spring 2018 COURSES
At a glance
HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY
1. Indigenous Peoples of Arctic Canada - Barnett Richling
2. The Forgotten and the Famous: A Study of the Short Stories of the Now Forgotten Katherine Mansfield and "To The Lighthouse" by the Enduringly Famous Virginia Woolf - Victoria Rosenburg
3. Creative Writing - Gwen Davies COURSE FULL
4. Nature Conservation - Martin Willison
5. The Operas of Mozart - Walter Kemp
6. ‡ Harbour Watcher - Mac MacKay ‡
7. Reflections of a Canadian Immigrant Escaping Latvia During World War II - Valda Kemp COURSE FULL
8. Media Issues - Kevin Cox
9. Principles and Paradigms of Computing: Where We've Been, Where We're Going - Rex Woollard
10. The Bloomsbury Group: Literature, Politics, and Art in Edwardian London - Barry Mills
11. From Bach to Beatles: Evolution of Guitar - Vladimir Sitnikov
12. Protestantism's Nun - The Clergy Wife in History and Literature - Mary Lu Redden COURSE FULL
‡ Course marked with double-dagger is in partnership with Halifax Public Libraries,
1. Indigenous Peoples of Arctic Canada - Barnett Richling
2. The Forgotten and the Famous: A Study of the Short Stories of the Now Forgotten Katherine Mansfield and "To The Lighthouse" by the Enduringly Famous Virginia Woolf - Victoria Rosenburg
3. Creative Writing - Gwen Davies COURSE FULL
4. Nature Conservation - Martin Willison
5. The Operas of Mozart - Walter Kemp
6. ‡ Harbour Watcher - Mac MacKay ‡
7. Reflections of a Canadian Immigrant Escaping Latvia During World War II - Valda Kemp COURSE FULL
8. Media Issues - Kevin Cox
9. Principles and Paradigms of Computing: Where We've Been, Where We're Going - Rex Woollard
10. The Bloomsbury Group: Literature, Politics, and Art in Edwardian London - Barry Mills
11. From Bach to Beatles: Evolution of Guitar - Vladimir Sitnikov
12. Protestantism's Nun - The Clergy Wife in History and Literature - Mary Lu Redden COURSE FULL
‡ Course marked with double-dagger is in partnership with Halifax Public Libraries,
CHESTER
13. How to Talk Back to a Statistic - A Survival Guide to Understanding Statistics in the Media, Politics, and our Daily Lives - Alex Roberts
14. A Practical Guide to Observing the Night Sky - Tony Schellinck
MAHONE BAY
15. A Cauldron of Struggle: Ideology, War and Art in the 20th Century - Faye Pickrem COURSE FULL
16. A Beginner's Guide to the Italian Renaissance - Greg Galbraith
17. History and Politics of the Oil Industry - Michael Collins
LIVERPOOL
18. Contemporary Literature in English - Susan Hoover
19. An Introduction to Chinese Culture, Part 2 - May Wang
TRURO
20. History and Politics of the Oil Industry - Michael Collins
21. Learn to Draw - Christene Sandeson
22. Spy School 201 - Hugh Williamson and Ian MacVicar
13. How to Talk Back to a Statistic - A Survival Guide to Understanding Statistics in the Media, Politics, and our Daily Lives - Alex Roberts
14. A Practical Guide to Observing the Night Sky - Tony Schellinck
MAHONE BAY
15. A Cauldron of Struggle: Ideology, War and Art in the 20th Century - Faye Pickrem COURSE FULL
16. A Beginner's Guide to the Italian Renaissance - Greg Galbraith
17. History and Politics of the Oil Industry - Michael Collins
LIVERPOOL
18. Contemporary Literature in English - Susan Hoover
19. An Introduction to Chinese Culture, Part 2 - May Wang
TRURO
20. History and Politics of the Oil Industry - Michael Collins
21. Learn to Draw - Christene Sandeson
22. Spy School 201 - Hugh Williamson and Ian MacVicar
HRM classes
1. Indigenous Peoples of Arctic Canada |
Tuesdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 17, ends May 22 |
Arctic Canada has been home to Inuit and their ancestors for 5,000 years. Following a general introduction to the circumpolar world and its diverse indigenous peoples, the course begins with the long stretch of time before dawn of the contact era. Drawing mainly on archaeological and indigenous knowledge, it examines origins, migrations, and ways of life of the Inuit and of their Sivullirmiut predecessors, the “first peoples” to inhabit this far-northern expanse. It then turns to the contact era, a period of incipient change beginning with arrival of early explorers in the 16th century and ending at the start of the 20th with Canada’s attempts to exercise sovereignty over its remote arctic islands and adjacent mainland. Finally, it considers key developments of the last 100 years, a span that witnessed an array of changes, from demographic disaster and settlement in year-round villages to the emergence of state institutions, and most recently, creation of self governing territories, the foundation of Inuit society, culture, and identity in the 21st century. [top] |
2. The Forgotten and the Famous: A study of the short stories of the now forgotten Katherine Mansfield and “To The Lighthouse” by the enduringly famous Virginia Woolf |
Tuesdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 17, ends May 22 |
A close reading of Mansfield’s sadly forgotten but wonderful short stories about the Burnell family. I strongly recommend The Collected Works of Katherine Mansfield, Wordsworth Classics edition; it is available at Book Mark ($8.99) and contains each of the stories we will be analyzing. (You will need to ask for the course copy at the counter, because the number of books is limited and will be reserved for this class.)The Mansfield stories will be contrasted and compared, in style and in the revealing of character, to Virginia Woolf’s “To The Lighthouse” (any edition you choose). [top] |
3. Creative Writing - COURSE FULL |
Gwen Davies [bio] |
Tuesdays, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 17, ends May 22 |
This is an active course in writing, for those who want to explore your own stories but have never gotten around to it, and those who need help to get back to writing. The class is designed to be a safe place for beginners to get started, and useful to those with writing experience. Over the six weeks, we will play with ways to find a focus, uncover memories, write pieces that hold a reader’s interest, and organize what you write. You will come away with a folder of writing and some ideas on how to keep your project going. [top] |
4. Nature Conservation |
Martin Willison [bio] |
Tuesdays, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 17, ends May 22 |
There are millions of diverse life forms on Earth, living together in complex inter-dependent communities. We live in the Anthropocene, a geological period that includes a spasm of extinction. In this course, we will examine why we need to reduce the rate of extinction and how we can do it. A holistic approach will be taken, integrating both natural science and humanities. The course will be richly illustrated with examples of nature conservation projects from around the world, and will include a focus on Nova Scotia. [top] |
5. The Operas of Mozart |
Wednesdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 11, ends May 16 |
A survey of Mozart’s works in the operatic idiom, and how they reflected the taste and the issues of his time.
There are no home reading or listening assignments. No reading knowledge of musical notation is required. [top] |
6. Harbour Watcher |
Mac MacKay [bio] |
Wednesdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 11, ends May 16 |
1. Halifax Harbour Overview - a smattering of Geology, Geography, History, Economics, Engineering + other ologies. - the evolution of the today's port infrastructure, with a hint of the future 2. How it works - Government – civilian and military, RCN, CCG, BIO, APA, and other acronyms - Industry, labour, companies and corporations 3. Sail to steam and beyond - the evolution of ships and shipping in Halifax 4. Show me the fish and other resources - fishing, forestry, grain, gypsum, oil and gas – where are they now? 5. The container revolution - how it developed and where it is going 6. Finale – unfinished business Bonus round: Tugnology. [top] |
7. Reflections of a Canadian Immigrant Escaping Latvia During World War II - COURSE FULL |
Valda Kemp [bio] |
Wednesdays, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 18, ends May 23 |
From first-hand experience, the course will cover the history and culture of Latvia before World War II, and how this all changed during the war, as well as the impact that war had on its citizens caught in the middle of strife between Russia and Germany, including those who immigrated to Canada. The course will shed light on the experience of living in a war torn country as well as the experience of being an immigrant in Canada, shedding light on the situation of the immigrant in Canada today. [top] |
8. Media Issues |
Wednesdays, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 18, ends May 23 |
The course will examine issues such as the future of mainstream media in a social media world, who filters the news (if anybody) , what is fake news and who is faking it- whom do we trust, whom do we believe- the media images of leaders like Trump and Trudeau- the impact of 24-7 news – when everyone’s opinion supposedly matters how do we make decisions- should governments subsidize the media- what are the dangers and the benefits- we will use the case study approach that engages everyone in the class. [top] |
9. Principles and Paradigms of Computing: Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going |
Thursdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 19, ends May 24 |
Computing systems are woven into the fabric of our modern society. Today’s computer architecture has its roots in developments in the 1950’s. Since that time, incremental improvements in materials engineering and algorithm design have resulted in the extraordinary systems which underpin our modern society. In this course, you will learn about the fundamental building blocks of all modern computers and how they have evolved. However, computing systems are now reaching the limits of fundamental physics, as designers quest for more speed and power. Future computing systems will continue to exhibit greater power and performance in spite of those limits, by embracing new principles and paradigms of computing, including parallelism and quantum computing. [top] |
10. The Bloomsbury Group: Literature, Politics and Art in Edwardian London |
Thursdays, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 19, ends May 24 |
The first lectures detail how in 1905 certain young male Cambridge graduates, members of an exclusive debating society, imported their values and social ideals into metropolitan London’s Bloomsbury district. In their claim to be cultivating trust in social relationships they began including women into their Thursday evening discussions. E. M. Forster and Virginia Stephen (later, Woolf) soon were giving public utterance to these discussions in their innovative fictional narratives. Politics and economics received wide ranging discussions at the behest of fiscally conservative John Maynard Keynes and socialist Leonard Woolf. The expanding group entertained a multiplicity of interests, including Adrian Stephen’s translations of Freud and the art criticism and painting of Roger Fry and Vanessa Bell. The concluding lecture is an account of a group interest, the Post-Impressionist exhibitions at the Grafton Gallery in 1910 and 1912. [top] |
11. From Bach to Beatles. Evolution of Guitar |
Fridays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 20, ends May 25 |
From Bach To Beatles is the musical journey throughout times and continents. It focuses on history of music in general and guitar evolution in particular. Each class is dedicated to a different music genre: baroque, classical, romantic, modern, flamenco from Spain, Latin American music such as salsa, samba, tango, bossa nova, and North American music such as jazz, blues and rock. Live guitar compositions performed by instructor throughout the course. [top] |
12. Protestantism's Nun - The Clergy Wife in History and Literature - COURSE FULL |
Parkland Clayton Park, Cameron Hall, 114 Fairfax Drive, Halifax [location] |
Fridays, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 20, ends May 25 |
When Marin Luther challenged the policies of the Roman Catholic Church in the 1500’s, he unleashed a revolution in Western European Christianity. One of the consequences of Luther’s protest was the overturning of mandatory celibacy for the clergy. How did the women involved step into their new roles as clergy wives and how did congregations respond? This course looks at the upending of a near millennium of clerical celibacy and, in particular, at the difficult lives of the women, especially in Germany and England, who were the groundbreakers in the new role of “clergy wife”. [top] |
Chester classes
13. How to Talk Back to a Statistic - A Survival Guide to Understanding Statistics in the Media, Politics and our Daily Lives |
Tuesdays, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 17, ends May 22 |
"Don't be a novelist, be a statistician – much more scope for imagination." - Darrell Huff. Statistics and numbers dominate the news, politics, science, education and our lives - and are now the lingua franca in our 'big data,' numbers-crunched world. Alas, they can also be used to sensationalize, mislead, overstate, confuse, and oversimplify. This course is intended as an up-to-date, user-friendly, accessible introduction to these 'tools of democratic persuasion.' The objective is to provide you with the “tricks of the trade” and the interrogation techniques you need to look at data intelligently, to ask the right questions, and to empower you with practical rules and techniques so that you can distinguish statistical fact from fiction. [top] |
14. A Practical Guide to Observing the Night Sky |
Thursdays, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 19, ends May 24 |
After completing this course the participant should have a greater appreciation of and knowledge about what objects there are to see in the night sky and how to find and observe them. Topics covered include: how to find your way around the summer, fall, winter and spring night skies; how to observe the moon and planets; and what galaxies, globular clusters, open clusters, planetary nebula, diffuse nebula, double stars and interesting asterisms can be found. We will also cover how to view these objects using dark adapted eyes and averted vision, and practice observing using a variety of instruments from binoculars to telescopes. We will also explore topics of interest to participants. If the weather cooperates we will have a couple of nights when we will put into practice what we learned in class. Students are encouraged to bring a pair of binoculars to each class in order to practice observing with them in class. [top] |
Mahone Bay classes
15. A Cauldron of Struggle: Ideology, War and Art in the 20th Century - COURSE FULL |
Mondays, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 23, ends May 28 |
Revolution, war, and upheaval are inevitably entwined with visions of a ‘brave new world’ of change, reform, and progress. But for whom? At stake in any struggle are competing ideas of power, culture, and truth – the demolition of certain physical and ideological boundaries and construction of a new world order, whether utopian or dystopian. From the 1917 Russian Revolution to the vast European theatres of war to the killing fields of Vietnam and the hunt for Hussein in Iraq, competing ideas of culture, truth, and power are at stake. This course examines literal, metaphorical, and cultural representations of war and revolution through literature, visual art, documentary journalism, and manifesto. The course is divided into three sections: ‘Modern Times’, ‘I Have a Dream’, and ‘Shock and Awe’. It is by no means a comprehensive study of war art, nor an analysis of the tactical aspects of particular wars. Rather, this is an overview of rhetorical and artistic representations of war and struggle. We will dip into the writings of war poets, explore the ideas in The Communist Manifesto and Reading Lolita in Tehran, listen to Bertolt Brecht’s audio testimony to the House Un-American Activities Committee, discuss snippets of film from Eisentein’s October, Chaplin's Modern Times, and Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, read Bush and Blair on WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction), and discuss civil rights – Kent State, Martin Luther King, the struggle for women to be legally recognized as ‘persons’. We will contrast the depiction of Vietnam in the fiction of Bao Ninh as opposed to that of Tim O’Brien, contemplate Michael Kamber’s Photojounalists on War: The Untold Stories from Iraq, and witness the fascist propaganda of Leni Riefenstahl. We will look at and think about a cross-section of war paintings. Mostly we will talk about what we encounter in these images and writings of war. What emerges out of this cauldron of struggle? Is it dream vision or nightmare, a brave new world or what poet Wilfred Owen calls the old lie once again? [top] |
16. A Beginner's Guide to the Italian Renaissance |
Tuesdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 17, ends May 22 |
This course is a six-week visual romp designed for anyone curious about an age that saw a more analytical and intellectual approach to life take hold, as the focus of attention shifted from the Church to humans and the world around them. While the majority of time will be devoted to the art and artists of the era, time will be given to the significant events, notable personalities, and the underlying spirit that spurred an expansion of thought, creativity and commerce that rivaled, if not surpassed, the Classical World. [top] |
17. History and Politics of the Oil Industry |
Fridays, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 20, ends May 25 |
A more or less, (and skimpy), history and politics of the liquid which fuels our society. Ambition, technical expertise, skullduggery, high and low diplomacy, treachery, military requirements, and capitalism “red in tooth and claw”.
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Liverpool classes
18. Contemporary Literature in English |
Tuesdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 17, ends May 22 |
We will examine six recent Canadian, English and American novels. Each novel will examine a contemporary issue: War, Terrorism, Abortion, Euthanasia, Sexual Harassment/Sexual Assault, and Gender/Transgender Issues. We will explore how these novels allow the reader to examine the issues in a new way. Attending this course may make your opinions becoming more nuanced, while enjoying these great novels. Authors include Ian McEwan, Barbara Gowdy, Kathleen Winter, Don Dilillo, Russell Banks and Tim O'Brien. [top] |
19 . An Introduction to Chinese Culture, Part 2 |
Thursdays, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 19, ends May 24 |
This session is designed for anyone interested in China and its culture. It is not necessary to have taken Part 1. This course examines the Chinese language, and how Chinese people communicate using language and non-verbal language. We will look at some of the Chinese fine arts, such as calligraphy and painting, and performing arts such as Peking Opera. We will also learn about the science behind Traditional Chinese Medicine and the origin of natural treatments. Finally, we will explore the challenges that China faces today. 1. Peking Opera and Performing Arts 2. How Chinese People Communicate (Language and Body Language etc.) 3. Fine Arts (Calligraphy and Painting) 4. Traditional Chinese Medicine 5. Movie: Gua Sha: a Treatment 6. Facing the Challenges. [top] |
Truro classes
20. History and Politics of the Oil Industry |
Tuesdays, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 17, ends May 22 |
A more or less, (and skimpy), history and politics of the liquid which fuels our society. Ambition, technical expertise, skullduggery, high and low diplomacy, treachery, military requirements, and capitalism “red in tooth and claw”.
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21. Learn To Draw |
Wednesdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 25, ends May 30 |
Join Instructor Christene Sandeson as she breaks the skills of drawing into manageable bites while offering you opportunities for in-class practise. People might wonder what is the purpose of learning to draw. Maybe you are here for one of these reasons:
You will be exposed to the theories of drawing as well as have an opportunity to apply your learning, and for this reason, the instructor asks you to bring the following to the first class:
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22. Spy School 201 |
Thursdays, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins April 12, ends May 17 |
Spy School 201 expands on Spy School 101, which described intelligence agencies, terminology, practical tradecraft, the history of spying, the legal foundations of such activities, and the real life impact of intelligence on policy making. Spy School 201 examines hidden aspects of intelligence and espionage, including the role of women, well-known spy scandals, the often related use of sex as a ruse to gain information, conspiracy theories, and “black operations, and the increasing role that intelligence plays in politics, and politics plays in intelligence. An ongoing theme of the course is the researching, analysis and validation of information received from multiple sources. There is no requirement to have taken Spy School 101 as a prerequisite. [top] |
COURSES |
ORGANIZATION |
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LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to acknowledge that we are in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship. This series of treaties did not surrender Indigenous land, resources or sovereignty but instead established rules for an ongoing relationship between nations. We recognize the significance of these treaties and the need for continual learning and engagement in the work of the truth, reconciliation and equity. We are all treaty people. We also recognize that African Nova Scotians are a distinct people whose histories, legacies and contributions have enriched that part of Mi’kma’ki known as Nova Scotia for over 400 years.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to acknowledge that we are in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship. This series of treaties did not surrender Indigenous land, resources or sovereignty but instead established rules for an ongoing relationship between nations. We recognize the significance of these treaties and the need for continual learning and engagement in the work of the truth, reconciliation and equity. We are all treaty people. We also recognize that African Nova Scotians are a distinct people whose histories, legacies and contributions have enriched that part of Mi’kma’ki known as Nova Scotia for over 400 years.