All upcoming Seminars

The year 1900 found three of Europe’s greatest cities entering defining eras in their historical and cultural development. In a richly illustrated program, cultural historian George Scheper explores how the alignment of creative forces shaped a trio of highly distinctive urban milieus—each nourished by the energy and excitement of new ideas and each witnessing the birth of modernism in the coming century. (World Art History Certificate elective,1 credit)

Wilderness guide Russell Gammon leads an immersive exploration of two of Africa’s most rewarding but least-visited safari destinations: Zambia and Uganda. Gammon shares the wonder of sitting quietly among a family of mountain gorillas, listening to chimpanzees call through the forest at dawn, and moving through landscapes where primates, predators, and scenery converge in a tapestry of biodiversity.

Paul Cézanne broke from artistic tradition with a radically new way of seeing, turning ordinary objects into subjects of wonder. While his peers pursued fleeting impressions, Cézanne emphasized solid forms, broad color planes, and shifting viewpoints, setting him apart from the Impressionists. Even as his work moved toward abstraction, he stayed rooted in the real. Art historian Aneta Georgievska-Shine explores his groundbreaking vision. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

Using evidence from the most recent archaeological discoveries, Jacquelyn Williamson, a specialist in Egypt and an associate professor of ancient art and archeology at George Mason University, surveys the social and historical realities of the Egyptian civilization from its early pyramids through its art created under King Akhenaten, who upended centuries of tradition to create new artistic conventions. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

Few royal houses shaped the political and cultural landscape of medieval Britain more profoundly than the Plantagenets. Ruling from the 12th to the 15th centuries, they forged an empire stretching from Scotland to the Pyrenees, developed Parliament, clashed with the Church, fought crusades, and waged the Hundred Years’ War, all while also inspiring some of the most enduring legends in British history. In a full-day seminar, historian Cheryl White traces how perceptions of the Plantagenets have evolved over time and explores why the dynasty continues to fascinate today.