Courses & Events

This course will explore the current political division within our country byexamining the impact  of current events,the exploitation by social media and the changing landscape of the politicalmachine since the 2016 presidentialelection. We'll focus on thecampaign timeline to illustrate how eventswere used to either enforce or spin an existing political narrative.We'll review the 2016 electioncycle with an objective view of events and an examination of the Russian influencethrough the use of "fake news." Finally,we'll provide critical thinking toolsto help make the 2020 presidentialelection more enjoyable, or at leastmore bearable.

Botanical gardens were first developed inthe 16th century as medicinalgardens, but today they are destination sites for plant lovers around theworld. From the oldest botanicalgarden in England, theChelsea Physic Garden,to the newly revived Scampston Hall walled garden in North Yorkshire,and from the local Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plaine, Kan., to the Irish NationalGarden in Belfast, wewill explore the history, beautyand meaning of the botanical garden through photography, art andliterature. You won't want to miss this armchair tour!

This course will explore events leading to WWI and how western society, so full of progress and optimism, became embroiled in the most horrific conflict in history. We will discuss pre-war tensions and diplomatic maneuvering, how the nations of Europe were drawn in, the failure of rival plans for quick victory, the resulting stalemate and the evolution of extensive trench systems. We'll identify the main personalities and battles, which determined the outcome along with the factors that led to the Allied victory, including U.S. involvement. We'll examine the individual soldier and the"psychology of war," the misery of life in the trenches and how soldiers adapted.

Have you ever looked at a work of art and wondered how it was made? What materials and techniques were involved in the creation of great works? Where artists got theirpaints, pastels, pencils and inks beforeAmazon? When we know what artistsendure to create a work ourunderstanding and appreciation for the art-and the artist-is enhanced. We'll look at great paintings, drawingsand prints through time, from cave paintings to today's art, and discuss how theywere and are made. Come discover how Vermeer and others obtained, made andpainted with that beautiful ultramarine blue.

What separates a great movie from a terrible one? What elements go together to create an enduring classic? How do you describe your favorite movie to a friend, family member or significant other beyond the words "awesome," "boring" or "alien invasion?"In this class, you'll learn what the people who write about movies for a living think about when they watch a film and how to use that knowledge to deepen your own understanding of your favorite flicks. Together, we'll explore the elements and artistic choices of film making through short films,images and clips from both classics and recent releases.

The stories associated with supernatural beings and events link people to their origins and provide an explanation about their existence. With influences from Shintoism, Buddhism and Taoism, Japanese folklore is filled with supernatural beings ranging from gruesome and mysterious to humorous and playful. We'll introduce prominent Japanese apparitions, but we will also look beyond the initial spectacle depicted in folktales, historical accounts,statues, prints, writings, and theatrical performances to reveal the origins and effects of such beings on Japanese culture and society.

At the end of the 19th century, artists began to challenge the belief that art must realistically depict the world. We'll explore the streams of intellectual thought, the innovations in science and technology, and the cultures that gave birth to the three great modern art movements: Cubism, Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism, and we'll see how the artists themselves were shaped by the eras in which they worked. Skeptics and enthusiasts alike will finally be able to "make sense of Modern Art."

ABBA's timeless songs propel this joyful tale of love, romance andfriendship. Winner of five Tony Awards, Mamma Mia! shares the story ofbride-to-be, Sophie, and her quest to find her long-lost father in time to walkher down the aisle at her island wedding. ABBA classics like "Dancing Queen,""Take a Chance on Me" and the title number of this smash hit musical are sureto have you dancing in the aisles!

Historic military leaders have won greatvictories, but they have also committed incredible blunders. We'll examine what  happened and how they might have beenaverted. First, we'll cover the Roman disaster in the Teutoburger Forest of 9 A.D.,the Scottish Battle of Bannockburn in 1314,and two Revolutionary battles-the Battle for New York and theBattle of Trenton. Then, we'llreview the 1814 Battle ofBladensburg and the capture of Washington, D.C.,the Civil War Battle of the Crater, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Finally, we'll examine WWI'sBattle of Verdun, WWII's Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge.

In this course we will explore the music and lives of some of the great composers of classical music. We will track their careers from their early work, through influences that impacted their musical styles, to the late work that culminated their careers. Each class will explore one or two composers in detail, with many musical examples. Composers will range from Johann Sebastian Bach to Philip Glass and several in between.

In thelatest edition ofOsher Extended!-our day-long immersion into a single course of study-we're partnering with Nelson-Atkinsprovenance research specialiststo explorethe issues surrounding thousands ofworks of art that were stolen, looted, displaced or illegallyexchanged during the Naziera in Europe. Jewish collectorswere particularly affected by this looting due to Nazi laws thatforbade Jews fromowning property. After thewar, Allied forces found much of the lootedart and returned itto the rightful owners, but other items remain lost. TheNelson-Atkins has researchedand documented the ownership history of its once-looted artworks.

As part ofour study, Michael Hoeflich, former dean of the KU School of Law and versatileOsher instructor, will explore the dark history of the Nazis' assault on art and explainthe laws governing their restitution and title.

MacKenzieMallon,Nelson-Atkins provenance specialist,will describe the journey of several works ofart that were once in thehands of Nazis, includingtheir thefts and return to theirrightful owners and the subsequent legal acquisition by the Nelson-Atkins.

Finally, Alan Lubert, Nelson-Atkins popular docent and veteran Osher artsand literature instructor, willguide us throughthe current Nelson- Atkins exhibition, "Discriminating Thieves:Nazi-looted Art and Restitution," highlighting four worksof arts salvaged fromthe Nazis. MacKenzie will also show us Nazi-held artworksin other galleries of the Museum.

Of course,no visit to the Nelson wouldbe complete without lunch in the majestic Rozzelle Court and time on yourown to visit other galleriesand the Museum store. Join us!

Although federal highway construction started in 1916,the U.S. became a car-oriented nationafter World War II. Some of us recall tourist travel on Route 66 or the Lincoln Highway when they were two-lane roads,eating homemade sandwiches or foodfrom roadside diners, spending the night at modest tourist courts while on theway to the Grand Canyon, Mt. Rushmore, or lesser known travel destinations.Then came the Interstate Highways, Howard Johnsonsand Holiday Inn. We will recallthe years when gas was cheap and cars were large through film clips, historical accounts, travel music and ourown memories.

America's presidents leadextraordinary lives and make unique contributions to society. But the story doesn't end when theirterms expire. Presidents have liveda combined 450 years after leaving the White House. Many go onto accomplish more than they did while in office. Jimmy Carter eradicatedguinea worm disease, William Howard Taft became ChiefJustice of the United States, and George Washington established one of thelargest alcohol distilleries

in the nation. This course willexamine the lives of our former commanders in chief after public office,including their libraries and monuments, and often overlooked gooddeeds.

Long before Kansas womenobtained the unfettered right to votein 1912 (a full eightyears before the 19th Amendment established that right nationally), they foundother ways to affect policy in publicspheres dominated by men. The same indomitable spirit that enabled pioneer women to withstand the rigors of frontierlife infused their efforts to shapethe society in which they lived. Sara Robinson, Julia Lovejoy, Clarina Nichols, Carry Nation, Annie Diggs, Mary Lease, and Lilla Day Monroe, among others, took on such struggles as those toabolish slavery, repel demon rum,improve the lot of farmers and secure more rights for women.

Few places in the world have experienced as much historical drama as the world's longest river. For more than 4,500, years the Nile has witnessed sweeping events of discovery, conflict and engineering. It's been the stage for larger-than-life characters, remarkable edifices and far-reaching ideas. Join us for a sampling of stories that illustrate the geography, cultures and history of that primeval waterway, the Nile River.

The Great Depression of the 1930s was the longest period of "hard times" in U.S. history. However, not every family had the same experience. We will cover various personal situations and national trends, as well as events in Kansas, including the Dust Bowl. We'll examine President Hoover's efforts and Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal programs like the Works Progress Administration and the Agricultural Adjustment Administration. We will also view the New Deal's legacy, including the FDIC and Social Security. Finally,we'll listen to 1930s music and share family stories from this tumultuous era.

George W. Bush and Donald Trump won recent presidential elections despite getting fewer popular votes than their opponents. They owed their victories to the role of the Electoral College, a unique institution mandated by the American Constitution. Why was the Electoral College included in the Constitution? How did it work initially? How does it work now? What prompted the changes in its functioning over the course of American history? What are its strengths and weaknesses? Can it be eliminated or reformed? What are the leading proposals to change the method by which we select our presidents? This course will address these questions.

This course will explore the historical development of the U.S.-Mexico border from the perspective of both Mexico and the United States.Together, we will explore how the border evolved and hardened through the creation of the Border Patrol, the Mexican Revolution and the effects of Prohibition. We'll review personal accounts, photographs and songs of"borderlanders," along with government officials providing crucial context to today's current debates. Finally, we will examine how to negotiate the border in the age of nationalism.

NOTE: This course will meet in Regnier Hall 165 and not as listed in the catalog. 

Before the increasing news coverage, any mention of Uyghurs was mostly met with a puzzled look. Who are they ... and how is that pronounced? As news venues have highlighted the plight of this Turkic ethnic group in far western China, awareness is growing, but still many questions remain. In this course, we will explore the history and culture of Uyghurs living in a region that has a contested past. The goal of this course is to promote understanding of the complex historical, cultural, political and economic reasons behind the current human rights atrocities against Uyghurs and other Turkic populations in Xinjiang.

NOTE: This course will meet in Regnier Hall 165 and not as listed in the catalog. 

The collaboration of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II resulted in the creation of the modern American musical play, where a serious story was told through dialogue, music and dance.Building upon their decades of writing Broadway musicals with other partners, Rodgers and Hammerstein became the most important creative team in the history of the American musical theater. This course will include detailed commentary on several of their most important shows.

History's most destructive war began onSeptember 1, 1939 in Europe, and eventually spread across the world. We'llreview the events leading up to the war, the German advances of 1939-1941 andAmerica's subsequent entry into conflict. Then, we'll focus on the titanicstruggle in Russia, and the campaigns in North Africa and Sicily. The finalclass will examine the Allies' return to Europe with the D-Day landings, the1943-1945 Russian counteroffensives, the liberation of Western Europe, and thefall of the Third Reich.