Seniors explore political campaigns through written word in Lifelong Learning
Andrew Glass |
With political blogs blossoming, candidate autobiographies lining book shelves and a crowded presidential race filling the pages of newspapers and magazines, the 2008 presidential race will probably be the most written-about election in American history.
Lipscomb University invites seniors and others interested in lifelong enrichment to explore the upcoming election and other political issues through the written word in “Politexts: Politics and Literature,” one of 12 courses in this spring’s Lifelong Learning Program beginning Feb. 11.
Lipscomb’s Lifelong Learning Program is a non-credit program designed for seniors who want to expand their knowledge and explore new ideas in an informal, noncompetitive environment. Classes meet at 2:30 p.m., once a week for five weeks. Session one classes meet Feb. 11-March 14; session two classes meet March 24-April 25. There is also a special field trip in April and a one-week class this May.
“Politexts: Politics and Literature,” held 2:30-4 p.m. in the Ezell Center each Wednesday beginning Feb. 13, will be taught by Lipscomb Provost Craig Bledsoe and Lipscomb Associate Provost Stephen Prewitt. The course will provide an overview of an exciting trend in culture today: the rapid spread of political writing in literature, media and the Internet.
Not only will the class look at traditional forms of political communication, such as literary forms and newspapers, but will also explore emerging forms of writing such as blogs, Websites and YouTube videos. Non-fiction texts from a variety of biographers, scholars, politicians, and people who know politicians will be discussed.
“These emerging forms of discourse provide new ways of shaping political discussion and, in doing so, help form our view of the political world and the decisions we make about politics,” said Bledsoe, also a Lipscomb professor of political science.
Learners in this class will discuss topics such as the engagement of faith in political life, the revolutionary mind, the relationship between individual choice and group dynamics, the significance of community, issues of gender and race and political language.
“In large part, political discussion today takes place outside what we have traditionally viewed as the political forum,” said Prewitt. “We expect to join a group of well-informed, engaged learners in a discussion of how we do politics and how we understand the political world around us.”
“One of the great opportunities that comes from teaching in the Lifelong Learning Program is enjoying well-informed, engaging discussions in class,” Bledsoe said. “The students in the course will be very much aware of changing political values and trends and will bring a good measure of personal experience to the discussion.”
To register for the Lifelong Learning Program, contact Patty Dugger at 966-5733 or at Patty.Dugger@lipscomb.edu. A registration form is available at http://lifelonglearning.lipscomb.edu.
Lifelong Learning classes cost $50 per person for each class. Individuals may take two classes during the same session for $75, or two people living at the same address can enroll in a class together for $75. Some classes may require the purchase of a textbook.
For an expanded description of spring 2008 classes click here.
World War and American Film
Five Mondays beginning Feb. 11, 2:30-5 p.m., Beaman Library
Instructor: Matt Hearn, professor and chair of the English department
A study of selected films about World War II, including Twelve O’Clock High, The Best Years of Our Lives and Empire of the Sun, to understand how filmmakers helped the American public “process” their experiences during and after the war.
Great Short Fiction from the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
Five Tuesdays beginning Feb. 12, 2:30-4 p.m., Ezell Center
Instructor: Sandra Collins, retired professor of English
Participants will read and discuss a dozen classic short stories by the great writers of the last two centuries.
Politexts: Politics and Literature
Five Wednesdays beginning Feb. 13, 2:30-4 p.m., Ezell Center
Instructor: Craig Bledsoe, provost and professor of political science, and Steve Prewitt, associate provost and assistant professor of English
One of the most exciting trends in culture today is the proliferation of political writing, from blogs to autobiographies. Through reading fiction, non-fiction and drama, participants will explore topics such as engagement of faith in political life, individual choice vs. group dynamics, the significance of community and gender and race issues.
From Generation to Generation: Telling the Story of Your Faith
Five Thursdays beginning Feb. 14, 2:30-4 p.m., Ezell Center
Instructor: Judy Thomas, lecturer and retired educator
This course will provide motivation and ideas for telling the story of your faith in writing or orally to be preserved for future generations.
Computer I
Five Fridays beginning Feb. 15, 2:30-4 p.m., Computer Center
This is a comfortable, easy-going approach to computers for individuals interested in learning about, thinking of buying or having trouble using a computer. Topics will include e-mail, the Internet, Microsoft Word, digital cameras, scanners, and more.
Floral Design: Design, Selection, Demonstration
Five Mondays beginning March 24, 2:30-4 p.m., Ezell Center
Instructor: Randy Bouldin, associate professor of math, associate provost for graduate students.
Learn the concepts of basic floral design for corsages, bouquets and arrangements, tips for selection of flowers, and some historical and legendary facts about particular flowers. Students will take home an arrangement from each class. Additional fee for flowers is $75. This class is limited to 12 students only.
“After Darkness, Light:” The Story of the Reformation
Five Tuesdays beginning March 25, 2:30-4 p.m., Ezell Center
Instructor: Dr. David Lawrence, professor of history
This course will cover the leading figures and major accomplishments of the Protestant Reformation, including discussions on Martin Luther, Martin Bucer of Strasbourg, John Calvin and the English Reformation.
Will the Real Mr. Darcy Please Bow?: Jane Austen in Print and Film
Five Wednesdays beginning March 26, 2:30-4 p.m., Beaman Library
Instructor: Carolyn Wilson, director of Beaman Library
In recent years the novels of Jane Austen have enjoyed a revival of interest due partly to the release of several film versions. This course will use portions of the films Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and Northanger Abbey to discuss how well the film versions preserve the integrity of the original works.
Four Abrahams
Five Thursdays beginning March 27, 2:30-4 p.m., Ezell Center
Instructor: Ernest Clevenger, author and retired president of Faulkner University
This course will study the four perceptions of Abraham as defined by the Jews, the Muslims, “Christianity” as a group, and what the Bible says about the man, his life, his promises and his place in the scheme of redemption.
Computer II
Five Fridays beginning March 28, 2:30-4 p.m., Computer Center
This course is designed for those who have completed Computer I or have some familiarity of computers, such as accessing resources in the Windows environment, obtaining information from a specific Internet site and typing a document using a word processor. Course topics include Internet research, word processing, spreadsheets, troubleshooting computer problems, care and maintenance of a computer system and purchasing hardware and software.
Come, Tour Nashville Sites
May 26-30, 2:30-4 p.m.
Instructor: Marilyn Switzer, local historical tour guide
Three of the five classes will be spent touring various interesting sites in Nashville, with a focus on the interesting little details of Nashville history.
Riding the Rails of the Tennessee Central
Saturday, April 19, 8:30 a.m., Tennessee Central Railway Museum
Instructor: David Lawrence, professor of history and qualified car host for the railway museum
Take Tennessee Central Railway Museum’s classic traditional American streamlined passenger train to Watertown’s Mile-Long Yard Sale, the largest yard sale in Middle Tennessee! Cost is $40.00 per person. Payment includes lunch in dining car. Space on the reserved coach is limited to 48.