Courses2015-16

** Social Influence and the Art of Self Persuasion — Prof. Elliot Aronson **
1601

Wednesdays, Oct 7, 14, 21 & 28; 2:00–3:30 p.m.; 136 Tree Frog Lane, Santa Cruz.

Elliot Aronson is Professor Emeritus of psychology at UCSC. In a recent (2014) study of scientific eminence, he was ranked among the 30 most influential psychologists of the 20th century.

When we consider social influence, we usually have in mind advertisements, political speeches and other forms of propaganda where a person or corporation tries to convince us to think a certain way, buy a particular product or vote for a specific candidate. In this course, Professor Aronson will discuss 50 years of research (by himself and others), illuminating a much more powerful form of social influence—one where people persuade themselves that a particular course of action is desirable and even essential.

Self-persuasion, when motivated by the need to justify previous decisions, can lead to irrational beliefs and actions that produce family rifts, abuses in the criminal justice system, and a host of other problems. However, when judiciously applied, it has led to important societal benefits such as water conservation, the reduction of bullying in schools, and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. On an individual level, a person can learn techniques of self-persuasion to re-frame a difficult experience and achieve serenity. For example, someone who has recently had a leg amputated, while watching couples dancing, can either scowl with envy and whine with self pity, or be happy for her dancing friends and grateful for everything she can still do. Self-persuasion, therefore, can either blind us to our flaws and mistakes or help us live with and even transcend them.

Students are expected to read Elliot's book, “Mistakes Were Made.”

October 7, 14, 21 & 28; 2:00–3:30 p.m.; at Elliot’s house, 136 Tree Frog Lane.

Enrollment was limited to 11 students.


 * Modern Molecular Biology, Year 6 **

1602


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Saturdays, Oct 17, 24, 31 & Nov 7; 10 a.m. to noon; Physical Sciences Building, room 240. Register.

Four Professors from UCSC present an overview of current research topics, addressing fundamental questions about how living creatures grow and reproduce. They will also describe how discoveries in molecular biology are used to develop treatments for human diseases. A background in science is not necessary. Everyone with an interest in biology and medicine is encouraged to attend. Many of us found the first five years of this course fascinating as we learned about cutting edge research at UCSC.

The Molecular Biology Course will be offered on four consecutive Saturday mornings, beginning October 17th at 10:00 a.m. in the Physical Sciences Building, room 240, the same classroom as last year.


 * 17 October—Professor Barry Bowman ** ,

Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology

A basic review of DNA, RNA and Protein will be provided. In addition, Professor Bowman will describe a new method for making changes in genes that could dramatically effect human biology. We will discuss the ethical implications.


 * 24 October—Professor James Ackman ** ,

Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology

How do the neurons in our brain get wired together to form a network? Professor Ackman has developed a method of seeing the activity of thousands of neurons in a whole brain.


 * 31 October—Professor Chad Saltikov ** ,

Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology

How do microorganisms survive in extreme environments? Professsor Saltikov has shown that bacteria in the soil can generate a form of arsenic that is highly toxic to humans.


 * 7 November—Professor Hinrich Boeger ** ,

Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology

How are genes turned off and on? Virtually every cell in our body has the same set of genes, but the cells have different functions because they use different genes. Professor Boeger has discovered some of the basic mechanisms by which gene activity is controlled.

**An Introduction to Wagner's “Ring” — Phyllis Neumann**

1603

Wednesdays, Oct 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov 4, 11; 10 a.m. to noon; Museum of Art and History. Register.

“An Introduction to Wagner’s Ring,” is intended for those who have never attended a Ring Cycle, or who have felt too intimidated by its length and complexity. It is also for those already familiar with “The Ring” who want to delve a bit more deeply into the story, the music, the leitmotifs and the characters.

The course speaks to the lay person in a language that is easy to understand as well as entertaining. It uses visuals and musical excerpts through PowerPoint to demonstrate the power of The Ring and the meaning of its music.

Week 1: Introduction to the Ring

The first class will introduce Wagner and his contribution to music and the arts. It will explore the Festspielhaus in Bayreuth, Germany, and discuss Wagner’s vision and his influence in the world. It will discuss the many components of “The Ring,” i.e., synopses, leitmotifs, musical instruments, structure, singers, etc.

Week 2: Das Rheingold

Week 3: Die Walküre

Week 4: Siegfried

Week 5: Götterdämmerung

Classes two through five will discuss the synopses of each opera, pointing out the emotional conflicts in each main character and incorporating Arthur Rackham’s famous illustrations. It will also play the leitmotifs associated with the characters and themes to better understand how the music and story are integrated.

Week 6: Excerpts of “The Ring”

The last class will be devoted to watching excerpts from “The Ring.”

Instructor: Phyllis Neumann has taught this class five times at the Pescadero Opera Society, which she organized in Pescadero, California.

This class will meet six Wednesday mornings from 10 to noon, starting October 7, at the Museum of Art and History, 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz.


 * The 3Rs of Retirement: Read, Reflect and Re-Invent — Jill Steinberg, Ph.D. **

1604

Fridays, Oct. 30, Nov. 6 713; 10:30 to noon; 320 Keystone Ave., Santa Cruz.

When thinking about successful retirement, most people and the research literature focus on financial planning. Although having enough financial resources is generally necessary, it doesn't by itself lead to a successful retirement. Instead of emphasizing financial preparedness, this course deals with the personal and interpersonal factors in creating a successful retirement. We will:

1. identify the key factors associated with retirement adjustment and happiness

2. discuss how retirement impacts men and women differently; and

3. explore issues affecting couples and some ways to resolve them

With all that one learns and the resources earned, one can have a successful retirement, but without reflection and planning, one's retirement can be disappointing.

This course will involve some readings to prepare us for a thoughtful discussion so that we can learn from each other – whether we are enjoying our retirement or planning for one, we can mentor each other so that we each can have the best retirement possible.

Jill Steinberg is an OLLI member, Emeritus Professor, SJSU, Clinical Psychologist and founder of MyRetirementWorks.com. You can contact Jill through her website or at: jillasteinberg@gmail.com

This seminar course will take place on three Fridays, October 30, November 6 and 13, 10:30 to noon at Jill’s house; 320 Keystone Ave., Santa Cruz.

Enrollment limited to 10 people.


 * Espressivo — Michel Singher **

1605

Fridays, November 6 and 13; 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.; the music room of the Peace United Church of Christ, 900 High St., Santa Cruz. [@[|http://fccsantacruz.org/FCCSantaCruz/index.php/contact-us]|Directions]].

This course will serve as an introduction to the performance of Gustav Mahler's “Das Lied von der Erde” by Espressivo—a small, intense orchestra on January 7, 2016.

— Who was Gustav Mahler?

— Overview of his prior seven symphonies

— Explications of the poems and their sources

— The Mahler/Schoenberg relationship

— Detailed examination of the musical composition as a composition, and of its relationship to the text

Michel Singher is Artistic Director of the newly founded Espressivo—a small, intense orchestra. He had retired as Coordinator of Opera at SJSU, but soon decided he could use some more learning as his life became long. Previous academic positions included being the music director of orchestras and opera and teaching conducting, first at the University of Washington, then at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. (He conducted a Mahler symphony on each occasion, respectively the Fourth and the Second.)

Off campus, Michel has been an opera conductor in Hamburg, Antwerp, Buffalo, Denver and Phoenix, among many other pits, and has surfaced on the symphonic podiums of the Berlin Radio Symphony, Hamburg Symphony and Seattle Symphony, among others. He and his abstract painter wife Elizabeth Kaminski moved from New York to Felton ten years ago, and haven’t regretted it a single day.

Fridays, November 6 and 13; 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.; the music room of the Peace United Church of Christ, 900 High Street, Santa Cruz.

** The New World Order: Disorder — Prof. Ronnie Gruhn ** 1606

Tuesdays: November 10, 2015; January 12, 2016; Feb. 9, 2016. 10 to noon; Peace United Church of Christ, 900 High Street, Santa Cruz. Directions.

This class will take place in three sessions:

Session 1 — The Mess in Europe

Session 2 — The unraveling of international institutions and the attempted building of new ones — Climate, Trade, Refugees

Session 3 — Hot issues for 2016: Middle East, Terrorism, technology, climate refugees, who is to lead, etc.

We are very fortunate to have Ronnie Gruhn, Professor Emerita of Politics at UCSC, as one of our teachers. She has a passionate and undiminished interest in reading, writing, and talking about world affairs. Her courses offer powerful insights into what is happening today.

Please note that the interval between meetings will give us the opportunity to discuss emerging events.

** Vladimir Putin’s Russia — Prof. Peter Kenez ** 1607

Mondays, December 7 and 14 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Peace United Church of Christ, 900 High Street, Santa Cruz. . Register.

Peter Kenez is Emeritus Professor of History at UCSC and a founding faculty member of Stevenson College. Peter's research and teaching have focused on Russian and Eastern European History, Soviet film, and the widely acclaimed interdisciplinary course on the Holocaust taught with Murray Baumgarten. He is the author of nine books including the autobiographical “Varieties of Fear” and most recently “The Coming of the Holocaust: From Antisemitism to Genocide.” A native of Hungary Peter left in 1956 and has returned often to teach and do research.

Chinese Short Stories by Lu Xun — Prof. Dale Johnson
(1608)

Four Wednesdays, January 20 & 27, February 3 & 10. 10:00 a.m. – noon. Boardroom of the Museum of Art and History.

If you plan to attend, please register for this course immediately in case we have to notify you of any change in the course meeting place.

** to read or print the stories in a single file. Here are links to the individual stories, in an easier to read format:** 1. Kong Yiji [|(Kung I-chi)] 2. [|Medicine] 3. [|An Incident] 4. [|A Madman's Diary] 5. [|The New Year's Sacrifice] 6. [|The True Story of Ah Q]

The short stories of Lu Xun, the most prominent fiction writer in the early days of the Chinese republic. Lu was not only a brilliant writer, but one of the first to write in the vernacular language, (versus the Classical language, to which only educated classes had access), marking the beginnings of writing in the language of speech.

Born in 1881 into a family of educated men of the scholar–official class, his grandfather was imprisoned in Beijing when Lu was about 13 years old, and the family never recovered from this blow. Lu’s father was an educated man and a teacher, but he was unable to provide a suitable income for his family, and he died young of tuberculosis.

Lu’s stories document a conscious attempt to educate Chinese people about the social injustices that permeated Chinese society. He was a teacher at the university, and was a beacon for young people seeking an education during a time of political unrest, when young people were challenging old rules and social customs. He was the most prominent fiction writer of his day and his influence was enormous. His writings are most provocative.

Dale Johnson was Professor of Chinese at both Oberlin College and UCSC. He has engagingly demonstrated his love for and knowledge of Chinese literature in OLLI classes for the past three years.

Miriam Ellis
(1609)

Five Wednesdays, February 10,17 & 24, March 2 & 9. 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Museum of Art and History

The 19th century saw the flowering of a genre related to opera but divergent enough in style and tone to have its own identity, i.e., “operetta,” or “little opera.” In this class, we will explore European and American works by significant composers from various cultures, among them, Offenbach, Gilbert & Sullivan, Lehar, Strauss, Herbert, Friml, Romberg, and their musical theater descendants, Novello, Coward, Porter, Bernstein, Kern, Sondheim, and others. Miriam will be joined by expert colleagues, familiar to OLLI members, in presenting highlights from this melodious and nostalgia-laden world of music and theater.

**Dante in Love — Prof. Margaret Brose** (1610)

Four Tuesdays, Feb. 16 & 23, March 1 & 8. 10:00 a.m. – noon. Museum of Art and History.



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//Margaret Brose is Professor Emerita of Literature, UCSC. She has written widely on Italian Literature (from Dante, Petrarch, Leopardi, to Primo Levi); her book Leopardi Sublime won the Modern Language Association’s Mararro prize for the best book in Italian Literary Studies (2000). She has been teaching Dante at UCSC for over 25 years//.

Looking Anew at the Silent Clowns — Prof. Robert Goff
(1611)

Four Mondays, March 7, 14, 21 & 28. 10 a.m. – noon. Museum of Art and History.

Presentation of short and feature-length films from the 19-’teens and ’twenties that were wildly popular with audiences at the peak of American silent comedy. Discussion of their sources, how they were made, their social milieu, their uniqueness as an art form.

• Charlie Chaplin, “The Pawnshop,” “Easy Street”

• Harold Lloyd, “Safety Last”

• Buster Keaton, “Cops,” “Sherlock Jr.,” “The General”

//Robert Goff is retired from UCSC where he taught philosophy for many years. In the early years of the campus his college (Cowell) encouraged faculty members to offer a topical course outside their professional specialty, and thus was born “Comic Embodiment,” which he taught while indulging his taste in silent film. At the beginning of one final class meeting a student placed a cream pie on the table, leaving Goff to wonder silently for an hour about how it would feel when the pie was delivered, whole and at speed, to his face. The memorable denouement: the bringer of the pie produced knife, forks, and napkins, decorously passing a piece to each class member and the instructor.//

Shakespeare — Prof. Michael Warren
(1612)

Five Tuesdays, March 15, 22 & 29 April 5 &12. 10 a.m. – noon. Museum of Art and History.

We are fortunate to again have Prof. Michael Warren, an erudite and vastly entertaining Shakespeare scholar, giving another course for us. His Shakespeare courses for OLLI for the previous six years have been enthusiastically praised by our members. Michael will be discussing A //Midsummer Night’s Dream// and //Hamlet//, to be performed by Santa Cruz Shakespeare. This course can greatly enhance your enjoyment at the festival this summer.

We’ll study //Dream// on March 15 and 22, and //Hamlet// on March 29, April 5, and April 12. Please read for the first class the first three acts of //Dream//.

//Professor Michael Warren is emeritus professor of literature at UCSC and has been a consultant to Santa Cruz Shakespeare since its inception.//

Physics for Future Presidents — Prof. Roger Knacke
(1613)

Five Thursdays, March 17, 24 & 31, April 7 & 14. 10 a.m. – noon. Museum of Art and History

This course will explore the science behind several current issues, loosely based on the popular science book, Physics for Future Presidents, (ISBN 978-0-393-06627-2) by Richard A. Muller. Reading the book to accompany the course is suggested, but not “required.” We’ll focus on science, not politics. No background in science is necessary.

Meeting 1. Energy—Power, Coal, Oil, Solar Power, Alternatives

Meeting 2. Nukes—Weapons, Radioactivity, Nuclear Power

Meeting 3. Space—GPS, Satellites, Space Exploration, Spying

Meeting 4. Global Warming—Climate, Atmosphere, Sea Level, Solutions.

Meeting 5. Search for Extrasolar Planets, Black Holes

Students can prepare for the first meeting by reading Section 2 (Chapters 5,6,7) of Physics for Future Presidents.

//Dr. Roger Knacke is Emeritus Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Penn State, Erie, where he retired as director of the School of Science in 2010. He has authored or co-authored more than 100 papers on interstellar matter and planetary atmospheres and has held numerous NASA and NSF grants.//

Jill Steinberg, Ph.D. & Wendy Harrison
(1614)

Three Fridays, February 26, March 4 & 11, 10:30 a.m. – noon. 320 Keystone Ave., Santa Cruz. To register for this course, contact Lois Widom, lowidom@yahoo.com. Enrollment is limited to 12 people.

When thinking about successful retirement, most people and the research literature focus on financial planning. Although having enough financial resources is necessary, it doesn’t by itself lead to a successful retirement. Instead of emphasizing financial preparedness, this course deals with the personal and interpersonal factors in creating a successful retirement. We will:

1. identify the key factors associated with retirement adjustment and happiness

2. discuss how retirement impacts men and women differently and explore issues affecting couples as well as some ways to resolve these issues

3. discuss how to find one’s purpose.

With all that one learns and the resources earned, one can have a successful retirement, but without reflection and planning, one’s retirement can be disappointing.This course will involve some readings to prepare us for a thoughtful discussion so that we can learn from each other – whether we are enjoying our retirement or planning for one, we can mentor each other so that we each can have the best retirement possible.

Jill Steinberg is an OLLI member, Emeritus Professor, SJSU, Clinical Psychologist, Author and founder of MyRetirementWorks.com. You can contact Jill through her website or at: jillasteinberg@gmail.com

Wendy Harrison is an OLLI member and a recently retired teacher who worked in special education for the Santa Cruz COE. She is interested in exploring what makes retirement a success.

**Upcoming Espressivo Performance of “Pierrot lunaire” — Michel Singher** (1615)

Two Fridays, March 18 and 25, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the music room of The Peace United Church of Christ, 900 High Street in Santa Cruz.

An introduction to Arnold Schoenberg’s //sui generis//, iconic masterpiece, as preparation for the April 7th concert by Espressivo—a small, intense orchestra. By 1912, Schoenberg had abandoned the tonal system that had organized music for four centuries, and was experimenting with new modes of coherence. Setting this cycle of 21 short poems proved an ideal vehicle for concentrated, organic forms of continuity. Moreover, the decadently Expressionist texts were a suitable canvas for Schoenberg’s post-Brahmsian/post-Mahlerian musical sensibility. Igor Stravinsky, despite his position at a polar remove from his contemporary’s aesthetic, called “Pierrot” “the solar plexus of modern music.”

//Michel Singher is Artistic Director of the newly founded Espressivo—a small, intense orchestra. He had retired as Coordinator of Opera at SJSU, but soon decided he could use some more learning as his life became long. Previous academic positions included being the music director of orchestras and opera and teaching conducting, first at the University of Washington, then at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.//

//Off campus, Michel has been an opera conductor in Hamburg, Antwerp, Buffalo, Denver and Phoenix, among many other pits, and has surfaced on the symphonic podiums of the Berlin Radio Symphony, Hamburg Symphony and Seattle Symphony, among others. He and his abstract painter wife Elizabeth Kaminski moved from New York to Felton ten years ago, and haven’t regretted it a single day. His first course for OLLI on Mahler was greatly appreciated by the music lovers in our group.//

This class will meet from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on two Fridays, March 18 and 25 in the music room of The Peace United Church of Christ, 900 High Street in Santa Cruz.

Spring Birds Around Monterey Bay — Prof. Todd Newberry
(1616) Mondays at 8 a.m., April 4, 11, 18, and 25.

Professor Todd Newberry, a UCSC professor emeritus, lifelong birdwatcher, and author of “The Ardent Birder,” has again agreed to teach his very popular lifelong birdwatching course, Spring Birds around Monterey Bay.

Todd emphasizes how to look for and listen to birds, and you will finish the course with a new awareness of the natural world. It will involve easy walking, but a considerable amount of standing absolutely still. If this is a problem, bring a small folding chair. Also, remember to bring binoculars.The class will meet on four Monday mornings promptly at 8:00 a.m. on April 4, 11, 18, and 25. Please enroll in this course only if you will be able to attend all four classes. The first class will meet in the front parking lot of the UCSC Arboretum, and Todd will arrange meeting places for subsequent classes.

This course is limited to 12 students. In order to be fair, the only way to enroll in this class is to send an e-mail to Lois Widom, (Lowidom@yahoo.com ). If you are among the first 12, she will send you a registration form. She will also create a waiting list.

The Spotlight — Theater and its Elements — Margot Hoffman
(1617) Thursday afternoons, April 7, 14, 21, and 28, 1 – 3 p.m., Museum of Art and History.

Students will have a chance to discuss and actively learn about all elements of theater! In a student-driven learning environment students will explore the vocabulary and fundamental of theater and performance. Through scene study, fun improvisation, and skill-based games, students will be introduced to narrative, dialogue, vocal and physical control and character. Come and play an active role in the creative process and learn about what interests you in theater!.

//Margot Hoffman has been working in both performance and educational theater for most of her life. She is highly involved with many types of theater professionals and arts endeavors around Santa Cruz. Theater education is her driving goal. She is an International Thespian of the CA Thespian Society and received the Presidential Scholarship of the Arts at George Washington University. She has performed at the Broadway Playhouse, on Cabrillo Stage, with the Shakespeare Theatre Company of DC, and in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. She is currently an associate teaching artist at West Performing Arts, which puts on more than 80 children’s shows a year.//

This class will meet on four Thursday afternoons, April 7, 14, 21, and 28 from 1 to 3 at the Museum of Art and History, 705 Front Street in downtown Santa Cruz.

Biblical Gospels — Prof. Gildas Hamel
(1618) Tuesdays, April 19 & 26. 10 a.m. – noon. Museum of Art and History.

This two-lecture course is a presentation and discussion of two to three gospel parables per lecture. The emphasis is on discussion of the ethical and political issues these very short stories may still raise for our society. With the modern situation in mind, I think it will be valuable to discuss the notion of justice via the story of the workers in the vineyard from the gospel of Matthew. Other stories are from Luke: the story of the dishonest steward, the so-called prodigal son (shouldn't it be called the story of the prodigal father?), and the good Samaritan (about the critical question: who is my neighbor?).

//Professor Gildas Hamel, a true Renaissance man, was born in Brittany; he taught high school in Jerusalem in 1966–68 while attending courses at the École Biblique where he fell in love with scholarship. He became an instructor in French at UCSC in 1974, got a Ph.D. in History of Consciousness in 1983, and continued to teach French as well as classical languages and history. His classes for OLLI have been insightful and historically fascinating.//