Arts & Entertainment courses

"The Golden Girls" and the Politics of '80s Television

The proliferation of new fan sites, thousands of homemade products, a specially themed Caribbean cruise and even a Golden Girls-themed skateboard in the instructor's office (purchased at Comic-Con) are all testaments to the enduring power and legacy of that famous 1980s sitcom. While other shows in the 1980s retreated from the overt politicization of television commonly found in 1970s TV, "The Golden Girls" tackled issues like older and queer sexuality, feminism, immigration, menopause, HIV/AIDS, homelessness and healthcare every week. Today, "The Golden Girls" is one of the most successful series in rerun syndication. In this course, we'll investigate the cultural, political and historical significance of television in the 1980s through the case study of "The Golden Girls." By the end of the course, you'll be well-versed in histories and debates about '80s TV, policy and culture while understanding the resurgent popularity of the show and nostalgia for other older sitcoms in the present political moment.

Instructor Bio: Taylor Cole Miller is an assistant professor of media studies at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and co-editor of the academic collection, "The Golden Girls: Tales from the Lanai." He also makes TikToks about TV history under the handle @tvdoc.

January 17-31, 2026, Online

"West Side Story": Its Creation, Music and Legacy

"West Side Story" is an icon of American popular culture. An update of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" with a plot that addresses issues of youth violence, racism and hatred, the show remains as topical today as when it opened in 1957. We'll first focus on the show's creation by four driven collaborators: Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim. Next, we'll consider the music, placing it in the context of American music of the time and how it helps with characterization and dramatic progress in the show. Finally, we'll look at the two films (1961, 2021) and the show's continuing international legacy.

Instructor bio: Paul Laird is professor emeritus of musicology at the University of Kansas, where two of his teaching specialties were Baroque music and music of the United States. He has published widely on such topics as Leonard Bernstein and American musical theater and won the 2021 KU Chancellor's Club Career Teaching Award. Paul has taught many Osher classes since the program's inception at KU.

April 15-29, 2026, St Andrews Classroom

A History of Music in the White House From 1948 - 2016

Join us for a survey history of music in the White House from the Truman administration through the Obama years. Fun facts: President Truman was an accomplished pianist who started piano lessons at age seven! Yo-Yo Ma was seven when he performed at the White House for Presidents Kennedy and Eisenhower. Paul McCartney was approaching age 70 when he rocked the building performing "Hey Jude" for President and Mrs. Obama and their guests. Want to learn more?

Instructor Bio: Jean Hein recently moved to Kansas from South Carolina, where she was director and recorder performer with Columbia Baroque as well as a clarinetist. She currently teaches online recorder classes for seniors. Hein has served on the board of Early Music America. She holds music degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and Northwestern University.

June 9-23, 2026, St Andrews Classroom

A History of the Kennedy Center Awards for Musicians: 1978 - 2024

Join us for a fascinating exploration of the Kennedy Center Awards for musicians and performing artists from 1978 - 2024 featuring star-studded tributes to musical geniuses who have made our lives better through their performing, teaching, scholarship and humanity. Each week we'll look at award recipients representing various musical genres such as Beverly Sills, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, Dolly Parton, Seiji Ozawa, Itzhak Perlman, Carole King, Paul McCartney and many more. Come ready to be inspired, dazzled and amazed!

Instructor Bio: Jean Hein recently moved to Kansas from South Carolina, where she was director and recorder performer with Columbia Baroque as well as a clarinetist. She currently teaches online recorder classes for seniors. Hein has served on the board of Early Music America. She holds music degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and Northwestern University.

March 25, 2026 to April 8, 2026, St Andrews Classroom

Cartoons: From Disney to Saturday Morning to Pixar and Beyond

We started watching cartoons as children, either at the movies or on television on Saturday mornings. Many of us continue to watch them, even without children or grandchildren. We'll look at the invention of the animated cartoon in the Silent Era, the creation of a certain Mouse by a guy from Kansas City and the entertainment empire that spawned, cartoons from other studios (Betty Boop, Popeye, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tom and Jerry, Mr. Magoo, Mighty Mouse), how cartoons went to war in the 1940s and how they migrated to television, both on Saturday mornings and on "kiddie" shows on weekday afternoons. We'll review the Disney renaissance in the 1990s, with "The Little Mermaid" and "The Lion King," long-running prime-time cartoons such as "The Simpsons," recent Disney competitors (Don Bluth, Ralph Bakshi, DreamWorks), and Pixar, who led the way in computer-generated animation with "Toy Story" and "Frozen". We'll also share where we watched cartoons: the movies, television, VHS/DVD/BluRay and now streaming services like Disney+.

Instructor bio: Karl Menninger is a retired government lawyer who seems to have found an avocation teaching courses on disability law, citizenship, comedy and James Bond, among other topics.

February 19, 2026 to March 5, 2026, Village Shalom in Person
April 14-28, 2026, Brewster Place In Person
June 11-25, 2026, Beacon Mental Health (Clay County)

German Genius: The Stories Behind Jeans, Teddy Bears and Porcelain

Discover the surprising German roots of three beloved icons: blue jeans, teddy bears and fine porcelain. In German historian Anette Isaacs' lively course, you will meet Levi Strauss, Margarete Steiff and the alchemists behind Meissen's white and gold - visionaries whose inventions shaped fashion, childhood and luxury. A playful and enriching dive into history, creativity and pure German ingenuity!

German born and raised, Anette Isaacs is a historian and public educator who has presented hundreds of programs on more than 40 topics (all pertaining to her native country's history, politics and culture) all over the United States. She holds master's degrees in American studies, political science and history and currently serves as the director of OLLI at Florida International University in Miami.

February 17, 2026 to March 3, 2026, Online

Happy Days: A Nostalgic Review of the 1950s

For a significant majority of Americans, the '50s were good times. The Baby Boom, prosperity and rising homeownership fueled more fun than in previous and subsequent decades. Do you remember "Howdy Doody," poodle skirts, S&H Green Stamps, the McGuire Sisters and big cars with chrome and tail fins? We'll look back on these things and more when covering topics such as suburbanization, television, cars, movies, music, fads, fashions, foods, beverages, toys, games and print media. We'll also touch on social critiques and worries like polio. We'll compare our memories to documents, film clips and music.

Instructor bio: Carl Graves, Ph.D., holds a master's degree in U.S. history from the University of Kansas and a doctorate from Harvard. He taught at the university and community college levels and at Kansas City's Pembroke Hill School.

December 1-15, 2025, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility In Person

Haydn and Mozart

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791) are both major names in the classical music world. They were friends and colleagues, and their music bears stylistic similarities, but the circumstances of their lives were very different. Over three weeks, we'll get introduced to their lives, music and the culture in which they composed.

Instructor Bio: Paul Laird is professor emeritus of musicology at the University of Kansas, where two of his teaching specialties were Baroque music and music of the United States. He has published widely on such topics as Leonard Bernstein and American musical theater and won the 2021 KU Chancellor's Club Career Teaching Award. Paul has taught many Osher classes since the program's inception at KU.

February 16, 2026 to March 2, 2026, St Andrews Classroom

Hyphenated Rock

After Rhythm and Blues, Country, and Western music became Rock and Roll, subgenres started to appear: Rockabilly, Soul, Prog Rock, Motown, etc. In this course we will explore the origins, impact, and influence of each type, illustrated with many musical examples. Please join the conversation.

Instructor Bio: Steve Lopes, A.E., B.A., M.A., M. Ed., was an educator for 15 years prior to 30 years of advocating for teachers as a Kansas-NEA organizer. He enjoys researching rock 'n' roll history and sharing it with Osher participants.

February 11-25, 2026, St Andrews Classroom

KU-phoria

One school is better than another because of a variety of measures; their academics, athletics, alumni and students, environment, traditions. The University of Kansas has it all. This class examines the stories that make KU better than the rest. Curtis Marsh has spent his 30-year career on campus, half of which was spent with KU Info, a program that answered any KU question imaginable. He is the co-founder of the KU Osher Institute and the past director of the DeBruce Center. Known on campus as "Mr. KU," his book, entitled "KU-phoria," is a collection of 60 stories that prove KU is the best. Join Marsh for a deep dive into KU's past present and future.

Instructor Bio: Curtis Marsh has spent his 30-year career on campus, half of which was spent with KU Info, a program that answered any KU question imaginable. He is the co-founder of the KU Osher Institute and the past director of the DeBruce Center. Known on campus as "Mr. KU," his book, entitled "KU-phoria," is a collection of 60 stories that prove KU is the best.

February 17, 2026 to March 3, 2026, St Andrews Classroom
March 23, 2026 to April 6, 2026, KU Edwards Campus, Regnier Hall & Online

Poetry, Art and Philosophy: New Approaches to Abraham and Isaac

The story of Abraham's near-sacrifice of his son Isaac is one of the most well-known in the Bible. In this interactive online discussion class, we'll first read and discuss the text and then look at a number of paintings of the scene by different artists. Then we'll delve into the Christian philosopher Soren Kierkegaard's "Fear and Trembling," his book devoted exclusively to this story. Next, we'll explore the ways modern poets have used the imagery of this story in their work. Finally, we'll focus on Sarah, using both ancient and modern Jewish commentary. What did she know about her husband almost killing their son, when did she know it and how did this incident affect her? Advance reading is not required; all source materials will be provided during class.

Instructor Bio: Sarah Rosenson holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University, a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in Jewish Studies from the Spertus Institute. She practiced law, and then taught classes on ethics, philosophy and world religions at a private high school. She currently teaches adults both in-person and on various online platforms, including several Osher classes.

January 15-29, 2026, Online

Shakespeare's "Hamlet"

Shakespeare wrote plays to entertain the contemporaries of his time - audiences who shared a common set of cultural values and knowledge, which are embedded in the text of his plays. To see his plays, one had to go to the theatre, watch, listen and participate in the drama before them. Four hundred years later, we live in a radically different culture. To enjoy and be "entertained" by Shakespeare's plays, a few of those Elizabethan norms are integral to understand. Key cultural elements of plays will be presented in brief lectures, which will allow shared cultural concepts to be "seen" more easily within the plays. This, in turn, should allow the plays to be more engaging, as they were to Shakespeare's original audience. As time and energy allow, most of the class discussion will be based upon a close reading of, talking about and enjoying "Hamlet." Prepare to be entertained and enlivened by Shakespeare's art and insights into his world as well as our own.

Instructor Bio: Michael E. Cooley is a retired professor. He taught courses on Shakespeare for 20 years, various writing genres (creative, analytical/argumentative, advanced essay) for 33 years, as well as interdisciplinary honors courses. Michael taught at the University of Georgia, University of Louisville, Emporia State University and Berry College. He works to involve class members in active engagement with course content, to enjoy and celebrate the many pleasures of learning and to discuss the ways literature and art enliven the experience of life.

March 3-24, 2026, St Andrews Classroom

The Life and Music of George Gershwin

One of the leading musical figures in the history of the United States, George Gershwin (1898-1937) combined influences from Tin Pan Alley, classical music, jazz, and blues into a distinctive music style heard in his numerous Broadway musicals, songs for Hollywood films, and concert works like the famous Rhapsody in Blue. This course explores his biography and each aspect of his musical output.

Instructor Bio: Paul Laird is professor emeritus of musicology at the University of Kansas, where two of his teaching specialties were Baroque music and music of the United States. He has published widely on such topics as Leonard Bernstein and American musical theater and won the 2021 KU Chancellor's Club Career Teaching Award. Paul has taught many Osher classes since the program's inception at KU.

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