All upcoming Courses

Palaces were the residences of monarchs, but they were also buildings where the business of state was carried out. Within their walls intrigues, murders, love affairs, and deaths—the full pageant of British history—took place and royal magnificence was displayed. Siobhan Clarke, a guide for the independent charity Historic Royal Palaces, introduces the splendid corridors of royal power and pleasure through four significant sites: the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House at Whitehall Palace, and Kensington Palace.

At its peak, the Roman empire extended from Britain to the Sahara Desert, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Euphrates River. Yet in 476, the last western Roman emperor was deposed. In a 4-part series, historian David Gwynn analyzes the dramatic events which shaped the decline and fall of the Roman empire in the west, exploring the transformation from the ancient to the medieval world that laid the foundations for modern Europe. This session focuses on new kingdoms and the rise of papacy.

Discover the inherent physicality in great concert music, compositions never intended for dance brought to visual life through the imaginations of modern choreographers. Using works by Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven, and some of the greatest music from the Romantic era and beyond, classical music expert Saul Lilienstein examines how these masterworks inspired George Balanchine, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Twyla Tharp, and other creators, and were performed by renowned dancers and ensembles.

At Hollywood’s height, Joan Crawford and Bette Davis reigned supreme among leading ladies. Though similar, they differed in their approaches to acting and in the types of roles they chose. In a spring series, film historian Max Alvarez leads a gloriously melodramatic journey through the volatile lives and unforgettable careers of two extraordinary stars. Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy night—or two. This session focuses on Joan Crawford.

At Hollywood’s height, Joan Crawford and Bette Davis reigned supreme among leading ladies. Though similar, they differed in their approaches to acting and in the types of roles they chose. In a spring series, film historian Max Alvarez leads a gloriously melodramatic journey through the volatile lives and unforgettable careers of two extraordinary stars. Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy night—or two. This session focuses on Bette Davis.

Far from being just “Spain’s little brother,” Portugal has its own fascinating history and culture. Medievalist Paul B. Sturtevant explores the background of the country that has alternated between peripheral frontier and seat of imperial power, international pariah and tourism darling.

Attracted by the light and the beauty of the Mediterranean coast, artists including Renoir, Chagall, Matisse, Dufy, Bonnard, and Picasso settled in the French Riviera. Art historian Joseph Cassar discusses the importance of the South of France as an inspirational location for artists and surveys the major museums highlighting their works in the fabled region. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

Artists in Britain have delved into all major genres of painting, including historical subjects, landscapes, still life, and portraiture. Art historian Bonita Billman examines the major artists and movements in British painting, the social and cultural context in which their works were created, and the pivotal roles these painters have played from the Tudor period to the present. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

Across the centuries, there are major themes in the history of art that continue to appear and reappear. Portrayals of love, the still-life form, and the use of perspective and light and shade are a few notable examples that artists have interpreted in styles ranging from the naturalistic to surreal. Art historian Joseph Cassar examines important masterworks within selected genres and offers a new way to understand and appreciate the similarities—and the uniqueness—among artists and the cultural norms that influenced their choices. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)

Music and the visual arts have always been intertwined. For millennia, artists have obsessed about how to represent music’s invisible beauty, just as composers have sought to render art’s vibrant colors in pure sound. From Chagall’s set and costume designs for opera to artists who were also instruments, lecturer and concert pianist Rachel Franklin explores the intimate relationship between the visible and invisible arts in a 4-session series.