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Communication & Film
Upcoming Courses |
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Courses
A Discussion on 250 Years of Politics and History in America
What historical or political figure or event do you believe has had the most impact on America and why? Join this peer-led discussion that may include economic events, legislation, military actions, natural disasters, political leaders, and significant events that shaped America. Share your thoughts in small group discussions led by a facilitator about what has shaped our country over the past 250 years. Come prepared for a lively discussion.
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
A Discussion on 250 Years of Popular Culture in America
What pivotal moment in our nation's culture do you believe had the most impact and why? Join this peer-led discussion of important events or figures in areas that include art, literature, music, and sports. Facilitators will lead small group discussions as participants share their thoughts on the impact of the people and events that shaped our country over the past 250 years. Come prepared for a lively discussion.
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
A Discussion on 250 Years of Science and Technology in America
What science or technology do you believe has had the most impact on America and why? Join this peer-led discussion that may include research, inventions, and people that have shaped America. Share your thoughts in small group discussions led by a facilitator about what has shaped our country over the past 250 years. Come prepared for a lively discussion.
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
Beyond the Bounty
If you are familiar with the library resources but want to go beyond the basics, this session will explore some of the more interesting and unusual digital collections and databases. This is an advanced session that builds on the information introduced in Bounty of Boatwright.
No session is currently available for registration
Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.
No session is currently available for registration
Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.
Bounty of Boatwright
Learn how to find books, articles, and other resources that are of interest to you. This session provides an overview for beginners or those new to Osher and includes a virtual tour of the library.
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
Fearless People Photography
Taking photos of people can be a challenging experience. This class is designed to offer tips and strategies to improve your people-photography skills, resulting in more meaningful photos.
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
Four Friday Films: Musical Movies
Join us for four movies in which music is central to the story - in some cases, pretty much the whole story. We'll watch one of the finest movies made straight from a musical: Cabaret with Joel Gray and Lisa Minelli. (It won three Oscars.) Next a delightful off-beat film about Ireland's best MoTown band (yes, that's right): The Commitments. Then we'll revisit the Fab Four in A Hard Day's Night, a movie you probably remember as a 'lark,' but which critics now say was actually a significantly good movie - and is, of course, totally fun. Finally, a contemporary charmer with the inimitable Anna Kendrick: Pitch Perfect.
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
Greek Cinema: Films of Theo Angelopoulos
This seminar will focus on three films of Greek New Wave Cinema director Theo Angelopoulos, shown in class and followed by analysis and criticism. According to Angelopoulos, 'The world needs cinema now more than ever. It may be the last important form of resistance to the deteriorating world in which we live. In dealing with borders, boundaries, the mixing of languages and cultures today, I am trying to seek a new humanism, a new way.'
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
National Osher Online - August Wilson and His American Cycle - The First Five: 1904-1957
August Wilson was the first African American playwright to have a Broadway theater bear his name, honoring his powerful portrayal of African American culture. We will read, watch, and examine plays from Wilson's American Cycle, which represents each decade of the 20th century. We will explore his life and influences while focusing on 'Gem of the Ocean,' 'Joe Turner's Come and Gone,' 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom,' and 'Seven Guitars.' Note: The new refund policy applies.
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
National Osher Online - Living off The Laughter: History of Comedy in America
This course is a history class with a laugh track. We'll analyze the 20th and 21st centuries against their historic context, using humor as the platform. We'll discuss how comedy was shaped by and responsive to American society, and how comedians influenced and shaped American life. We'll cover Silent Films, Vaudeville, Radio, Screwball and Romantic Comedies, and the Golden Age of Television. We'll study how each generation's identity influenced what (and whom) they laughed at. Note: The new refund policy applies.
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
National Osher Online - The 60s Through the Great Speeches
The 1960s is a decade wrapped in myth and misunderstanding. Let's cut through that haze by turning to something powerful and concrete: the significant speeches of the era. We will listen to the voices that moved a nation and shaped history. With preserved recordings, we will discover what these speeches still have in them to teach us today. Note: The new refund policy applies.
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
National Osher Online - The Magic Behind Film Scores: The Role of Music in Great Movies - Part II
Continue the journey into how music drives the emotional power of film. Explore how scores and songs shape story, character, and memorable moments. We will focus on films in which songs take center stage, from iconic themes to pop- and rock-driven storytelling. Spanning genres and eras, we will see how composers, songwriters, and performers expanded the language of film music: from Westerns and global cinema to the pop-cultural impact of James Bond and the Beatles. Note: The new refund policy applies.
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
Rescuers: Portraits of Moral Courage in the Holocaust
Based on the book 'Rescuers: Portraits of Moral Courage in the Holocaust', this program highlights brave non-Jewish people who risked everything to help strangers in ten European countries Hitler ruled from 1939-1945.
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
Russian Cinema: Three Films of the Great Director Andrei Tarkovsky
In this seminar we will view and critique three films of one of Russia's greatest film directors. The British Film Institute described Tarkovsky as 'one of the great poets of world cinema' who 'meticulously crafted films of poignant beauty and inscrutable depth.' The films are 'Ivan's Childhood' (1962), 'Andrey Rublev' (1986), and 'The Sacrifice' (1986).
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
The Art In Photography-Improving Your Skills
Unleash the power of your photography. The class is designed to illustrate by examples ways to enhance your images using lines, shapes and facial expressions to compose powerful images.
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
The Beatles: Origins, Innovations, and Evolution of Their Musical Style
Over the course of four sessions we will track the evolution of the Beatles' music from before the beginning in 1958 to their breakup in 1970. For some of their most popular and influential songs we will listen to a mix of official releases, outtakes, film clips, and live performances to discover what there is in the composition, arrangement, and recording techniques that we react to so strongly.
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
The Secret Life of Gardens: Beauty, Drama, and the Web of Life
Behind every garden lies a hidden world of beauty, survival, and connection. In this photo-filled presentation, Richmond nature photographer and Certified Master Naturalist Jim Easton explores how gardens become vibrant ecosystems filled with pollination, predation, seasonal change, and surprising wildlife interactions. Through engaging stories and striking images, discover how plants, insects, birds, and other creatures form a dynamic web of life unfolding right outside our doors.
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
The Virginia Housewife: Mary Randolph, Southern Hospitality, and America's First International Cookbook
Step into the kitchens and dining rooms of early America through the remarkable story of Mary Randolph (1762-1828), one of Virginia's most influential women and the author of 'The Virginia Housewife,' first published in 1824. A member of one of Virginia's most prominent families and aunt to Thomas Jefferson, Randolph transformed generations of culinary traditions into what became the first truly American cookbook.
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
Tour of VPM's New Headquarters
VPM's new state-of-the art headquarters is located in the heart of downtown Richmond. On this behind-the-scenes tour, explore best-in-class television, radio and podcast studios. You'll also meet the team that brings you your favorite PBS and NPR programs, as well as local news, arts and culture programming, Style Weekly, and early childhood education resources.
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration
Westerns! Five Fine Sagebrush Comedies
Presenting five of the finest Western comedies, as chosen by most critics, showcasing the talents of James Garner, Lee Marvin, Jane Fonda, John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Billy Crystal, and Gene Wilder. These films showcase the Wild West at its funniest, building on the traditions of the Western film genre to create classic comedies from cultural cliches. And yes, 'Blazing Saddles' is the fifth film in the series. With commentary before each film and discussion afterwards.
No session is currently available for registration
No session is currently available for registration