OLLI Winter 2027_pageturn - Flipbook - Page 26
Living Off the Laughter:
The History of Comedy in America, Part II
Wednesdays, January 27 – March 3
4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
This is a history course with a laugh track. We will
explore American history, using humor as a lens
for understanding the 20th and 21st centuries.
We will discuss how comedy was shaped by
and responsive to American society, and how
comedians influenced and shaped American
life. We will also discuss comedy auteurs and
incubators, stand-up, sitcoms, and political satire,
and consider how Americans laughed across
generations, what and whom they laughed at, and
what that reveals about American life.
$65 – Eddy Friedfeld is a film and entertainment
journalist and historian who teaches at Yale, NYU,
and the Tisch School of the Arts.
Seats available: 10
Embodying the Inner Truth:
The Films of Denzel Washington
Thursdays, January 28 – March 4
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Denzel Washington brings an intensity and
dedication reminiscent of Sidney Poitier and Gene
Hackman. In this course, we will examine his
career across television, film, theater, directing,
and producing. We will consider his early
work on St. Elsewhere, his performances in Cry
Freedom, Malcolm X, and The Equalizer trilogy,
and his Oscar-winning performances in Glory and
Training Day. We will also explore his directorial
debut with Antwone Fisher and his work as a
producer adapting August Wilson’s plays.
$65 – Arnold Blumberg, PhD, is a publisher,
author, artist, and pop culture historian has taught
courses in media literacy and cultural studies.
Seats available: 10
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The Power of Introverts
Mondays, February 1 – March 8
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
“Introverts are hermits. Introverts
don’t like people. Introverts can’t
hold a conversation.” We will unpack these myths
and explore introversion as a misunderstood
personality type. We will discuss the power
of introverts, the exhaustion of masking as
extroverts, and the stigma attached to the word
itself. Together, we will consider how introverts
and extroverts can better understand, support,
and honor one another.
$65 – Jeri Bingham, an administrator and
non-profit leader who has managed people,
policy, and programs in academia and missiondriven organizations for more than 25 years.
Seats available: 10
Women, Sainthood, and Power
Tuesdays, February 2 – March 9
4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
This course explores the lives of female saints
through history, religion, psychology, women’s
and gender studies, and cultural studies. Through
figures such as Joan of Arc, Teresa of Avila, Rose
of Lima, Frances Cabrini, and others, participants
will examine women whose strength, complexity,
and influence challenge narrow stereotypes
of sainthood. Their stories reveal strategies of
resistance, adaptation, and leadership within the
limits of their times and invite reflection on their
relevance today.
$65 – Oliva Espín, PhD, is professor emerita in the
department of women’s studies at San Diego State
University and the California School of Professional
Psychology of Alliant International University.
Seats available: 10
