In this course you will view segments of Memoirs of a Geisha, a 2005 film adaptation of the celebrated novel by Arthur Golden, Individuals enrolled in “Learning to Love Opera” may wish to view this film as background for the opera Madam Butterfly—the story of another geisha who tries to find love. The film received numerous awards, including nominations for six Academy Awards, of which it won three: Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design. The film relates the story of 9-year-old Chiyo, who is sold to a geisha house in Kyoto’s Gion district. There she is subjected to cruel treatment from the owners and the head geisha Hatsumomo. She finds true romance with her patron, the Chairman of a prosperous manufacturing firm.
Faculty: John Frey
OSHR 2345
SLO Veteran’s Hall
Tuesday, 11/03/09
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm
1 Session
Maximum Class Size: 35
Fee: $4
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The West was neither solely “wild” nor illiterate. Books came with the Spaniards, sea captains and gold seekers but free public access to books was a much later—and convoluted—development. Less than 100 years ago, a countywide library system was inaugurated—primarily at the instigation of women—and spread rapidly throughout the sparsely settled county. While municipal histories trace the civic development of a society, libraries and schools, symbols of a progressive community and a move civil way of life, best trace the saga of the society’s intellectual evolution.
This presentation will concentrate on some of the events and people that encouraged free libraries beginning with relatively few books and growing into a system of nearly four-hundred thousand volumes today.
Faculty: Joe Carotenuti
OSHR 2346
SLO Library, 905 Palm St
Thursday, 11/05/09
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
1 Session
Fee: 0
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Join a lively discussion of Jean S. Bolen’s delightful and informative book Goddess in Older Women. Either read it for the first time or revisit it now with friends. In our everyday lives we forget that there are goddesses in all of us, deep archetypal sources of wisdom, authenticity, and spirituality that once tapped energize us and provide a sense of meaning and self-acceptance. Discover which of the 14 goddesses want to be expressed through you. Are you Hecate, or Kali-Ma, or maybe Kuan Yin or Hestia? Participants will select a goddess to facilitate the discussion at the second session.
Note: “Goddess in Older Women” by Jean Shinoda Bolen is recommended. It is available from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
Faculty: Berta Parrish
OSHR 2362
SLO Adult School
Thursdays, 11/05/09 - 11/12/09
10:00 - 12:00
2 Sessions
Maximum Class Size: 25
Fee: TBA
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For those of you with an Asian bent on your food likes, this class covers fundamental ingredients, cooking apparatus, general techniques and signature dishes that you can make in your own kitchen. This is an easy way to learn about this healthy and beautiful way of cooking. You will receive nearly 100 recipes and enjoy a chinese lunch.
Faculty: Joe Seals
OSHR 2279 - FULL, NO WAITLIST
Cal Poly Campus
Saturday, 11/07/09
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
1 Session
Maximum Class Size: 35
Fee: $5
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A photographed journey through the world of orchids. In three hours, you’ll see hundreds of the most stunning flowers in the world—all of which you can grow in your home, in your greenhouse, or, believe it or not, in your garden. This is not a vicarious voyage, but a practical discussion on how to grow them, including how to get them to bloom. “Beautiful Orchids” is for anyone who wants to start growing these plant-world jewels, wants to get that gift of an orchid to bloom again or wants to advance their current orchid collection.
Faculty: Joe Seals
OSHR 2355
Kennedy Library, Cal Poly
Saturday, 11/07/09
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
1 Session
Fee: 0
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Learning to Love Opera: Four Puccini Heroines: Mimi, Tosca, Butterfly, Turandot
In this series of four 2-hour presentations you will view video segments of Puccini’s four most popular operas: La Bohéme, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Turandot. This course will appeal to beginners as well as seasoned opera goers who want to deepen their understanding of the basics of opera performance and drama.
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) is the last of a line of great Italian opera composers including Monteverdi, Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi.He composed 10 operas of which four are among the 12 most often performed in the U.S. The four heroines you will discuss captivate audiences of every generation more than any other. Each session includes a 30-minute commentary and a one-hour video segment from each of the operas.
Faculty: John Frey
OSHR 2344
SLO Veteran’s Hall
Mondays, 11/09/09 - 11/30/09
9:00 am - 11:00 am
4 Sessions
Fee: $9
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Some of our parents and grandparents actually lived through World War I (WWI); we still live its legacies . . . and so will our grandchildren. Nearly every current news report concerns the effects of decisions made or avoided during and shortly after The War to End All Wars, 1914-1919. What we do every day is touched, pushed, blessed and condemned by that cataclysmic experience.
This course will review, through both history and the arts, the events of WWI and explore its aftermath. The course will focus on the war’s lasting economic, political, cultural, and psychic effects on Americans and our relations with the wider world.
Faculty: Dick Miller and Bill Weatherford
OSHR 2353 - FULL, NO WAITLIST
Morro Bay Community Center
Tuesdays, 11/10/09 - 11/17/09
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
2 Sessions
Maximum Class Size: 25
Fee: $5
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This course will be an escorted tour of historical sites in the San Antonio Valley with an interpretive presentation by Professor Dan Krieger, History Professor emeritus, Cal Poly, columnist and author.
You will travel the De Anza Trail and El Camino Real to reach the San Antonio Mission. You will visit the Hearst “Hacienda” designed by famed architect Julia Morgan; learn how historical forces have swept across this valley as a microcosm of the history of California and its peoples: the Indians of the Salinan tribe, the Spanish and the arrival of the yankees whose life was described in Steinbeck’s To a God Unknown and East of Eden. At the end of your tour, you will attend the annual meeting/dinner of the San Antonio Valley History Association Dinner, feasting on historical local fare.
Faculty: Dan Krieger
OSHR 2347 -- FULL, NO WAITLIST
Saturday, 11/14/09
1:00 pm - 10:00 pm
1 Sessions
Maximum Class Size: 45
Fee: $25 (for bus tour)
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At present there is a great ferment in religious ideas and institutions. There is a trend toward “fundamentalism” both in Christianity and Islam, but we also see the growing influence of other religions, exemplified by the Dalai Lama and other Buddhist teachers, various Hindu roshis and “gurus”, Muslim imams and representatives of other religions. The purpose of this course is to introduce the basic principles of the major religions, and will cover the religions of the Middle East, beginning with ancient Babylon (now Iraq), then Zoroastrianism (the early religion of Persia, now Iran), and finally Islam. The emphasis will be on understanding how each of these religions and philosophies help people find meaning in their lives. This course is an updated version of Professor Bekey’s very successful classes in 2006 and 2007.
Faculty: George Bekey
OSHR 1193
San Luis Coastal Adult School, 1500 Lizzie St, SLO- Classroom H-3
Wednesdays, 11/18/09, 12/02/09, and 12/09/09
1:30-3:30 pm
3 Sessions
Fee: TBA
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In an easy morning of paddling, you will take in a heron rookery, the bird haven of Grassy Island, as well as have opportunities to see otters and seals. After taking in the wildlife, you will beach your kayak on a secluded part of the outer sandspit for a fun dunes hike to a hidden Chumash shell midden. After a short walk past the midden, you will come to the Pacific Ocean and unparalleled views of miles of secluded beach. This adventure is designed for beginners and includes basic paddle and safety instruction. You will be using tandem kayaks. Morro Bay is separated from the ocean by a long sandspit and is all flat water; there are no ocean waves.
Note: Dress warmly, do not wear blue jeans or sweat pants, and wear shoes you can get wet. Binoculars are recommended.
Faculty: John Flaherty and Paul O’Connor
OSHR 2306 - FULL, NO WAITLIST
10 State Park Road
State Park Marina in Morro Bay
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Wednesday, 11/18/09
Maximum Class Size: 12
Fee: $25
OSHR 2306-2 - FULL
10 State Park Road
State Park Marina in Morro Bay
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Tuesday, 11/24/09
Maximum Class Size: 12
Fee: $25
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What is Meditation?
This presentation will define meditation in practical terms and compare and contrast different techniques. Core principles behind various meditation practices will be discussed. We will consider meditation’s contribution to the state of mind traditionally referred to as “Enlightenment” and attempt to define this state of consciousness in objective, scientifically validated terms. In addition, research demonstrating positive sociological transformation through particular meditation techniques—along with published scientific research—will be summarized. Meditation has been shrouded in mysticism for thousand of years; now in this scientific age we have the ability to objectively evaluate and appreciate meditation as “new technology” scientifically validated as capable of addressing our most persistent problems.
Faculty: John Freeman
OSHR 2356
OLLI Classroom, Cal Poly
Saturday, 11/21/09
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
1 Session
Fee: 0
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Alternative Energy: A Scientist’s View
Have you been confused by all of the articles and discussion about alternative energy? In this course you will get a broad technical overview of how this scientist sees both the potential, and limitations, of the primary energy sources we might use to replace our dependence on coal and oil, and hence reduce man’s carbon footprint. While emphasis will be on wind, solar, biofuels and nuclear possibilities, you will hear briefer thoughts on geothermal, tidal, ocean waves etc. You will see comparisons that show how sources relate differently to end uses such as transportation, domestic, industrial and desalination. The maturity of technologies as well as the environmental impacts will be addressed together with some long range possibilities.
Faculty: Hugh Wadman
OSHR 2366
San Luis Coastal Adult School, 1500 Lizzie St, SLO - Room H2
Tuesdays, 11/24/09 - 12/08/09
1:30-3:30 pm
3 Sessions
Fee: TBA
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Intertidal Zonation
Treasure hunting at the beach! This course will introduce you to some of the lesser known but fascinating organisms living in the four zones of the intertidal—plants and animals you may have overlooked in previous outings. With an identification key and help from the instructor you will locate these organisms, identify them by name and learn where in the intertidal they live. By the end of the course you could have Sea Lemons, Peanut Worms and Slipper Shells on your ocean beach life list.
You do not need prior knowledge about intertidal life but need to be able to maneuver on rocks in the tidepools.
Note: Wear shoes that can get wet. Instruction will be given to show where and how to move from rock to rock for best safety. Sunscreen and a hat are recommended.
Faculty: Jerry Kirkhart
OSHR 2334
Lecture: Monday, 11/30/09
Time TBA
Lecture Location TBA
Field trip: Tuesday, 12/01/09
2:45 pm - 5:45 pm
2 Sessions
Fee: 0
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