. Explore the backstories of the Louvre’s Venus de Milo and Mona Lisa (how’d they get there, anyway?), Monet’s water lilies at the Musée de l’Orangerie, the dazzling “unicorn tapestries” at the Musée Cluny, and other must-see paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts housed in the city’s museums. Brush up on the long, fascinating history of the Louvre (did you know it served as the palace of the French kings for centuries?) and jump head-first into the once-shocking Centre Pompidou, a center for modern and contemporary art whose radical design was pejoratively described as an “oil refinery” by some critics when it debuted in the l970s. Discover some of the hidden gems on Paris’s map of museums with virtual visits to the Musée Rodin and its verdant gardens, the intimate environment of the Musée Jacquemart-André, a wonderland of 18th-century decorative arts and painting, or the new kid on the block in the Bois de Boulogne, La Fondation Louis Vuitton. In addition to savoring these art historical highlights, learn how Paris’s museums shed light on the rich, layered history of this dynamic city of art and culture.

How did Denver’s Japanese-American community take root, and what lies ahead for its future? Join Cody Walizer, PhD, assistant teaching professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, and civic leader Derek Okubo for an on-site exploration of history, culture and identity at Sakura Square in downtown Denver. Through storytelling, historical analysis and guided experiences including a walking tour, food tastings and cultural exchange, you’ll encounter the layered past and evolving future of this vital community.

Together we’ll explore the lived experiences of pre-war migrant workers, the wartime incarceration of Japanese-Americans and the resilience of post-war generations. Walizer brings academic depth and lived perspective on Japanese-American identity and cultural belonging, while Okubo shares community-based insights drawn from his decades of civic engagement and leadership. The course also looks ahead to pressing challenges and preserving sites like Amache, while reflecting on how Asian-American voices are situated in today’s civic landscape. Along the way, participants will gain opportunities to connect historic struggles with contemporary conversations about race, belonging and civic participation. Come away with a deeper appreciation for the Japanese-American community’s enduring influence in Colorado and an understanding of how its traditions, struggles and contributions shape the future.

Please Note: Sakura Square is currently under construction, and some areas might involve tight space or uneven ground. The classroom space is on the second floor and is only accessible by stairs. Parking will be provided at the onsite parking garage.

There are 18 species of penguins in the world. We will explore 7 species that have accepted the frigid waters and icy shores of the Antarctic region as home. What life strategies have made them successful in this harsh and unforgiving environment? How do they find their mates, secure enough food to raise their chicks and protect themselves from predators? These penguins, and a host of other birds and animals have relied on the environment, food supply and protection of Antarctica to survive for millions of years. Man discovered Antarctica barely 200 years ago. In that short time man’s presence on this remote continent has affected the penguin population as well as the other creatures that call Antarctica their home. How has climate change, commercial fishing, large scale hunting, and ocean pollution contributed to stress on the population and existence of these Antarctica natives? What will their future be like? Lots of fun stories and recent research findings will be presented to help answer these questions.

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.

From the early days of DNA testing in the 1980s to the advanced investigative tools used today, Denver has played a pioneering role in shaping forensic science. Join two of Colorado’s leading experts, Greggory LaBerge and Mitchell Morrissey, for an insider’s view of how DNA technology transformed criminal justice and changed lives. Through two interactive sessions, explore the evolution of DNA analysis—from its courtroom debut and early scientific challenges to the development of national databases such as the Combined DNA Index System. Discover how these innovations revolutionized the investigation of violent crimes including homicide and sexual assault. In the second session, delve into new frontiers such as familial searching and Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy, which have helped solve decades-old cold cases. Learn how Denver became a national model for applying cutting-edge science to public safety and engage directly with professionals who built that foundation. This course combines lecture and roundtable discussion, inviting participants to ask questions, analyze real examples and better understand how science, law and ethics intersect in modern criminal investigation.

The early '60s witnessed the explosion of a charming social phenomenon—a guitar-strummed sing-along known as the hootenanny, inspired by such folk singers as the Kingston Trio, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary, Pete Seeger and some kid from Minnesota named Dylan. But let's also remember the pioneers: Woody Guthrie, Cisco Houston, Leadbelly, Ramblin' Jack Elliott and others. Centered in New York City's Greenwich Village, this craze soon led to a rash of guitar and banjo sales here and in England. Everyone wanted to learn to play and add their voices to old standards and hip new songs from such young singer-songwriters as Donovan, Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell. Even the Beatles and Stones would add acoustic-guitar songs to their albums. Folk was in and it produced more than laid-back campfire ditties. It gave us influential protest songs, Top 40 hits, legendary artists (many still with us!) and who knows how many guitars still being played in American homes. In this fun participatory class, led by Marc Shulgold (armed with his 6- and 12-string guitars) we'll revisit the music and musicians of that era through videos and recordings, as we learn about the role that folk music has played in pop and world culture.

Across the U.S., city streets are dominated by cars—but what if we reimagined them for people instead? This course explores the growing "War on Cars" movement, which seeks to reclaim public space, reduce car dependence and prioritize community over congestion. Join Jill Locantore, Executive Director of the Denver Streets Partnership, to examine how limiting vehicular traffic, reducing parking availability and encouraging alternatives like walking, biking and transit can help create safer, healthier and more equitable urban environments.

More than a critique of cars, this class is a hopeful look at what’s possible when we center courage, inclusiveness and joy in our public planning. Learn how cities are fostering authentic relationships between residents and urban space by emphasizing shared streets and vibrant public life. Consider the health, environmental and social impacts of current transportation norms—and what a bold, human-centered future might look like instead.

Learn ways that we (you!) can help make Denver more pedestrian-, bike-, transit-, and micromobility-friendly. We don’t have to get rid of cars, we just need to put them in their place and make the other options safer and more efficient. Whether you’re a city planner, cyclist, curious urbanist or concerned citizen, come explore how your community can move forward—together.