Spring 2022 Study Groups
April 4, 2022 - May 27, 2022
The schedule of study group meeting times can be found here with additional information included in each listing below.
MONDAY:
Wall Street Journal
Mondays, 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
8 sessions: April 4, 11, 18, 25; May 2, 9, 16, 23
Sam Bostaph
Format: hybrid (register to attend either in person or on Zoom)
This group will read and discuss articles from the Wall Street Journal. The group members will decide what to discuss each week, with Sam Bostaph moderating the discussion. Key articles on economic or business events or problems in the U.S. or world economies as reported by the Journal will be included. Any governmental reactive measures of intervention or control can be included in those discussions. Cultural issues covered in the Saturday edition are also fair game. The level of expertise in its journalistic coverage is perhaps the highest of all world newspapers. Also, advocacy of any particular economic, business, or political viewpoint is confined to the two editorial pages. The journal is also known for its investigative reporting and has exposed many business scams such as the recent major fraud perpetrated by Elizabeth Holmes. Reading materials: Wall Street Journal daily issues, Monday – Saturday weekly. Electronic versions of the paper are available at the Champaign Public Library and University Library. Facilitator: Sam Bostaph is an economist and teacher and has read the Wall Street Journal daily for almost 50 years and occasionally used it in classes.
Films about People with Special Needs
Mondays, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
8 sessions: April 4, 11, 18, 25; May 2, 9, 16, 23
Marganit Weinberger-Rotman
Format: in-person
In this study group, we will watch movies from different countries (dramas, not documentaries) about people with various disabilities and special needs. We will examine how the affected individuals, their families, and the states’ social systems cope with the challenges these people face. Most of these movies contain humor and positive, inspirational messages. The movies are all from the last 15 years. The disabilities range from developmental challenges: the Israeli films “Shoelaces,” “Wedding Doll” and the TV series “On the Spectrum,” the American film “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” and the Italian “As Needed.” Physical challenges are portrayed in the French film “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” and in the British film “The Theory of Everything.” Mental and emotional challenges feature in the Italian film “Like Crazy,” The German “Vincent Wants to Sea” and the Norwegian “Elling.” The order of the presentation will depend on the availability of the films. Reading Materials: none Facilitator: Marganit Weinberger-Rotman worked for Israeli Television for many years and attends the International Jerusalem Film Festival every year. She has facilitated nine OLLI study groups involving Israeli cinema, French comedies, German, Iranian, Middle Eastern films, films on refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers, and most recently Eastern European films.
TUESDAY:
Egos, Friendships, Rivalries, and Fights in American Architecture: Frank, Phillip, Mies, and Edith
Tuesdays, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
4 sessions: April 5, 12, 19, 26
Dirk Mol
Format: hybrid (register to attend either in person or on Zoom)
Frank Lloyd Wright, Philip Johnson, and Mies van der Rohe are among the best-known architects of the mid-20th Century. Edith Farnsworth was a famous client of Mies. The interactions between them are a fascinating study in their temperaments and in how their actions impacted the profession and the larger culture. Their stories are told in two recent books: Architecture’s Odd Couple: Frank Lloyd Wright and Philip Johnson by Hugh Howard (published 2016) and Broken Glass: Mies Van Der Rohe, Edith Farnsworth and the Fight Over a Modernist Masterpiece by Alex Beam (published 2020). Some of the material from the books will be presented in group sessions but the narratives are so extensive that participants will get a fuller understanding of the issues by reading the books. Unlike many books on architecture, both books read much like novels. The study group will focus on the interpersonal dynamics between the characters as much as on the buildings involved. Reading materials: Participants are encouraged to obtain one or both books. Architecture’s Odd Couple: Frank Lloyd Wright and Philip Johnson by Hugh Howard (published 2016) is most highly recommended. New copies are very expensive but used copies are available on the internet for as low as $5. ISBN-13: 9781620403754 ISBN-10: 1620403757 Broken Glass is available as new hardcover copies ($30) or on Kindle ($6). ISBN-13: 9780399592737 ISBN-10: 0399592733 Facilitator: Dirk Mol is a retired psychotherapist. In an earlier life, he was a priest in the Episcopal church. His fascination with architecture began in his early teens when he visited Eero Saarinen’s War Memorial in Milwaukee and was awestruck. He has since made many pilgrimages to famous architectural masterpieces. He loves to walk around towns and cities looking at buildings.
The 2022 War in Ukraine as it Unfolds
Tuesdays, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
8 sessions: April 5, 12, 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24
Roy Campbell and Norm Miller
Format: in person
The study group will seek broad participation and input from the entire group as we read and discuss the history, origins, leaders, military, tactics, strategy, commercial, ethnic, and geopolitical interests involved in the events occurring in the 2022 Ukraine conflict. We emphasize that we will be studying an evolving situation and that will require us to consider a wide range of views, understanding, current events, and history. Each week we will start with a presentation or two based on events, articles, videos followed by a discussion. Reading materials: Google Earth, Satellite Photos, Video and News Photos, topical books on the conflict and the Internet Facilitators: Roy H. Campbell is the Abbasi Professor emeritus of computer science at the University of Illinois. He joined the faculty in 1976 and led the Systems Research Group until his retirement in 2019. He was Associate Dean of Information Technology for the Engineering College (2016-2019) and chaired the Senate Executive committee (2013-2015). Norm Miller taught Mechanical Engineering subjects at the University of Illinois for over 30 years. He also founded a technology company and served as its chief technology officer for many years. Both facilitators have an interest in technology, current events, economics, cyberwarfare, technology, military history and are participants in the Economist study group.
The Tolkien Films: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
Tuesdays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
8 sessions: April 5, 12, 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24
Fred Christensen
Format: in-person
J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings has been called the most influential and popular work of fantasy of the twentieth century, and the film adaptation has carried its appeal into the 21st. This group will discuss the book and film versions of the trilogy and its prequel, The Hobbit.” Each film trilogy will be shown in an “improved” version. The Hobbit will be shown in an edited version, reducing nearly 9 hours of film to 4 hours, leaving out all the unnecessary subplots and added characters, and refocusing the story on the original tale. In contrast, the “extended edition” of LOTR will be shown, with more than two hours of new scenes added to the theatrical releases (which were essentially abridged versions), and these scenes add greatly to characterization and plot clarity. After each film showing, discussions can cover everything from personalities and plot to the richly detailed fantasy world of Middle-Earth with its historical and mythological roots, the moral, ethical, and religious themes explored in the tale, and the art of adapting a much-beloved literary work to film. Reading Material: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, J. R. R. Tolkien. Some essays and articles will be provided by the facilitator.
Facilitator: Fred Christensen has led numerous OLLI study groups on historical subjects. He has a lifelong interest in these works.
Gun Violence in Champaign-Urbana: What Can We Do?
Tuesdays, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
8 sessions: April 5, 12, 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24
Barbara Jones
Format: hybrid (register to attend either in person or on Zoom)
This group will focus on Champaign-Urbana’s troublesome increase in gun violence. The group will look at current data on gun violence in the US and Champaign-Urbana, based on trusted sources. Speakers will be invited who are community members working on the problem of gun violence: the Mayors of Champaign-Urbana; the Police Chiefs and Sheriff; the schools; victims—and perpetrators-- of gun violence, and organizations fighting gun violence. We will read, watch, listen to the latest ideas, policies, etc., on gun violence. (Barbara will use only reliable, trusted sources such as academic think tanks associated with universities like UIUC; and read sources such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Various sides of the issue will be presented in order to encourage classroom discussion. In fact, the group’s speakers have a variety of views. The group will discuss ways we can continue working on this issue through civic engagement and volunteering. Reading Material: Studies of gun violence from Northwestern University, University of Chicago, Loyola University, and others. Current articles in such publications as the Guardian; New York Times; Wall Street Journal; National Review.
Facilitator: Barbara M. Jones holds a Ph.D. in U.S. History from the University of Minnesota and an MLS in Library Service from Columbia University in New York. Her real-world experience is with civic engagement initiatives in American Library Association. This includes several courses in civic engagement sponsored by the American Library Association. She was Director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom at ALA. She also participated in the Civic Engagement Initiative at OLLI at Northwestern, which is where she got her inspiration to try this at OLLI at Illinois. She took courses in Chicago Public Schools, Gun Policy, and Veterans’ Affairs.
WEDNESDAY:
The New Yorker
Wednesdays, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
8 sessions: April 6, 13, 20, 27; May 4, 11, 18, 25
Kathleen Holden & Marilyn Resch
Format: Zoom meeting
Marilyn Resch is a retired attorney. Since joining OLLI in late 2013, she has participated in a number of study groups on a variety of topics. The New Yorker is one of her favorites.
Famous Trials
Wednesdays, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
4 sessions (second half): May 4, 11, 18, 25
Trisha Crowley, Coordinator
Format: Zoom meeting
This study group will discuss some of the most important trials throughout history. One facilitator each week will lead a discussion of one of these trials. The discussions will be based on the material at https://famous-trials.com/ Reading materials: No reading is required but reading the information about the trial at the Famous-Trials website before the session will provide some background for the discussion.
Facilitators:
May 4 - Trisha Crowley - Susan B. Anthony May 11- Jon Liebman - Alger Hiss May 18 - Casey Sutherland - Matthew Shepard Murder May 25 - Dave King - TBD
The Economist
Wednesdays, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
8 sessions: April 6, 13, 20, 27; May 4, 11, 18, 25
Claire Barker & Doug Staske
Format: Zoom Meeting
The British Economist Magazine supplies an outside viewpoint on the United States and a deep historical understanding of the rest of the world. It tackles economic and financial issues in detail but most often writes about the weekly issues in the news in impressive depth. All areas of the world are covered as are updates in science, justice, international relationships, climate change, race, cybersecurity, family, and culture. We welcome new members wholeheartedly as everyone brings expertise and a viewpoint to the table that enriches the discussion.
Reading Material: All participants are expected to have access to The Economist in print or digitally. Digital access is available through the Champaign Public Library at no cost with a library card.
Facilitators: Claire Barker has co-hosted or hosted the meeting since 2019. For one year, she has participated in the monthly International Economist Readers Group (Britain, Canada, US) and has attended several Economist magazine presentations. She is a retired internist and geriatrician who grew up in a financial family. She’s learned a lot from The Economist magazine and the other members of the group.
Doug Staske is a retired civil engineer with an interest in hiking who is a long-time member of the group and has been co-hosting since summer 2021.
The Philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein
Wednesdays, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
8 sessions: April 6, 13, 20, 27; May 4, 11, 18, 25
Norm Klein & Bob Strauss
Format: hybrid (register to attend either in person or on Zoom)
THURSDAY:
Time Magazine
Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
8 sessions: April 7, 14, 21, 28; May 5, 12, 19, 26
Donald Fournier & Anita Hamburg
Format: Zoom Meeting
No prerequisites or special knowledge are required, just an interest in current events. The group selects three or four articles from the current issue of Time Magazine each week for general discussion. A volunteer introduces the article and leads the discussion of their chosen article. We encourage a variety of opinions and viewpoints in our discussions. Time Magazine is the world’s leading news magazine covering a wealth of topics of interest to many. All are expected to read the chosen articles for effective group participation.
Reading Material: A subscription to Time Magazine is recommended but not mandatory. Regular access to the magazine is required to have a successful group experience.
Facilitators: Both Anita and Don have been long-time members of the Time Group and have both led the group and introduced many articles over the years.
New York Stories from the New Yorker
Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
8 sessions: April 7, 14, 21, 28; May 5, 12, 19, 26
Paula Watson
Format: in-person
We will read and discuss selections from Wonderful Town: New York Stories from The New Yorker, David Remnick, ed. (New York: Random House, 2001) [paperback edition]. This collection was assembled by the New Yorker’s current editor David Remnick on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the magazine. The New Yorker has always been a showcase for what some believe to be the best in fiction. During the fifties, the magazine filled its pages with the output of reliable producers like John Updike, John Cheever, John O’Hara, and others. With changing times and changing fiction editors, new voices appeared, including authors like Philip Roth, Lorrie Moore, Anne Beattie, and Jeffrey Eugenides. All these and more are represented in this anthology. We can decide if they have written what is sometimes pejoratively called a “New Yorker story,” or, rather just a story that came to be published in the magazine. Reading Material: Wonderful Town: New York Stories from The New Yorker, David Remnick, ed. (New York: Random House, 2001) [paperback edition]. ISBN-13: 9780375757525; ISBN-10: 037575752X Facilitator: Paula Watson has led numerous OLLI short story discussion groups. She is the chair of the OLLI Study Group Committee. She holds a master’s degree in English literature.
The Best American Mystery and Suspense Short Stories of 2021
Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
8 sessions: April 7, 14, 21, 28; May 5, 12, 19, 26
Ron Baker & Bev Herzog
Format: hybrid (register to attend either in person or on Zoom)
We will be reading and discussing Best American Mystery and Suspense 2021. This book continues the Best American Mystery Stories series published by HarperCollins since 1997 with a new series editor. Those who have read earlier volumes in this series should expect more stories by women and people of color than has been typical of the series. Booklist describes this volume as “a magical collection that serves as a master class in suspense writing.” Group members will be expected to read and be ready to discuss two to three stories each week and are asked to volunteer to lead the discussion of a story of their choice, including researching the authors of the stories and developing study questions. Members of the in-person group are invited to continue the discussion at lunch after the session. Reading materials: Best American Mystery and Suspense 2021. Alafair Burke, ed., Steph Cha, series ed. ISBN-13: 9780358525691; ISBN-10: 0358525691 Facilitators: Bev and Ron have been reading mysteries since childhood and have co-led mystery stories study groups at OLLI for several years to positive reviews.
FRIDAY:
Digital Wonderland 2022
Fridays, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
4 sessions: April 15, 22, 29; May 6 [This class begins the second week of spring Study Groups]
Matt Gorman & Richard Betts
Format: hybrid (register to attend either in person or on Zoom)
The group will discuss apps (their use and value), home assistants – Google, Alexa, Apple IOT and why you need them. We will also discuss E-commerce and review and inform class members on how to use these digital items. Attendees who own smartphones should bring them. Reading materials: none Facilitators: Matt Gorman has over 40 years of experience in the corporate consumer electronics industry and consumer goods sales and marketing. Richard Betts is a retired architecture professor who has extensive experience working with computers.
Writing and Performing Poetry
Fridays, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
8 sessions: April 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13, 20, 28
John Palen
Format: in-person
Based on model poems chosen by the facilitator, participants will discuss what interests and/or moves them in the poem, and how the poet has used the tools of the craft to make the poem work. At home, participants will write their own poems based in some way on the model. At the next session, they will share their poem with the study group by reading it aloud. A new model poem will be considered at each session. Immediately after the final session, the group will give a poetry reading for OLLI members, friends, and family. Friday:
Reading materials: Model poems will be provided by the facilitator. Facilitator: John Palen has led this study group at OLLI for several years and conducted similar workshops for the Michigan Writers in the Schools project. A published poet, he has a new book of poems published this year. He holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from Michigan State University.
Writers’ Café
Fridays, 1:30 - 4:00 p.m.
8 sessions: April 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13, 20, 28
Frank Chadwick
Format: hybrid (register to attend either in person or on Zoom)
Each week we meet to exchange news about writing in the Champaign-Urbana area, share a craft tip or exercise, and then (the main activity) read passages we’ve written and have the group critique them and make suggestions for improvement. We write all genres and forms: children’s stories, young adult, science fiction, historical fiction, memoir, poetry, song, travel – you name it. All levels of experience welcome. We all start somewhere, and the best place is in the company of those who are working toward the same goals. Reading Materials: none Facilitator: Frank Chadwick is a published historian and novelist and his Desert Shield Fact Book reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list. He has facilitated several OLLI study groups and taught four OLLI courses – Writing the Novel; The 1973 Arab-Israeli War; World War II: A Look behind the Curtain and Greece and Persia: The War that Created History twice.
OLLI Study Groups 2021-2022
Late Fall 2021 - 2022 Study Groups November 8, 2021 - January 24, 2022
The schedule of study group meeting times can be found here, with additional information included in each listing below.
Please note: Specific dates are listed in group descriptions.
Monday:
Famous Trials
Mondays, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
November 8, 15, 29; December 6, 13, 20; January 10, 24
Trisha Crowley, Coordinator
8 sessions
Format: Zoom meeting
No reading is required but reading the information about the trial at the Famous-Trials website before the session will provide some background for the discussion.
Facilitators:
November 8 - Trisha Crowley- Burns (Fugitive Slave) Trial November 15- Ed Roy - Black Sox Trial November 29 -Mary Kuetemeyer & Dee Breeding- Osage Murder Trials December 6 - Millie Davis- Celia, A Slave Trial December 13- Joe Hooker - Scopes “Monkey” Trial December 20 - Jerry Soesbe - Carthage (Joseph Smith Murder) Trial January 10- Casey Sutherland - Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education January 24 - Norm Klein - Leo Frank Trial
Modern American Short Story Discussion Group
Mondays, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
November 8, 15, 29; December 6, 13, 20; January 10, 24
Paula Watson
8 sessions
Format: in-person
We will explore the contemporary American short story as an art form and a source of reading pleasure using a brand-new anthology, The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story. The stories were originally published from the 1970’s to the 2010’s. A few have been widely anthologized, but most are less familiar, although no less provocative and engaging. Realism, flash fiction, fantasy, and science fiction are represented by established names like Raymond Carver, Isaac Bashevis Singer, and Susan Sontag as well as by newer, more diverse voices such as Ted Chiang, Manuel Munoz, Ken Liu, and Julie Otsuka. We will read and discuss two or three stories each week. Reading Material:
The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story edited by John Freeman (New York: Penguin Press, 2021; ISBN-13: 9781984877802) Facilitator:
Paula Watson has led numerous OLLI short story discussion groups. She is the chair of the OLLI Study Group Committee. She holds a master’s degree in English literature.
Tuesday:
Modern American Short Story Discussion Group
Tuesdays, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
November 9, 16, 30; December 7, 14; January 4, 11, 18
Paula Watson
8 sessions
Format: Zoom meeting
We will explore the contemporary American short story as an art form and a source of reading pleasure using a brand-new anthology, The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story. The stories were originally published from the 1970’s to the 2010’s. A few have been widely anthologized, but most are less familiar, although no less provocative and engaging. Realism, flash fiction, fantasy, and science fiction are represented by established names like Raymond Carver, Isaac Bashevis Singer, and Susan Sontag as well as by newer, more diverse voices such as Ted Chiang, Manuel Munoz, Ken Liu, and Julie Otsuka. We will read and discuss two or three stories each week. Reading Material:
The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story edited by John Freeman (New York: Penguin Press, 2021; ISBN-13: 9781984877802) Facilitator:
Paula Watson has led numerous OLLI short story discussion groups. She is the chair of the OLLI Study Group Committee. She holds a master’s degree in English literature.
To Boldly Go Where We Have Not Gone Before — Caveat Emptor
Tuesdays, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
November 9, 16, 30; December 7, 14; January 4, 11, 18
Norm Klein & Bob Strauss
8 sessions
Format: hybrid (register to attend either in person or on Zoom)
In this discussion group we will read and discuss the book Genesis: The Story of How Everything Began, by Guido Tonelli. Tonelli says this book is purposely written for a lay person. Tonelli, a particle physicist, takes us to the intersection of physics, theology, and philosophy in this work. Drawing upon the latest discoveries in physics, Tonelli provides a theoretical account of the origins of the universe. This theory, presented as if it were a factual retelling of ancient history, touches upon some of the deepest, most penetrating questions we are capable of asking: Why is there something rather than nothing? How did the universe begin? And how did it become what it is today? What is the nature of ultimate reality? What are the building blocks of the universe? What are the forces that act upon the building blocks of the universe? Can we derive meaning and purpose from existence? We will attempt to make sense of the theory Tonelli advances but will do this while examining the underlying philosophical and theological issues that are entailed by Tonelli’s theory of the creation of the universe. Bob’s background in philosophy and Norm’s studies in religious history and theology and world literature will lead us to attempt to raise questions and complications to an already complex cosmological perspective. If you have questions about the particle physics and astronomy of it all, we will appeal to the experts among us (if there are any in attendance), as well as pass the questions on to an expert (a theoretical physicist) whom we have already begun to consult. However, caveat emptor ¬– there will never be more truth to the following statement than as it applies to this class: “you will leave this class with more questions than answers.” Reading Materials:
Genesis: The Story of How Everything Began by Guido Tonelli (ISBN-13: 9780374600488) Facilitators:
Norman Klein is retired as the emeritus rabbi at Sinai Temple in Champaign, after serving as the interim rabbi at temples in Canada and Florida. Before becoming Rabbi Emeritus at Sinai Temple, Champaign, IL, he served as rabbi from 1995 to 2013. Prior to his career in Human Resources management, Bob Strauss completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees in philosophy. His areas of study included the history of philosophy.
Eastern European Films
Tuesdays, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
November 9, 16, 30; December 7, 14; January 4, 11, 18
Marganit Weinberger-Rotman
8 sessions
Format: in-person
In this study group we will view films from East European countries, all produced in the last decade. These films have garnered international awards and critical acclaim. Some deal with social and political aspects, such as venality and institutional corruption (“Graduation” –Rumania 2017, “Leviathan” - Russia 2014), others re-examine WW2 and its aftermath (“1945” – Hungary 2018, “The Interpreter” – Czech Republic, 2018, “Cold War” – Poland 2018, and “Beanpole” –Russia 2020). Two German films address questions of conscience, guilt, and rebellion against the regime in the DDR (“Never Look Away” – 2018, and “The Silent Revolution” – 2018). “Loveless”- Russia 2017 examines a dysfunctional modern Russian family and “Kolya” an earlier Czech movie (1998) described a surprising bond between a middle-aged musician and a foreign child on the cusp of the Velvet Revolution. Reading Materials:
none Facilitator:
Marganit Weinberger-Rotman worked for Israeli Television for many years and attends the International Jerusalem Film Festival every year. She has facilitated nine OLLI study groups involving Israeli cinema, French comedies, and German, Iranian, Middle Eastern films and most recently films on refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers.
Wednesday:
The New Yorker
Wednesdays, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
November 10, 17; December 1, 8, 15; January 5, 12, 19
Kathleen Holden & Marilyn Resch
8 sessions
Format: Zoom meeting
Marilyn Resch is a retired attorney. Since joining OLLI in late 2013, she has participated in a number of study groups on a variety of topics. The New Yorker is one of her favorites.
The Politics and Challenges of the Visual Arts in the US and Europe During and After WWII 1940-60
Wednesdays, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
November 10, 17; December 1, 8, 15; January 5, 12, 19
Sharon Williams
8 sessions
Format: Zoom webinar
How did it happen that after WWII many critics crowned New York the capital of avant-garde art? Paris had been the center of the “isms” of modernism for over eighty years. The United States artists had looked to Paris for leadership and inspiration, admitting that much of the art in the US lacked the sophistication and creativity of European art. The general American public and many US politicians were critical of abstract art and continued to support artists of the figurative “American Scene” painting. Had the New York School artists broken into such new territory that they were worthy of the leadership role? What made their work so attractive to the liberal cultural leadership of the US during the early years of the cold war? Could these liberals perhaps have played a role in The New York School being crowned? In Europe, how was art used by Fascists as a propaganda weapon? How did Stalinism, Fascism, Nazism and the destruction of war affect the avant-garde artists of Europe? Was their work not as “avant-garde” as it had once been? How did they respond to the Americans invading their “turf”? In this Study Group we will look for the answers to these as well as other questions. First, we will review the New York School, later given the name Abstract Expressionists, and the political climate in the US during and after WWII. We will look at the situation of European avant-garde artists in the climate of Stalin, Mussolini, and Hitler and consider how it affected their art as well as the treasures of European art. We will view the art created by European artists during the war and after it and consider the impact of the war on what they created. Lastly, we will contemplate what impact the viewing of the US artists’ exhibitions and other US cultural imports had on the avant-garde European artists. Each week Sharon will post a PDF of sample paintings, which will be the basis of that week’s presentation. Additional paintings, videos, and films, with comments from artists and art historians, will be used in the Power Point presentation to add to the understanding of each week’s artists and topics.
Reading Material:
none
Facilitator:
Sharon Williams is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University and a State of Illinois licensed Interior Designer who was co-owner of a furniture and design business for over 35 years. She has an interest in art and art history and hopes to share her knowledge and learn from other OLLI members. She presently serves on the OLLI Board and has participated in numerous study groups and courses. This is the twenty-first art study group she has facilitated.
The Economist
Wednesdays, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
November 10, 17; December 1, 8, 15; January 5, 12, 19
Claire Barker & Doug Staske
8 sessions
Format: Zoom Meeting
The British Economist magazine supplies an outside viewpoint on the United States and a deep historical understanding of the rest of the world. It tackles economic and financial issues in detail but most often writes about the weekly issues in the news in impressive depth. All areas of the world are covered as are updates in science, justice, international relationships, climate change, race, cybersecurity, family etc. We welcome new members wholeheartedly as everyone brings expertise and a viewpoint to the table that enriches the discussion.
Reading Material:
All participants are expected to have access to The Economist in print or digitally. Digital access is available through the Champaign Public Library at no cost with a library card.
Facilitators:
Claire Barker has co-hosted or hosted the meeting since 2019. For one year, she has participated in the monthly International Economist Readers Group (Britain, Canada, US) and has attended several Economist magazine presentations. She is a retired internist and geriatrician who grew up in a financial family. She’s learned a lot from The Economist magazine and the other members of the group.
Doug Staske is a retired civil engineer with an interest in hiking who is a long-time member of the group and has been co-hosting since summer 2021.
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Wednesdays, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
November 10, 17; December 1, 8, 15
Fred Christensen
5 sessions
Format: in-person
This group will read and discuss Yuval Harari’s 21 Lessons for the 21st Century. The author has applied his vivid, clear, thought-provoking, and provocative style to our past (Sapiens) and future (Homo Deus), and here examines the world’s most important current issues. Each chapter is a self-contained essay, and we’ll cover three or four in each session. From Liberty (“Big Data is watching you”) to Nationalism (“Global problems and answers”), from Terrorism (“Don’t panic”) to Education (“Change is the only constant”), from Work (“Will there be jobs?”) to Meaning (“Life is not a story”), Harari’s clear and stimulating ideas will challenge you to think about the world we live in and the possible directions it might take.
Reading Material:
21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Harari (ISBN-13: 9780525512196)
Facilitator:
Fred Christensen has facilitated 31 study groups since 2008, including one on Harari’s Sapiens.
Thursday:
Time Magazine
Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
November 11, 18; December 2, 9, 16; January 6, 13, 20
Brenda Berg
8 sessions
Format: hybrid (register to attend either in person or on Zoom)
The group selects three articles from Time Magazine each week to discuss, with a volunteer leader for each article. Time Magazine is the world’s leading newsmagazine, featuring national and international affairs, health, business, culture, and entertainment.
Reading Material:
All participants must have access to Time Magazine in print or digitally.
Facilitator:
Brenda Berg is an educator and speech therapist and has taught in various places for 35 years. Brenda has three graduate degrees from the University of Illinois and has lived in Champaign-Urbana since 1960. She has led the Time Magazine discussion study group many times and enjoys the diversity of expertise in the group.
The Best American Mystery Stories of 2020
Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
November 11, 18; December 2, 9, 16; January 6, 13, 20
Bev Herzog & Ron Baker
8 sessions
Format: Zoom meeting
This session we will be reading and discussing the stories in The Best American Mystery Stories 2020 edited by C.J. Box, with Otto Penzler as Series Editor. This edition includes twenty stories, most of which are written by authors that will be new to most of the study group, but also includes stories by James Lee Burke, Jeffery Deaver, and Tom Franklin. In his introduction, C. J. Box wrote, “Short stories done well can pack a punch like no other form of writing ... crafting a good short story is much harder than writing a full-length novel” and wrote that comparing the novel to the short story is like comparing a pearl necklace with dissimilar pearls to a single perfect pearl. He added, “This volume contains twenty perfect pearls.” Group members will be expected to read and be ready to discuss two to three stories each week, totaling approximately 45 to 70 pages. Group members will also be asked to volunteer to lead the discussion of a story or two of their choice, including researching the authors of the stories and developing study questions. Reading materials:
The Best American Mystery Stories 2020, edited by C. J. Box, with Otto Penzler as Series Editor (ISBN-13: 9781328636102) Facilitators:
Bev Herzog is a retired geologist who has been an avid reader of mysteries since she was introduced to Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden as a child. She has participated in mystery short stories study groups since joining OLLI in 2010 and has co-facilitated this group during most study group sessions since 2011 to excellent reviews.
Ron Baker is a retired Federal Human Resources Manager and OLLI member since 2013. He almost exclusively reads mystery stories. He has co-facilitated this group for the last seven years.
Writing and Performing Poetry
Fridays, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
November 12, 19; December 3, 10, 17; January 7, 14, 21
John Palen
8 sessions
Format: hybrid (register to attend either in person or on Zoom)
Each week the facilitator will offer a model poem for discussion. During the following week, participants will write a poem based on, inspired by or in some other way growing out of the model. They will bring copies of that poem to the next study group and read it aloud to the group to start the new meeting. This is not primarily a critique group, but brief comments are okay. At the end of the semester, participants will present a reading for other OLLI members, family, and friends. Friday:
Reading materials:
none Facilitator:
John Palen has led this study group twice a year for a number of years. He is a publishing poet and has also led similar study groups for the Michigan Poets in the Schools project.
Writers’ Café
Fridays, 1:30 - 4:00 p.m.
November 12, 19; December 3, 10, 17; January 7, 14, 21
Frank Chadwick
8 sessions
Format: hybrid (register to attend either in person or on Zoom)
Each week we meet to exchange news about writing in the Champaign-Urbana area, share a craft tip or exercise, and then (the main activity) read passages we’ve written and have the group critique them and make suggestions for improvement. We write all genres and forms: children’s stories, young adult, science fiction, historical fiction, memoir, poetry, song, travel – you name it. All levels of experience welcome. We all start somewhere, and the best place is in the company of those who are working toward the same goals. Reading Materials:
none Facilitator:
Frank Chadwick is a published historian and novelist and his Desert Shield Fact Book reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list. He has facilitated several OLLI study groups and taught four OLLI courses – Writing the Novel; The 1973 Arab-Israeli War; World War II: A Look behind the Curtain and Greece and Persia: The War that Created History.