winter 2018 COURSES
At a glance
HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY
1. Geology and Society - Marcos Zentilli
2. Music Theory - Jacob Caines
3. Spy School 201 - Hugh Williamson and Ian MacVicar
4. Italian Renaissance 1492-1600 - Greg Galbraith
5. Czechoslovak Films in Communist Era - Fred Young
6. Canadian Women in Art - Suzanne O'Callaghan
7. ‡ Guide to Observing the Night Sky with Binoculars - Tony Schellinck ‡
8. Dinosaurs - Milton Graves
9. Exploring Meaningful Travel through Today's "Pilgrimage" Journeys - Brent King
10. Life-cycle Rituals in World Religions - Ian Macdonald
11. Women in Russian History - Natalia Koutovenko
12. Reflections on the History of Photography - Alan Griffiths ** NEW **
‡ Courses marked with double-dagger are in partnership with Halifax Public Libraries,
with half the available seats reserved for SCANS members registered in the courses.
1. Geology and Society - Marcos Zentilli
2. Music Theory - Jacob Caines
3. Spy School 201 - Hugh Williamson and Ian MacVicar
4. Italian Renaissance 1492-1600 - Greg Galbraith
5. Czechoslovak Films in Communist Era - Fred Young
6. Canadian Women in Art - Suzanne O'Callaghan
7. ‡ Guide to Observing the Night Sky with Binoculars - Tony Schellinck ‡
8. Dinosaurs - Milton Graves
9. Exploring Meaningful Travel through Today's "Pilgrimage" Journeys - Brent King
10. Life-cycle Rituals in World Religions - Ian Macdonald
11. Women in Russian History - Natalia Koutovenko
12. Reflections on the History of Photography - Alan Griffiths ** NEW **
‡ Courses marked with double-dagger are in partnership with Halifax Public Libraries,
with half the available seats reserved for SCANS members registered in the courses.
CHESTER
13. Imagining the Rural: How our Ecologists of the Heart Shape our Relationship to the Natural World - Stephen Booth
14. Glimpses of Georgian and Victorian England - Michael Collins
MAHONE BAY
15. A Cauldron of Struggle, Ideology, War and Art in the 20th Century - Faye Pickrem ** CANCELLED **
16. So You Think You Can't Draw! - Harold Pearse
17. Coasts and Boats: Nova Scotia's Maritime Cultural Landscapes - Roger Marsters
LIVERPOOL
18. Eastern Religious Traditions - Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism - Wendell Eisener
TRURO
19. Contemporary Issues in Agriculture, Forestry, and the Environment II - Phil Warman
20. A Practical Guide to Observing the Night Sky - Tony Schellinck
21. Rural Living, where Water Tastes like Wine - Phil Warman, Coordinator
13. Imagining the Rural: How our Ecologists of the Heart Shape our Relationship to the Natural World - Stephen Booth
14. Glimpses of Georgian and Victorian England - Michael Collins
MAHONE BAY
15. A Cauldron of Struggle, Ideology, War and Art in the 20th Century - Faye Pickrem ** CANCELLED **
16. So You Think You Can't Draw! - Harold Pearse
17. Coasts and Boats: Nova Scotia's Maritime Cultural Landscapes - Roger Marsters
LIVERPOOL
18. Eastern Religious Traditions - Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism - Wendell Eisener
TRURO
19. Contemporary Issues in Agriculture, Forestry, and the Environment II - Phil Warman
20. A Practical Guide to Observing the Night Sky - Tony Schellinck
21. Rural Living, where Water Tastes like Wine - Phil Warman, Coordinator
HRM classes
1. Geology and Society |
Mondays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins January 29, ends March 19 (no classes February 19 and March 12) |
Geology has governed the evolution of life and still impacts most human affairs. The course will discuss geologic time, fossils, plate tectonics, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, the importance of minerals in the economy, our health and the environment, the geology of cities and the geology of water. [top] |
2. Music Theory |
Mondays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins January 29, ends March 12 (no class February 19) |
A step by step course to learning how to read music understand theoretical rudiments, have a deeper understanding of performance and music in general. The course will incorporate learning the mechanics of music paired with performance and realization of those concepts to aid in understanding. The class will be encouraged to write their own notes and exercises along with the provided materials. Like when learning grammar, the best and most efficient way to learn the material is to do it and do it in one’s own hand. The students’ examples and notes from the class will be performed by various musicians as a way of illustrating what it is that has been written. [top] |
3. Spy School 201 |
Mondays, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins January 29, ends March 12 (no class February 19) |
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] |
4. Italian Renaissance 1492-1600 |
Greg Galbraith [bio] |
Parkland Clayton Park, Cameron Hall, 114 Fairfax Drive, Halifax [location] |
Tuesdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins January 30, ends March 6 |
This course is 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. An emphasis will be placed on the works of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian, plus the drastic effects of the Protestant Reformation. One need not have attended the spring offering on the Italian Renaissance (14th and 15th century) to understand and appreciate this course. [top] |
5. Czechoslovak Films in Communist Era |
Tuesdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins January 30, ends March 6 |
I propose this as the third in my ‘trilogy’ of film courses stemming from my course on the History of Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary under Communism, 1945-1989. The course will focus on films made during the Communist period about contemporary society, which of course includes the famous ‘Czech New Wave’ of the 1960s. I want to choose films well regarded by critics and film historians which, however, were not easily available in the West at that time, so that they will be ‘new’ to most people here. At this point, I would propose the following films:
|
6. Canadian Women in Art |
Suzanne O'Callaghan [bio] |
Tuesdays, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins January 30, ends March 6 |
This introduction to the lives and work of six Canadian female visual artists will provide an interdisciplinary look at living a creative life as exemplified by women representing the three coasts, inside and outside the studio, particularly in mid to later life. Weaving women's art history with elements of social anthropology and psychology into a narrative that explores things that creative people have in common - including taking risks, celebrating uniqueness, embracing independence and change, using art to assist in coping with ageing, loneliness and grief, and creating and claiming a space for oneself in the world - this course will examine the personal stories and agency of the women, the remarkable art they made and the interrelationship between the two. A central premise of the course is that reinventing ourselves is among our most bravely creative acts. Discussion will be encouraged and a suggested reading list provided. [top] |
7. Guide to Observing the Night Sky with Binoculars |
Tony Schellinck [bio] |
‡ Woodlawn Public Library, 31 Eisener Boulevard, Dartmouth ‡ [location] |
Wednesdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins January 31, ends March 7 |
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] |
8. Dinosaurs |
Wednesdays, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins January 31, ends March 7 |
Dinosaurs are an extinct group of animals who lived for nearly 200 million years. Their descendants, the birds, surround us. This course will introduce you to the biology and geology of dinosaurs. We will examine the evidence they have left behind and what we can deduce about the lives of these amazing animals. How did they originate, diversify, and become extinct? Dinosaurs have a place, not only in our natural history but in our culture. The course will end with a consideration of how knowledge of dinosaurs had affected how we see our place in the world. [top] |
9. Exploring Meaningful Travel through Today’s "Pilgrimage" Journeys |
Thursdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins February 1, ends March 8 |
Pilgrimage remains a vibrant, global undertaking for devout followers of a given faith. It continues to be practiced with pure, pious ritual. Yet, another journey-like phenomenon is increasingly evident through the ample (and compelling) stories of today’s traveller. Secular pilgrimage. While lacking the overt religious focus of traditional pilgrimage, “secular pilgrimages” nonetheless yield meaningful and memorable journeys. They are often specific journeys taken for deeply personal reasons. What matters, ultimately, are their intent, motivation and sense of purpose. We will broadly explore instances of purposeful journey—whether for personal discovery, time for reflection or quest for understanding—through authentic narratives. Each week, guest presenters will relate their experiences of resonating journeys. They will share insights and lessons learned. Their individual journeys will spotlight wide-ranging but genuine yearnings: literary, spiritual, commemorative, sports, and even lifelong affinity. One guest, an educator, counsellor and facilitator, will guide a workshop on the transporting nature of journeys. [top] |
10. Life-cycle Rituals in World Religions |
Thursdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins February 1, ends March 8 |
In this course we will examine the ways in which the major religions of the world view/celebrate marriage, life-stage rites, education (male &/vs female), aging, dying, death [including funerary practices], and afterlife. [top] |
11. Women in Russian History |
Fridays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins February 2, ends March 9 |
The course “Women in Russian History” will describe the role of women in the history of Ancient Russia; the role and life of women in the medieval Russia; women on the Russian throne; growth of feminism at the end of the 19th century and the role of women in the revolutions in 1905 and February and October revolutions in 1917; active role of Soviet women in building the new socialist society. [top] |
12. Reflections on the History of Photography |
Parkland Clayton Park, Cameron Hall, 114 Fairfax Drive, Halifax [location] |
Fridays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins February 2, ends March 9 |
Photography is all pervasive and we are influenced by it every day. In an age of digital cameras we can forget the difficulties of the early travel photographers fighting stubborn mules carrying the heavy cameras of the past. This course is a non-technical series of studies in the history of photography which concentrates on the 19th century with excursions into such diverse topics as 19th century photographic studios, the earliest photographs of the Classical World, iconic photographs, key photographers and their works. The course will also examine the relationships between photography and art and how that relationship has changed through the years. There will be photographs that encourage us to consider how our view of the past has been created through photography and examples that astound. Who knew what visual wonders they could create? [top] |
Chester classes
13. Imagining the Rural: How our Ecologists of the Heart Shape our Relationship to the Natural World |
Tuesdays, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins January 30, ends March 6 |
Using a wide variety of sources, from personal experience, through literature, art and music, to social and academic insights, this course will explore the ways in which rural places are created by both experience and imagination and will examine issues in rural transformation, protection and sustainability. Weekly topics
|
14. Glimpses of Georgian and Victorian England |
Thursdays, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins February 1, ends March 8 |
The course will cover such areas as: Who were the Georgians and why did they assume the throne of England during this time of Industrial Expansion? What was this event known as the Industrial Revolution? Topics included will be: Development of the Colonial system and then the largest Empire ever known. Reform of the Parliamentary system (Adopted by Canada). A hard Society, social problems and 'fixes'. Some 'Movers and Shakers' of this dynamic period. Queen Victoria, Country and Empire. Road to World War One. [top] |
Mahone Bay classes
15. A Cauldron of Struggle, Ideology, War and Art in the 20th Century |
Mondays, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins January 29, ends March 5 |
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 – dream vision or nightmare, a brave new world or the old lie once again. [top] |
16. So You Think You Can't Draw! |
Tuesdays, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins January 30, ends March 6 |
This course, a series of 6 two hour sessions, explores theories and practices relating to the making of drawings and the history of teaching drawing to adults and children, amateurs and professionals. With knowledge, guidance and practice, anyone can learn to draw. Each session will consist of an illustrated lecture and a “hands on” related activity. Participants will need a sketchbook and basic drawing materials (pencil, pen, sketch book). No prior art or drawing experience is necessary. [top] |
17. Coasts and Boats: Nova Scotia’s Maritime Cultural Landscapes |
Fridays, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins February 2, ends March 9 |
The geographic region now occupied by the province of Nova Scotia is a deeply maritime place, where successive human communities have lived on and by the sea and its resources. This course will offer a broad chronological overview of the reciprocal relationships between coastal landscapes and human cultures in this place as they have changed over time, from the period of exclusive indigenous occupation to the present. How have communities altered coastal geographies to better serve human needs? What have been the social and environmental consequences of these changes? What might sustainable coastal communities look like? This course will address these questions with a particular focus on the histories and cultures of Lunenburg County and adjacent areas. [top] |
Liverpool classes
18. Eastern Religious Traditions – Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism |
Mondays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins January 29, ends March 19 (no classes Feb 19 and Mar 12) |
Modern religious diversity in Canada includes Eastern as well as Western traditions. Through six engaging and interactive lectures, this course examines the three principal Eastern religious traditions – Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism – both in their historical contexts as well as in their adaptations to Canadian society. [top] |
Truro classes
19. Contemporary Issues in Agriculture, Forestry and the Environment ll |
Tuesdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (6 weeks) - Begins January 30, ends March 6 |
This course is designed to present 6 different topics, one each week. The teacher will introduce the topic, provide background material, and encourage input from the class. On three occasions, guest lecturers will provide their professional opinions on that week’s topic. The six topics will be the following:
|
20. A Practical Guide to Observing the Night Sky |
Wednesdays, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm (6 weeks) - Begins January 31, ends March 7 |
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] |
21. Rural Living, where Water Tastes like Wine |
Thursdays, 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm (6 weeks) - Begins February 1, ends March 8 |
This course will include 6 topics related to rural living, each one presented by a different speaker. The Coordinator will introduce the 6 speakers who will provide their perspective on rural issues, and encourage participation from the class. The six topics will be as follows:
|
COURSES |
ORGANIZATION |
© COPYRIGHT 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
© SCANS all rights reserved. The form and contents of this web site may not be duplicated, altered, or reproduced without the written permission of the Seniors' College Association of Nova Scotia (SCANS). Effort is made to provide information which is relevant and as complete, up-to-date and accurate as possible. However SCANS cannot be held responsible to users of the information or any other person for any errors or omissions, or for any losses, costs or claims which arise as a result of relying on such information or advice. Information provided in any Seniors’ College Association of Nova Scotia lecture is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice of any kind. The opinion of the presenter is not necessarily endorsed by SCANS.
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.