Coffee Lectures | Three Week Courses | Six Week Courses
Spring 2008 Forum Kick-Off
Date: Tuesday, February 6th
Time: 2:00-3:00 pm
Location: Main Building Foyer
Please join us to meet our speakers and hear overviews of their upcoming presentations. This is also an excellent opportunity to meet Forum members and learn more about the program. Light refreshments will be served. Be our guest & bring a friend!
Coffee Lectures
Each Coffee Lecture is $15
Unless otherwise noted, all courses take place in the Kaul Forum Classroom. Coffee and refreshments are available at 10:00 a.m. Lectures begin promptly at 10:15 a.m.
The Schuylkill Villas - Treasures of Fairmount Park
Presenter: Joan Roberts
Wednesday, February 27
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
These handsome 18th century country estates of wealthy Philadelphians are among the city's best kept secrets. Learn about their architecture and furnishings, and about the family stories of those who owned them- politicians, working mothers, horticulturists, entrepreneurs, and even one pirate.
Slavery & Servitude: Early African American Presence on the Main Line
Presenter: Nancy V. Webster
Wednesday, March 12
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
African Americans have been part of Pennsylvania's history since its colonial beginnings. Using examples of specific places and people, this lecture will highlight African American history on the Main Line. Learn how different our region would be without the contributions of these citizens of our past.
Expressionism: The First Modern Art Movement of the 20th Century
Presenter: Sharon Latchaw Hirsh
Wednesday, April 9
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
This course explores the new art- distortive, disturbing, and even abstract- that burst upon the European art world around 1905. We will investigate the theories and philosophies behind this new art, primarily in France and Germany, in works by artists such as Matisse, Chagall, Kirchner, Nolde, and Kandinsky.
The Golden Age of Pianism
Presenter: Therese Casadesus Rawson
Wednesday, April 30
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
The Golden Age of Pianism spanned from mid 19th century to mid 20th century. Join us for a historical look at the development of the instrument, the most celebrated virtuoso pianists of the period, and the surge of women pianists that took place during the era.
Contact Information
Margaretta Richardi & Mary Cuff, Co-Chairs, Forum Curriculum Committee
Questions? Please call 610.527.0200, Ext. 3102
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3-Week Courses
Each three-week is $35.
Unless otherwise noted, all courses take place in the Kaul Forum Classroom.
The Philosophy of Art
Presenter: Lawrence Stepelevich
3 Tuesdays, February 12 - 26
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Artistic expression is distinctively human, and is not only present in human action, but is essential to it. This series of discussion-lectures will consider the fundamental nature of art, with a particular focus upon what is known as "fine art." Each of the major forms of fine art, from architecture to poetry, will be briefly discussed as they are in themselves and in their relationship to one another. Join us to explore such ancient questions as to what it is that makes something "beautiful" or "ugly."
Caravaggio: Light & Darkness
Presenter: Lucia Strumia
3 Tuesdays, February 12 - 26
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Caravaggio, the cursed painter, has suffered from the image given by traditional scholarship, of a bohemian 17th Century artist involved with murder. Contemporary, more insightful studies have revealed the figure of a genius whose realist painting testifies to his faith in God and in His human creature through the light of grace and the darkness of sin.
King David, the First Machiavellian Prince
Presenter: Dorothy J. Liggett
3 Thursdays, February 14 - 28
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
The biography of King David in the Hebrew Bible draws us into a dark world of murder, intrigue, infidelities, and betrayal. A masterpiece of ancient literature, it draws vivid images of Saul, David's predecessor and first king of Israel; of Bathsheba, whose husband David killed to gain possession of her; of Solomon and Absalom plotting to usurp their father. However, it is the compelling figure of David which fascinates. From a young musician and then a great warrior, David matures to a man driven by ambition to do anything necessary to seize and maintain power. With Robert Alter, renowned Biblical scholar and translator, we will read the story through this prism of political motivation. Please bring a Bible (any translation) to class.
The United States Supreme Court
Presenter: John J. Hoeffner
3 Thursdays, February 14 - 28
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
"It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is," said Chief Justice John Marshall more than 200 years ago. Today, Marshall's point seems obvious, but then it was a controversial and highly debated claim. Find out why in this new course on the U.S. Supreme Court, along with other discussions about the Court's history and some of its most important cases, including some cases currently before the Court.
Irish Myths and Legends
Presenter: Roslyn Blyn-LaDrew
3 Tuesdays, March 4 - 25
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
What do we know about the Celtic pantheon of gods and goddesses, given that their priests (the druids) wrote down virtually nothing about them? In this course, we will use medieval legends in Old Irish, archeological evidence, and commentary from Roman writers to explore the Celtic worldview. Those planning a trip to Ireland or with travels to Ireland in their past will also learn what sites today are associated with deities such as Medb, Brigid, Macha, and many more.
Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage
Presenter: Don Yost
3 Tuesdays, March 4 - 25
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Stephen Crane's internationally acclaimed, The Red Badge of Courage, was published in 1895 and explores the emotions of Henry Fleming, a young Civil War recruit. Crane's portrait of war blends elements of naturalism, impressionism, and symbolism. His writing is notable for its detached and critical style, often addressing uncomfortable issues on a deeply psychological level. Although Crane was born after the war and had never seen battle himself, The Red Badge of Courage is one of the most influential American war stories ever written. Crane's insights continue to be profoundly relevant today. Come join our discussion of this important work.
Discovering Christ's Passion in The Psalms
Presenter: Ron Burns
3 Thursdays, March 6 - 27
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
When reading or reciting the Psalms transcends to prayer, then the passion of Christ is revealed as both past prophecy and present fervor within our Christian communities. Ten distinct perspectives, including New Testament authors, Fathers of the Church, and the liturgy will serve as pathways through the Psalms. Our first class will focus on Lenten themes in Psalms 22, 38, 40, 44, 51, 69, and 118. The second class will cover twelve messianic themes from morning and evening prayers, and in the final class, we will explore favorite Psalms of General Patton, Sir Laurence Oliver, and St. Athanasius. Registrant requests will also be included in the final class discussion. The required text for this course is, The St. Joseph Catholic Edition, The Psalms, New International Version, published by the Catholic Book Publishing Company. Text will be available in Rosemont College's bookstore located in Alumni Hall. Text can also be purchased in the St. Jude's Shop in Havertown.
The Great Composers- Biographies in Perspective
Presenter: Jack A. Covington
3 Thursdays, March 6 - 27
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
The first in a series of ongoing lectures, this course will explore the life and times of Handel, Mozart, and Beethoven, three of musical history's most profoundly gifted and creative composers. The unique genius of each will begin to come to light as we examine their individual personalities against the cultural canvas of their times. From Handel the impresario extraordinaire, to Mozart the childhood prodigy, to Beethoven the meteoric comet- we'll meet each one as we discover why they, and the music they created, have been crowned immortal.
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6-Week Courses
Each six-week course is $65
Unless otherwise noted, all courses take place in the Kaul Forum Classroom.
Cavaliers in the Backwoods: Faulkner's South
Presenter: Garrett Bolger
6 Tuesdays, April 1 - May 6
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Pride, courage, violence, slavery and greed move Faulkner's people who are trying to recreate Jefferson's Virginia in a tangled wilderness. Generations after them suffer the consequences. Faulkner's South is a version of the perennial American myth: a vision destroyed and a paradise lost. But it's a wonderful place to visit. Join us for this in-depth look into Faulkner's work.
The Universe from Aristotle to Big Bang
Presenter: Dom Roberti
6 Tuesdays, April 1 - May 6
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Ideas about the origin and nature of the universe have always formed a fundamental part of a society's culture and religion. Indigenous peoples developed creation myths, and sophisticated explanations have come down through the ages from ancient Greek philosophers to the pre-scientific age. Now, for the first time, we are able to build a creation story based on empirical evidence, a story including the strange world of relativity and quantum mechanics and one which shows God deeply embedded within the evolutionary process.
God's Country: Religion in America
Presenters: Richard J. Donagher & Virginia Kaib Ratigan
6 Thursdays, April 3 - May 8
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
This course will trace the transformation of America's religious culture from one founded by the heirs of the Protestant Reformation to one of the most diverse and complex religious societies in the contemporary world. Special consideration will be given to the changing role of women in American religion and to the American debate over the proper relationship between church and state. Excerpts from films depicting aspects of religion in America will be shown.
Film Classics: Standing the Test of Time
Presenter: Steve Friedman
6 Thursdays, April 3 - May 8
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
What makes a film a "classic?" Does your favorite film make the list? In this course, we'll take an affectionate and informative look at some of the Best Dramas, Science-Fiction, Westerns, Social Comedies, Political and Adventure films of all time.
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Register online:
For credit card payments, we can now accept registrations online.
Cancellation Policy:
Rosemont College reserves the right to cancel any course if minimum enrollment is not reached. You will be notified by telephone or letter should this occur. A full refund will be made in this instance.
Withdrawal Policy:
To withdraw from a class before it has begun, you must notify us in writing preferably at least two weeks in advance. Full refunds minus a 10% administrative fee will be charged if you withdraw more than 10 business days before the class starts. If we receive your cancellation less than 10 days but more than 24 hours before the class starts, you will be refunded minus a 20% administrative fee. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refundable.
If you must withdraw from a class that has already begun, you may receive a credit to be used for a future class, provided that 1) the course is more than three weeks long, and 2) you notify us in writing by the second week of the class. Only credits, not refunds, are available in this instance.
Please note: Refunds cannot be made for classes missed as result of illness, personal emergencies, moving or other event beyond our control.
The Rosemont Forum welcomes Saint Joseph's University alumni
through our inter-college partnership!