All upcoming Lectures

The study of iconography—how symbols and allegories function in art—offers a way to understand masterpieces that have puzzled scholars for generations. Art historian Noah Charney explores the rich stories hidden in details of paintings associated with Christmas, specifically representations created by a variety of artists of the adoration of the Christ Child by the Magi or shepherds. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Today, the December holidays are all about joyous magic, warm evenings curled by the fire, and celebrations of the triumph of good and light in the world. Traditionally, however, the winter season also ushers in the terrors of the dark and the cold. One of the most fascinating, long-established cultural traditions that blends these very different impulses is the Christmas ghost story. Folklorists Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman trace the history of the winter ghost story, exploring how it became tied to Christmas and sharing tales.

Viktor Frankl (1905–1997) was a philosopher, practicing therapist, and author of 39 books, including A Psychologist’s Experiences in the Concentration Camp, chronicling his imprisonment during World War II. He created the theory and exercise of logotherapy, a school of psychotherapy that described a search for life’s meaning and purpose as a central human dynamic. Historian and author Dennis B. Klein reviews Frankl’s work, exploring how meaning-making can respond to what he called “inner emptiness.”

By understanding how plants work, you can be more successful at caring for them, since knowledge of basic plant biology can be a valuable tool for indoor gardeners fascinated by plants and their unique characteristics. Virginia Velez Thaxton, a horticulturist with the Interiors Section of Smithsonian Gardens, explores the essential factors plants need from their environment and offers an overview of the physiological processes at play.

Bursting with big talent with big dreams, MGM in the 1940s and ’50s produced the most glorious string of musicals in film history: gems like On the Town, Singin’ in the Rain, An American in Paris, The Band Wagon, and Gigi. Grab a bowl of popcorn and join documentary filmmaker Sara Lukinson, who combines a lively lecture with an abundant sample of film clips that will have you singing in the rain. That’s entertainment!

Winslow Homer remains one of the most celebrated American artists of the 19th century, renowned for his evocative portrayals of everyday life and the natural world. Rather than focus on society’s elite, Homer turned his attention to ordinary Americans, capturing them with honesty, restraint, and quiet empathy. Art historian Janetta Rebold Benton traces Homer’s artistic evolution, his commitment to American Realism, and the parallel yet sharply contrasting career of Thomas Eakins. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Discover the power of reflective writing guided by the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s Writing Salon, Mary Hall Surface. Experience new ways to contemplate the gifts of winter inspired by the vibrant Winter Landscape by Wassily Kandinsky, an artist who embraced the transcendent power of color. Designed for writers of all levels, and for the curious, the workshop invites participants to look outwardly at art and to look inwardly through writing.

Millions of American GIs served in the European Theater of Operations during the Second World War, fighting their way through Italy, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands before pushing into Germany itself. Most were not professional soldiers, but ordinary young men drafted and sent overseas to confront one of the most formidable armies in history. Historian Christopher Hamner explores the experience of these ground troops—nicknamed “dogfaces”—from their stateside training and transatlantic journey to the brutal and bewildering realities of combat on the European continent.

Journey back to the time when aluminum trees shimmered in living rooms, Shiny Brite ornaments sparkled on branches, and cartoon holiday specials became beloved TV traditions. Through period photographs, vintage advertisements, and colorful catalogs, cultural historian Leslie Goddard brings to life the spirit of Christmas in the United States from the late 1940s through the 1960s. Goddard explores how the holiday evolved during an era marked by postwar prosperity and cultural optimism for many.

In an increasingly data-driven world anyone can fall victim to mind control, says historian of science Rebecca Lemov, who examines how brainwashing techniques once reserved for warfare and cults are now woven into the fabric of everyday life. She traces mind control from procedures used against American POWs in North Korea to the “soft” brainwashing of today’s social media.