Study Group Evaluations
The Spring 2024 Study Group Evaluations Survey can be found HERE.
. Summer 2024 Study Groups
July 8, 2024 - August 16, 2024
Please note: Specific dates are listed in group descriptions.
Find the current Summer 2024 Schedule here.
MONDAY:
The Atlantic
Mondays, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
6 sessions: July 8, 15, 22, 29; August 5, 12
Trisha Crowley and Jean Paley
Format: ZOOM
The Atlantic is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher. It features articles in the fields of politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science.
It was a monthly magazine for 144 years until 2001, when it published 11 issues; it has published 10 issues yearly since 2003. It dropped “Monthly” from the cover beginning with the January/February 2004 issue, and officially changed the name in 2007. Each week the group will select up to 3 articles for discussion the next week. The articles can come from the magazine or the short daily articles available electronically via The Atlantic app.
Reading Material: All participants are expected to have access to The Atlantic in print or digitally.
Facilitators: Trisha Crowley and Jean Paley have facilitated numerous OLLI study Groups, including The Atlantic.
Not Your Mother’s Soap Opera: Why are International Soap Operas So Popular?
Mondays, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
6 sessions: July 8, 15, 22, 29; August 5, 12
Casey Diana
Format: In-person
A soap opera, soap for short, is a long-running serial characterized by family melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. Remember General Hospital, Days of our Lives, and the prime-time soap Dallas? Soaps went out of fashion in the U.S. as growing numbers of women joined the workforce, but they remained prevalent in other countries. Thanks to streaming technology and the pandemic, international “soapy” serialized dramas have increased in popularity. Some sneer at these serials, calling them superficial; psychologists and sociologists nevertheless suggest such shows shape societies in subtle but profound ways—for instance, soap operas (telenovelas, teleromans) have encouraged literacy, normalized marrying for love and not caste, increased tolerance of gays, changed methods of farming, increased aids awareness, and promoted contraception.
This study group will examine six of today’s most popular international shows and attempt to define the effects of this “cultural diffusion.” After viewing episodes, participants will lead weekly discussions on various shows in our attempt to answer what makes these international dramas so popular. How do they affect our perceptions of different cultures? Are they a force for good? How so?
Weekly schedule:
7/8 Ancestral Land. RUSSIA
7/15 Queen. POLAND
7/22 Downton Abbey. ENGLAND
7/29 Midsummer Night. SWEDEN
8/5 Malverde. MEXICO
8/12 A French Village. FRANCE
Facilitator: Casey Diana holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois where she taught in the Department of English. A native of Limerick, Ireland, she has traveled to over 60 countries—hence her interest in international dramas.
TUESDAYS:
These Are a Few of our Favorite Films
Tuesdays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
6 sessions: July 9, 16, 23, 30; August 6, 13
Multiple Facilitators
Format: In-person
Six facilitators will present six films, one per week, covering the theme “places you have lived or visited internationally.” Each facilitator will present a film of their choice, giving a brief introduction, then the film itself, and then lead a discussion of the film with some possible additional background provided. The films and facilitators are:
Jan Sherbert: The Englishman who went up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain
Kandra Miller: Fried Green Tomatoes
Susan Garnsey: Persuasion
Barb Oehlschlaeger-Garvey: The Way
Robert K O'Daniell: True Grit
Fred Christensen: A Dangerous Man: Lawrence after Arabia
Reading materials: none
Facilitators: The facilitators all participated in the previous favorite films study group and have volunteered to show and discuss their favorite film. Some are veteran study group facilitators, some are new to the role, and all of them are interested in sharing ideas with the OLLI community in this team-led format.
WEDNESDAY:
The New Yorker
Wednesdays, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
6 sessions: July 10, 17, 24, 31; August 7, 14
Kathleen Holden & Marilyn Resch
Format: Zoom meeting
The New Yorker provides a unique mix of articles and reviews on current topics, literature, and the arts. This study group is designed for readers of The New Yorker who want to get together to discuss current articles from the magazine. The weekly selection of the articles is made by a consensus of the group. Members are encouraged to choose and lead the discussion of one or more articles during the session. When not leading the discussion, members are encouraged to participate in the discussions. Members are required to have some reliable means of obtaining the articles to be discussed.
Reading materials: The New Yorker magazine
Facilitators: Kathleen Holden is a retired UIUC administrator. She has been a member of several interesting OLLI study groups, including The New Yorker.
The Economist
Wednesdays, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
6 sessions: July 10, 17, 24, 31; August 7, 14
Claire Barker, Doug Staske & Jeff Gordon
Format: In-Person and ZOOM
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: The Economist Magazine
Facilitators: Claire has this group for 4.5 years. For 3 years, she has also participated in the monthly International Economist Readers Group (Britain, Canada, US). She is a retired internist and geriatrician who grew up in a financial family in Toronto and NYC. She’s enjoyed learning economics but eve more so the wide variety of issues presented.
Doug Staske is a retired civil engineer who worked in private consulting, municipal, and county engineering fields, the last 10 years for Vermilion County, Illinois. Since retirement he has enjoyed participating in the Economist study group for six years, co-hosting for the last 3.5 years.
Jeff Gordon has been host of the Economist study group for eight years until 2019 and now is back as co-host! Jeff is a retired UIUC researcher and educator in the field of building science. An enduring curiosity about world events led him to the Economist magazine. He enjoys the lively conversation and sharing of viewpoints that the study group encourages.
Caste and Origins: The Book and the Film
Wednesdays, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
6 sessions: July 10, 17, 24, 31; August 7, 14
Barbara Jones
Format: In-Person and ZOOM
Caste is Isabel Wilkerson's award-winning non-fiction book about three "castes": Jews, African Americans, and Dalits ("Untouchables" in India). The 2024 film, Origins is a version of her book, by Director Ava Duvernay. The group will consider the book first and then the film. No prerequisites or required reading, though reading the book will be of enormous benefit. The book is long and complex, so the leader will prepare an outline for each week to help the discussion.
Suggested topics for each session:
1. "Arbitrary Construction of Human Divisions"--Parts One and Two
The framework of the caste system, as Wilkerson defines it, will be laid out, plus discussion.
2. "The Eight Pillars of Caste" and "The Tentacles of Caste"--Parts Three and Four. Wilkerson's historic origins of why we have a system of inequalities in societies around the world, and examples of how it works.
3. "Backlash" and "Awakening," Parts Five and Six. How do we encounter caste in a democracy, and how does it create trauma for all of us?
4. Viewing of "Origins." It is available on Netflix and will be shown in class.
5. Comparison of book and film; how does caste specifically affect Jews, Blacks, and Dalits.
6. Guest speakers representing Jews, Blacks, and Dalits.
Reading materials: Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. Participants will benefit from reading at least Parts One and Two--96 pages--and have a copy of the book. Origins, directed by Ava Duvernay, is on Netflix and could be watched in advance.
Facilitator: Barbara Jones has a Ph.D. in U.S. History, with an interest in the historical situation of minority cultures. She has taught workshops in India as well. She is also a retired librarian who can access resources relevant to this topic.
Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
Wednesdays, 3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
6 sessions: July 10, 17, 24, 31; August 7, 14
Bob Strauss and Norm Klein
Format: In-Person and ZOOM
Bob Strauss and Norm Klein will lead a group on Hume’s Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (1779), published after his death, at his friend’s, economist Adam Smith’s and others insistence. In the Dialogues, Hume’s characters debate a number of arguments for the existence of God, as well as arguments through which, its proponents believe, we may come to know the nature of God.
Considered by many to be the greatest British philosopher, David Hume (1711 – 1776) was a Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, historian, economist, librarian, and essayist, who is best known today for his highly influential system of philosophical empiricism, skepticism, and naturalism. Immanuel Kant credited Hume as the inspiration that had awakened him from his "dogmatic slumbers." On the internet one can find a free copy of Hume’s Dialogues on gutenberg.org.
Facilitators: Bob Is ABD in philosophy; Norm studied philosophy in rabbinic school. Together both have led numerous study groups in philosophy at OLLI.
THURSDAY:
A Moment on the Edge: 100 Years of Crime Stories by Women--Part 2
Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
6 sessions: July 11, 18, 25; August 1, 8, 15
Sandy Camargo and Judith Robinson
Format: In-person
This session we will read the second half of A Moment on the Edge: 100 Years of Crime Stories by Women edited by Elizabeth George. The volume includes both American and British stories and spans from 1917-2000. According to the Detroit Free Press, “The stories sparkle...It’s these stories, that work as short fiction as well aa mysteries, that give the collection its life.” No prerequisites or special knowledge is needed except the ability to research an author and start a discussion of the work.
Group members will be expected to read and be ready to discuss two stories, totaling about 35 pages, each week. Group members will also be asked to volunteer to lead discussions of a story or two, including researching the authors of the stories and developing study questions.
Part 2 of the book will be offered in the Summer 2024 session.
Reading materials: A Moment on the Edge: 100 Years of Crime Stories, edited by Elizabeth George. Published by Harper Perennial, 2005
Facilitator:Sandy and Judith have been members of this group for several years. Sandy is a retired Senior Lecturer in English and Adjunct Professor of Cinema Studies at the U of I.
FRIDAY:
Writing and Performing Poetry
Fridays, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
6 sessions: July 12, 19, 26; August 2, 9, 16
John Palen
Format: In-Person and ZOOM
We will write poems reacting to model poems provided by the facilitator. This is not primarily a critique group but instead will focus on becoming better aware of the many tools in the poet’s toolbox and learning how to use them. A reading for OLLI members, family and friends will close the session. No prerequisites or special knowledge required.
Reading Materials: Facilitator will provide model poems and any other readings. Facilitator: John Palen has led this group for a number of years and is a published poet (latest book, Riding With the Diaspora, from Sheila-Na-Gig Editions). He first used this approach to poetry workshopping years ago as part of the Michigan Poets in the Schools program.
Writers’ Café
Fridays, 1:30 - 4:00 p.m.
6 sessions: July 12, 19, 26; August 2, 9, 16
Frank Chadwick
Format: In-Person and 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 are welcome. We all start somewhere, and the best place is in the company of those who are working toward the same goals.
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 numerous OLLI study groups and taught many OLLI courses, including Writing the Novel; The 1973 Arab Israeli War; World War II: A Look Behind the Curtain; Greece and Persia: The War that Created History twice; and The Art and Craft of Writing as Portrayed in Film.
Already an OLLI member, click here to register for Summer Study Groups!