Get the most out of your digital mirrorless or SLR camera by taking part in this workshop, which provides a solid introduction to these cameras’ features and potential.
Herman Melville’s tale of yearning, obsession, wreckage, and deliverance has drawn generations of readers into its obsessive, unfinished quest. They’ve seen reflected in its pages the urgent questions of their times, including issues of democracy, race, sexuality, labor, and environment. Samuel Otter, a professor of English at Berkeley University, explores the reception of Moby-Dick, ways of reading this surprising and heterogeneous book, and the strange qualities of a work that attempts, as one critic noted, to “incorporate everything.”
Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s work reflected one central tenet: “To my mind, a picture should be something pleasant, cheerful and pretty. …There are too many ugly things in life as it is without creating still more of them.” He reveled in lush color that can be seen in his sensual nudes, family portraits, landscapes, and genre depictions such as The Luncheon of the Boating Party. Art historian Bonita Billman showcases selections from his more than 4,000 works as she illustrates why Renoir is one of the most highly regarded—and joyful—artists of his time. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
There’s nothing "Mickey Mouse" about the impact the Walt Disney Company has had on the entertainment business. Media historian Brian Rose traces how the company evolved from a small cartoon studio in 1923 to one of the most powerful forces in worldwide entertainment today.
Washington, D.C.’s National Mall provides a world-class showcase for a diverse collection of American architectural styles, landscape design and use—and building materials. Join geologist Kenneth Rasmussen on a 3-mile walking tour that views buildings and monuments created from 1791 to the present as he sets the Mall’s evolution in geological context and traces how its vision as public space reflects plans developed over the centuries.
Water has shaped civilizations and driven centuries of advances in science, technology, health, and medicine. But these achievements brought consequences: unsustainable water use, ecological destruction, and global climate change. Scientist and water expert Peter Gleick outlines how the lessons of the past can be the foundation of action to support a sustainable future for water and the planet.
With their forward gaze and quiet flight, owls are often a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and foresight. But what does an owl really know? And what do we really know about owls? Jennifer Ackerman, author of the New York Times bestseller The Genius of Birds, pulls back the curtain on the nature of the world’s most enigmatic birds as she explores the rich biology and natural history of owls and examines remarkable new scientific discoveries about their brains and behavior.
