Lecture Series
FABulous Fall Lecture Series Part A
Registration is now open! Click the button below to get started or continue scrolling for details.
Click HERE to view the Fall 4-Week Course Session details.
Registration closes at 3pm (PT) the business day prior to each lecture.
Lectures are $10 each. You can purchase lectures individually or choose one of our flexible bundle options:
- Choose any five lectures during the fall series for $40
- Bundle the entire lecture series in September for $60
- SPECIAL DEAL: You can bundle the fall series Part A AND our Fall Session courses for $220!
Lecture Format
All lectures can be attended virtually via Zoom; students use the chat function to submit questions. All lectures are recorded and available for students to watch upon request (instructions on viewing recordings are sent out automatically).
Over half of the lectures can be attended in-person. They will be offered at the Thousand Oaks and Oxnard Campuses. Parking is always free and is accessible at both locations. Click the drop-down menu below for more details about attending in person.
Our FAB students’ safety is important to us; therefore, we are taking precautions to make the in-person classes a safe and welcoming environment. In this environment, students will be able to enjoy face-to-face interactions with their faculty and classmates and the option to grab a coffee or a bite to eat before or after class. For those not able to join us in person, we continue to be your virtual home for learning!
Note: Walk-ins are not permitted. You may register via phone by calling 805-493-3290 at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the lecture. Persons will not be allowed into the learning space if they are not on the roster in advance.
Regarding in-person attendance:
- FREE, accessible parking at both campus locations (view location and parking details HERE)
- Large lecture room with ample space meeting Cal/OSHA guidelines
- Masks are recommended but are not required
Can’t get to campus for an in-person lecture? No problem! Attend the course virtually instead.
In-Person & Virtual Learning
Using a hybrid learning model, in-person and virtual students can attend the same class simultaneously. A special “360-camera” will follow the instructor in the classroom, and students attending virtually will be able to see and hear the instructor and view the PowerPoint over Zoom (similar to our traditional virtual courses).
We look forward to continued learning with those near and far! Keep reading to learn more about our FABulous lectures and faculty.
VIEW FALL LECTURE PREVIEWS ON YOUTUBE
See below for exciting topics and faculty biographies!
Part 1: Monday, September 9, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Monday, September 16, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks
Lecture Description:
The future of democracy in the United States concerns people across today's political
spectrum. But how have we gotten here? Like today, the nature of democracy and its
place in U.S. politics has been debated since the nation's founding. We will look
at how democracy has been defined and revised over the past two and a half centuries
from the Founders' deep suspicions and the Civil War's reshaping to the impact of
both World War I and World War II. To put today's debates in context, we will also
explore what perceptive outsiders such as Alexis de Tocqueville (from whom the course
title is borrowed) and James Bryce have had to say about the American "experiment."
Click the following link to listen to a preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/8Vp3vv5-E5w
Bio:
Chris Kimball (PhD) is Professor Emeritus of History at California Lutheran University. His undergraduate
degree is from McGill University and his master’s and doctoral degrees are from The
University of Chicago. He previously served as California Lutheran University’s seventh
president (2008-2020) after two years as provost and vice president for academic affairs.
Specializing in U.S. history, he has taught on subjects such as the Civil War, U.S.
Foreign Relations, the history of sport, the history of American cities, and legal
issues in higher education.
Tuesday, September 10, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Oxnard
Lecture Description:
Spearhead of Western democracies during the Cold War, NATO’s joint efforts reached
an apex with the dissolution of both the Communist Warsaw Pact and Soviet Union in
1991. We’ll explore the post-World War II origins of the grand alliance, and its
expansion eastward over the last 25 years, including Finland and Sweden’s very recent
accession to the Alliance after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/GlzSEBY2pdg
Bio:
From his childhood in a Lithuanian refugee family, Linas J. Kojelis, rose to positions in Washington D.C. including Special Assistant the President (OPL/Defense
and Foreign Policy) at the White House and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, as
well as service in the U.S. Senate, Pentagon and U.S. Naval Reserve (Lieutenant/Naval
Intelligence). Later, he founded and headed the U.S.- Baltic Foundation. His articles
on Soviet affairs have been published in the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.
Later, he headed Kojelis & Company consulting in Vilnius, Lithuania for five years.
He received his B.A. in History (highest departmental honors) from U.C.L.A., and
a M.P.A. (International Relations) from Princeton University. He lives with his wife
in Simi Valley, and his interests include cinema, travel, art and historic preservation.
Wednesday, September 11, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks
Lecture Description:
Although often grouped in with the Impressionists, Édouard Manet is a pivotal and
influential transition figure between French Realism and Impressionism. His work,
focusing on capturing the immediacy of the modern world, was seen as a challenge to
the constraints of the French Academy of Fine Arts and became an inspiration for a
young generation of rebellious artists who would become known as the Impressionists.
However, as Impressionism continues to develop, its style and methods begin to make
an impact on the work of Manet. Although Manet never participated in the Impressionist
Exhibitions, in his work and those of the Impressionists—Claude Monet in particular—you
can see the reciprocity of their influences on each other. This lecture traces those
developments that helped to form the Impressionist style and how they, in turn, influenced
encouraged experimentation in Manet's works.
Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/S-Q97QuIZgU
Bio:
Katherine E. Zoraster is an Art Historian and a Professor of Art History at several local colleges specializing
in Western art from the Renaissance to the 20th century. She graduated with a double
major in English Literature and Art History from the University of California, Los
Angeles. Following her undergraduate degree, she received a Master’s Degree with Distinction
in Art History from the California State University at Northridge.
In addition to the courses Katherine teaches for other lifelong learning programs, she also works as an Art History Instructor for the full-time program at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Arts. Katherine also serves as a commissioner for the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission and volunteers at the Burbank Animal Shelter. In her free time, Katherine is an avid runner and travels extensively.
Part 1: Thursday, September 12, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Monday, September 19, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
Almost one-third of the world’s population views themselves as Christians. Approximately
a quarter identify as Muslims. Fifteen percent practice Hinduism. Six percent practice
Buddhism, and approximately a fifth of a percent practice Judaism. Together, these
religions account for over three-quarters of the world; a huge majority of the earth’s
population see themselves as religious. Nevertheless, all of these religions are incredibly
different and produce divergent worldviews. By contrast, 15% of the world identifies
as nonreligious.
Christianity is the largest religion in the world and Islam is the second-largest. In a few decades, it’s believed that Islam will surpass Christianity. Thus, in many ways, some have seen these as competing religions. Nevertheless, these lectures will examine these two largest religions and note the similarities and points of connection between them. It will consider the origins of both, their development over the centuries, and note both their differences and their points of agreement.
Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/3zPf8DS3gqc
Bio:
Jason Hensley, PhD (Holocaust and Genocide Studies), Dmin (Biblical Studies), teaches religious
studies at a private school in Los Angeles. He is a fellow of the Michael LaPrade
Holocaust Education Institute of the Anti-Defamation League, a higher-education ambassador
for the Council on Foreign Relations, and the award-winning author of 12 books. His
work has been featured in The Huffington Post as well as the BBC, and he has served
as the historical advisor for a Holocaust documentary. Connect with him at jasonhensley.net.
Wednesday, September 18, 10-11am (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
Celebrating the two-year anniversary of JWST being an operational telescope, we will
look at some of the discoveries made, how it complements observations of the still
operating Hubble Space Telescope, and what the future may hold for future observation
campaigns.
And much as the JWST is the successor to the Hubble, we will look at some concepts for the next great space-based telescope.
Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/1fyaluzWLnY
Bio:
Christopher Mick is the Education and Outreach Director for the STEAM educational nonprofit, Space
St. Croix. Space St. Croix’s mission, "Connecting Kids to the Cosmos," brings Space-themed
STEAM programming and teacher support materials to all Hudson, WI. area public, private,
and home school students.
Christopher is a NASA Solar System Ambassador, Space Station Ambassador with the ISS National Lab, member of the NASA Museum & Informal Education Alliance, and an Aerospace Education Member with the Civil Air Patrol. He is a blogger for the Space Science Institute, through their StarNet Library website, and recently served on the Education Advisory Board for Infiniscope (2019). Christopher was named an International Teacher Liaison in 2022 by the Space Foundation, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and was a judge for the National Space Society’s, Space Settlement Contest and the NASA Space Apps Challenge – Brescia, Italy.
He lives and works in Hudson, Wisconsin.
Tuesday, September 24, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks
Lecture Description:
This lecture dives deep into the Watergate scandal, one of the most notorious political
events in American history. It explores the intrigue behind the initial break-in,
the investigative process that unraveled the truth, the lasting impact of the scandal,
and even stories that haven't been widely known before.
Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/AjYkF52aBUo
Bio:
Paul P. Magallanes is an accomplished FBI Special Agent veteran and founder of Magallanes Associates
International. With over 21 years of experience in the FBI, Mr. Magallanes has an
extensive background in investigations, training, and security consultation. He began
his FBI career in Tampa, Florida, where he was one of the first to work in an undercover
capacity.
Throughout his career, Mr. Magallanes played a key role in various high-profile cases. He was an original investigator in the Watergate Burglary case, where he developed critical information leading to the resignation of President Nixon. In the Greylord Case, he exposed corrupt Cook County judges in Chicago while working undercover. In addition to his undercover work, Mr. Magallanes was a leading member in the landmark Class Action suit, Perez v FBI, against the FBI for discrimination in the workplace against FBI Hispanic Agents.
In addition to his investigative work, Mr. Magallanes coordinated security for the 1984 Olympic Command Headquarters in Los Angeles. He received numerous awards for his outstanding investigative and undercover efforts, including FBI Quality Service Salary Increase Awards, commendations, citations, and superior performance awards.
Mr. Magallanes is recognized as one of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics in the Nation" by Hispanic Business Magazine. He has also been featured in various international media outlets for his expertise in kidnap prevention, response, and multilingual ransom negotiation programs, as well as corporate security, executive protection, and international security issues.
Mr. Magallanes holds a Master of Science degree in Administration of Justice from the American University in Washington D.C., a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Mary's College in Winona, Minnesota, He attended Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, IL, and has completed work toward his Ph.D. in Law Enforcement Management Studies from the American University. He is an active member and leader in numerous law enforcement, social, business, and cultural organizations.
Wednesday, September 25, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Oxnard
Lecture Description:
Illuminated manuscripts are hand-written devotional books that are lavishly illuminated
with gold and silver ink on top of brightly-colored images. They were produced between
c. 500 and c. 1600, with monasteries as their earliest creators. Their subject matter
is usually Christian scripture, prayers, and lore. Wealthy patrons also wanted these
illustrative works for personal libraries and encouraged the formation of private
workshops that flourished in French and Italian cities. There is also an amusing side
of illustrated manuscripts found in the margins, called marginalia: murderous rabbits,
menacing snails, naughty nuns. Filled with imagery depicting everything from mythical
beasts to humorous depictions of contemporary issues, these delightful illustrations
give us a glimpse into the imaginations of the artists who entertained their patrons
with them.
Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/4UUujHNpGVQ
Bio:
Eleanor Schrader is an award-winning educator, lecturer, and author. She lectures worldwide on art
and architectural history, and leads art and architecture tours throughout the world.
She has been named a Distinguished Instructor at UCLA Extension, where she teaches
history of architecture, interior design, furniture, and decorative arts. She is also
Professor Emeritus of Art and Architectural History at Santa Monica College. She has
done graduate work in fine and decorative arts at Sotheby's Institute in London and
New York. She has served as a Design Review Commissioner for the City of Beverly
Hills and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the John Lautner Foundation.
Thursday, September 26, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has dominated recent headlines. Books and magazine articles
abound describing the transformational impact “artificial intelligence” will have
on work and society. Few of these publications, however, have delved deeply into how
algorithms and AI are affecting citizens in democratic societies. This lecture will
center upon a core dilemma: how can society benefit from AI without destroying democracy?
The logic of AI models and the needs of both state and market provide strong incentives
to see individual citizens as “algorithmic problems” that need to be solved to increase
profits or to manage citizens. In this lecture, I'll argue that democratic health
requires that large numbers of its citizens defy algorithmic classification, hence
remain as “outliers" and 'algorithmic problems."
Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/jbSeyQ1gUsg
Bio:
Jose Marichal, Ph.D., is a professor of political science at California Lutheran University,
specializing in studying the role that social media plays in restructuring political
behavior and institutions. Dr. Marichal’s book Facebook Democracy (Routledge Press)
looks at the role of the popular social network played on the formation of political
identity across different countries. His most recent work (with Cal Lutheran colleagues
Drs. Richard Neve and Brian Collins) looks at the ways in which social media platforms
encourage antagonistic political discourse and how they could be regulated. Additionally,
Dr. Marichal and a team of collaborators are using computational social science methods
on a number of projects including: using machine learning to predict support or opposition
to fracking on Twitter, a study of how individuals censor themselves when discussing
politics on Facebook, and a project on uncovering the topic structure of Reddit comments
on WallStreetBets. In 2018, Dr. Marichal organized a mini-conference on Algorithmic
Politics for the Western Political Science Association. Dr. Marichal is currently
working on a book that looks at the effect of the “Algorithmic Age” on political citizenship.
FABulous Summer Lecture Series
Registration for this series is open! Click the button below to get started.
Registration closes at 3pm (PT) the business day prior to each lecture.
Lectures are $10 each. You can purchase lectures individually or choose one of our flexible bundle options:
- Bundle the entire series (all 37 lectures) for $220
- Not able to join us for the whole series? New this year, we have a "build-your-own bundle" option where you can choose any ten lectures during the summer series for $75
Lecture Format
All lectures will be virtual via Zoom; students use the chat function to submit questions. All lectures are recorded and available for students to watch upon request.
You can also join us in-person at select lectures. Several lectures will be offered at the Thousand Oaks Campus and Oxnard Campuses. Parking is always free and is accessible at both locations. Click the drop-down menu below for more details about attending in person.
Our FAB students’ safety is important to us; therefore, we are taking precautions to make the in-person classes a safe and welcoming environment. In this environment, students will be able to enjoy face-to-face interactions with their faculty and classmates and the option to grab a coffee or a bite to eat before or after class. For those not able to join us in person, we continue to be your virtual home for learning!
Note: Walk-ins are not permitted. You may register via phone by calling 805-493-3290 at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the lecture. Persons will not be allowed into the learning space if they are not on the roster in advance.
Regarding in-person attendance:
- FREE, accessible parking at both campus locations (view location and parking details HERE)
- Large lecture room with ample space meeting Cal/OSHA guidelines
- Masks are recommended but are not required
Can’t get to campus for an in-person lecture? No problem! Attend the course virtually instead.
In-Person & Virtual Learning
Using a hybrid learning model, in-person and virtual students can attend the same class simultaneously. A special “360-camera” will follow the instructor in the classroom, and students attending virtually will be able to see and hear the instructor and view the PowerPoint over Zoom (similar to our traditional virtual courses).
We look forward to continued learning with those near and far! Keep reading to learn more about our FABulous lectures and faculty.
VIEW LECTURE PREVIEWS ON YOUTUBE
See below for exciting topics and faculty biographies!
Part 1: Monday, June 3, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Monday, June 10, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
The life of Frank Sinatra was quite unusual and beyond interesting for such an iconic
singer and actor. This two-part lecture will examine his complex personality and how
he approached his long and varied career. We will see, hear and enjoy videos of Sinatra’s
earliest beginnings with Big Bands to his later hits of the 70s and even 80s. We’ll
look into where he got his music and style, discuss The Rat Pack, and examine the
peaks and valleys of his career. Come to these lectures and be prepared to enjoy
a lot of nostalgia as we visit “Ole Blue Eyes”, and find out why he also was called
“The Chairman of The Board”.
Click the following link to listen to Tony's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page:https://youtu.be/g_VXBIqvFVM
Bio:
Tony Moon has spent 60 successful years in the music business. Beginning in 1960, he joined
the L.A. group Dante and The Evergreens, which was managed and produced by Lou Adler
and Herb Alpert. He later moved to Nashville, becoming the guitarist and conductor
for Brenda Lee. Tony also began playing on recording sessions and was Nashville's
first rock independent music producer, working with five major labels. He scored several
big hits for The Vogues, including "5 O' Clock World." Tony has won several awards
as a songwriter and music publisher. His songs have been released by artists as diverse
as Porter Wagoner, Willie Nelson, Vickie Carr, Pearl Jam, and The Beatles.
He currently administers several Music Publishing Companies and a New York Entertainment Company.
Part 1: Wednesday, June 5, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Wednesday, June 12, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
Around 1812, Lady Caroline Lamb used the aforementioned “mad, bad, and dangerous to
know” characterization to describe her lover Lord Byron, our original Byronic Hero
who infamously began the trope of a suave, mysterious, unconventionally handsome,
often hard-hearted charismatic wild man who’s been recreated in literature and films
for centuries. In this class, we’ll study a few of the best: Jane Eyre’s Rochester,
Wuthering Heights’s Heathcliff, the Phantom of the Opera’s titular Phantom, The Great
Gatsby’s Gatsby himself, and the contemporaneous Pirates of the Caribbean’s Captain
Jack Sparrow. What makes the Byronic Hero so alluring? Will you fall under his spell?
Learn how this trope has evolved and yet remarkably remained the same over the past
200 years.
Click the following link to listen to Tracy's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/BZfuBU-mPI8
Bio:
Tracy Dubin hails from Thousand Oaks, collects academic degrees, and delights in now teaching
at California Lutheran University. She is an award-winning psychology and neuroscience
researcher, national lecturer, essayist, and ethicist, having completed numerous post-graduate
clinical research fellowships at The Medical University of South Carolina. She holds
an MA (in World Literature & Pedagogy with a Thesis in Critical Theory, Religion &
Philosophy) from the University of California at Irvine, and a BS (in Human Development
and Aging/Gerontology) plus a BA (in English with an Emphasis in Creative Writing)
both from the University of Southern California. She studied graduate-level journalism
at Harvard University for a bit too and wrote for their Harvard Gazette. She adores
writing and has multitudes of publications forthcoming, ranging from scientific articles
on ethics and brain stimulation; to memoir pieces of personal, romantic musings; to
zeitgeist-filled essays reflecting contemporaneous topics of import She loves philosophy,
pedagogy, critical theory, and literary criticism. You can read her academic research
projects and presentations on ResearchGate at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tracy-Dubin. And the too long, didn’t read synopsis: she’s a writer, thinks of herself as a Renaissance
Woman, and hopes in advance that you’ll enjoy her class.
Part 1: Thursday, June 6, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Thursday, June 13, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks
Lecture Description:
Many of the founders of the United States believed in a God. But, their beliefs were
unconventional––they didn't necessarily belong to a religious community or follow
the ideas of traditional theology. Why? What did these people think about God and
religion? Why did their beliefs go against the grain? And, do these ideas even matter
today? This set of lectures will examine the religious views of some of the country’s
major influencers: John and Abigail Adams, Thomas Paine, and Alexander Hamilton.
Click the following link to listen to Jason's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/iKdqHV4EWmw
Bio:
Jason Hensley, PhD (Holocaust and Genocide Studies), Dmin (Biblical Studies), teaches religious
studies at a private school in Los Angeles. He is a fellow of the Michael LaPrade
Holocaust Education Institute of the Anti-Defamation League, a higher-education ambassador
for the Council on Foreign Relations, and the award-winning author of 12 books. His
work has been featured in The Huffington Post as well as the BBC, and he has served
as the historical advisor for a Holocaust documentary. Connect with him at jasonhensley.net.
Monday, June 17, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
This lecture will explore the themes of love in Shakespeare’s plays and poetry, by
highlighting the contrasting love stories found in Much Ado About Nothing and Romeo
and Juliet, staged this summer at the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival. The lecture will
be followed by a question and answer session with members of the Kingsmen creative
team.
Click the following link to listen to Michael's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/ij3naQYLaAk
Bio:
Michael J. Arndt has been a Professor of Theatre Arts at California Lutheran University for the past
forty years and is the artistic director of the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company. As a
theatre director, he has directed over 200 theatre productions. Among the awards he
has received are the Cal Lutheran President’s Award for Teaching Excellence, The Kennedy
Center/American College Theatre Festival, Region VIII-Outstanding Theatre Educator,
and the Alliance for the Arts’ Exemplary Arts Educator Award. He was named a “local
hero” by the Ventura County Reporter and “Patriotic Citizen of the Year” by the Conejo
Valley Chapters of the Military Order of the World Wars and The Military Order of
the Purple Heart.
A Vietnam combat veteran, Michael created Under Fire: Stories of Combat Veterans Across Generations. He is currently co-authoring a book: Making Contact: The Way to Healing from the Trauma of Combat.
Wednesday, June 19, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks
Lecture Description:
Journalism is under extreme pressure in 2024 with advertising dollars declining and
Big Tech monopolies siphoning millions of dollars in revenues out of the news business.
Yet in spite of these onerous financial times, American investigative journalism is
thriving. Technology, new tools, databases and access to information online have made
the skills of investigative reporters more valuable than ever. And while artificial
intelligence poses a new threat to journalism, investigative reporters are optimistic
they will survive even AI’s voracious appetite. James V. Grimaldi, a two-time winner
of the investigative Pulitzer Prize, walks through this tricky media landscape and
offers hope for why investigative journalism will prosper and perhaps offer the a
solution to save our democracy.
Bio:
James V. Grimaldi is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist on The Wall Street Journal's
investigations desk and is based in Washington, D.C., where he has written accountability
stories about money, politics, government, charities, lobbying and campaigns.
His work with a WSJ team won the 2023 Pulitzer for investigative reporting after finding thousands of senior federal officials investing in companies they regulated. That investigation followed an award-winning series a year earlier exposing more than 150 federal judges who owned shares of companies at the same time those companies had matters in their courtrooms.
James and two colleagues won the investigative-reporting Pulitzer in 2006 for exposing the Jack Abramoff bribery scandal. A frequent journalism and public-records trainer, James is a member of the steering committee of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. James is a past president of Investigative Reporters and Editors and a former board member for the Fund for Investigative Journalism.
Thursday, June 20, 10am-12pm (PT)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
America loves movies, and while everyone may not realize it, music is incredibly important
to the final effect of a movie. Movie scores convey mood, pace and even add to the
tension of a scene (for example the musical cues in the movie “Jaws” warning you there
is danger lurking just below the water’s surface). A movie score is an important part
of the storytelling. What may not be obvious is how many people are involved and the
amount of time it takes to get that music into the film from start to finish. In this
lecture, we will examine the process of how a movie score is created, orchestrated,
and performed and the many different steps it takes to get from concept to a completed
score.
Click the following link to listen to Steven's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/SHuTAAJtToU
Bio:
Author of the groundbreaking book for horn, “Etudes from the Repertoire,” Steven Becknell has had an extremely varied and unique career in Southern California. At age 22,
Steven moved to Los Angeles to study with Hollywood studio legend Vince DeRosa at
USC, but began working professionally while still in school. He has played in orchestras
throughout Southern California including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the San Diego
Symphony, the Pacific Symphony, and was a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
for 8 years. The majority of Steven’s time has been spent recording in the Hollywood
studios. He has played on well over 1,000 motion pictures, numerous television series,
video games, and even the recorded music for theme parks such as Disneyland. Steven
has played live for the Academy Awards and has had the honor of recording with such
legendary artists as Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Rosemary Clooney, and Barry
Manilow.
Steven has been principal horn with the Los Angeles Opera for over 25 years. In 2010 he performed all the offstage and pit solos of Wagner’s complete Ring cycle, the first time it had ever been produced in Southern California. To date, Steven has played over 1,500 performances with the Los Angeles Opera.
Monday, June 24, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks
Lecture Description:
Join us in preparing for the upcoming 2024 presidential election. In this lecture,
we will cover some of the history of media’s role in politics and elections in particular,
from the Partisan Press to the Nixon-Kennedy debate, to the role of social media.
We will also touch on campaigns and political advertising and discuss how media coverage
shapes today’s political landscape.
Click the following link to listen to Kirstie's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/urPz7MkexGE
Bio:
Kirstie Hettinga (Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University) is an associate professor of communication
at California Lutheran University. She teaches media writing, editing, and content
creation and serves as the faculty adviser to Cal Lutheran’s award-winning student
newspaper, The Echo. Her research addresses issues of accuracy and credibility in
news media, as well as how students learn in student newsrooms. Her work has been
published in Newspaper Research Journal, College Media Review, Journal of Media Ethics,
and Journalism Practice.
Thursday, June 27, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
San Francisco was a happening place at midcentury: big new ideas about music, poetry,
life and love were all developing in what was then a small city. Art, of course, was
also in flux, and some uniquely Bay Area artists and styles challenged New York’s
dominance of the American art scene. Discover the work of David Park, Richard Diebenkorn,
Joan Brown, Jay DeFeo, and more as we explore the art world of San Francisco’s Beatniks
and Hippies.
Click the following link to listen to Avril's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/nSy2HNf7zes
Bio:
Avril Angevine is an arts aficionado, teacher, and presenter with an interest in all things California.
She has lived in the state since the age of 8 and is a proud graduate of California
public schools, including the University of California, Berkeley. As an undergrad
at UCLA and Berkeley, she studied English, several foreign languages, and art, and
received an MA in Comparative Literature from UCB in 1977. Over a long career, she
has alternated between teaching and publications work. She has taught English, French,
and Humanities at numerous local colleges and universities, public and private, and
in between, worked as a freelance graphics designer and as art director of the State
Coastal Conservancy’s magazine, Coast and Ocean.
Avril’s focus shifted more decisively to art in the last decade, when she became a museum guide at both the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Oakland Museum of California. In that time, she served as chair of the guide councils of both museums, and as an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees of SFMOMA. Through SFMOMA, she began doing talks on the collection at local libraries; from this modest start, she has developed a new career. She currently serves as a museum guide at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.
Monday, July 1, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks
Lecture Description:
Whimsical, colorful, and populated with memories from his native Russian culture,
Marc Chagall's oeuvre transcends reason and logic. His images forge his past with
his new life in the artistic capital of Paris which was a center of experimentation
and innovation. Chagall's creative energy pushed him to experiment in various media
including painting, etchings, stained glass, mosaics, tapestry, and sets for plays
and ballets. Completely individual and personal, his style is unique and easily recognizable
while also embracing traditional subjects and the elements of contemporaneous developments.
This lecture will explore the weird and wonderful world he created.
Click the following link to listen to Katherine's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/wRmfLGS86dw
Bio:
Katherine E. Zoraster is an Art Historian and a Professor of Art History at several local colleges specializing
in Western art from the Renaissance to the 20th century. She graduated with a double
major in English Literature and Art History from the University of California, Los
Angeles. Following her undergraduate degree, she received a Master’s Degree with Distinction
in Art History from the California State University at Northridge.
In addition to the courses Katherine teaches for other lifelong learning programs, she also works as an Art History Instructor for the full-time program at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Arts. Katherine also serves as a commissioner for the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission and volunteers at the Burbank Animal Shelter. In her free time, Katherine is an avid runner and travels extensively.
Part 1: Tuesday, July 2, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Tuesday, July 9, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
In this two-part lecture, we will explore how the young Alma Reville and her shy husband
Alfred Hitchcock became the most prominent filmmakers in early British Cinema. Alma
Reville’s influence in every aspect of the legendary Hitchcock career is a remarkable
story in itself. A seasoned professional when they first met, Alma took Alfred under
her wing and taught him filmmaking from the ground up. A talented writer herself she
remained his most trusted collaborator. Their mutual creation of the persona of Alfred
Hitchcock, and their unparalleled success in the 1930s led not only to an invitation
to Hollywood but to the reinvention of moviemaking.
Lecture One - The Silent Era: Learning the Language
Re-evaluating the Hitchcock silent films: Variety, miss-steps and experimentation
Lecture Two - Finding Hitchcock’s "voice" and creating the Master of Suspense
Their remarkable early films with sound taught the Hitchcock’s what did and did not
work.
Click the following link to listen to Matthew's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/Pa12tV4j-aE
Bio:
Matthew Weisman received his MFA in Film from Columbia University School of the Arts where he also
taught classes in Cinema Studies and directed the Cinematheque film program. His undergraduate
degree in English is from Boston University. A professional screenwriter and producer,
he taught Graduate Screenwriting at the USC School of Cinema for fifteen years. He
is a retired member of The Writers Guild of America. He has taught several continuing
education courses in film and television history and appreciation both online and
in the classroom.
Part 1: Thursday, July 11, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Thursday, July 18, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks
Lecture Description:
Science fiction like the Star Wars movies gave us ideas about the possibilities for
intelligent life out in the Universe. With the recent advances by the Kepler and TESS
satellites in identifying new habitable exoplanets, science fiction is quickly becoming
science fact. In this lecture series, we will discuss the past, present, and future
vision of efforts to identify and interact with other civilizations. Part I will focus
on the science of necessary conditions for a habitable planet that can host life and
the history of the human endeavor to search for intelligent life. Part II will expand
on the current efforts for identification of both basic and intelligent life and future
challenges of our journey to explore possible contact and travel to other worlds.
Click the following link to listen to Mary's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/XHsU_pIh-WE
Bio:
Dr. Mary Oksala is an Associate Professor of Physics at California Lutheran University and an observational
stellar astrophysicist, studying the most massive stars in the Milky Way and other
nearby galaxies.
Prior to joining the CLU faculty, Dr. Oksala received her Bachelors of Science degree in Physics from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and a PhD in Physics from the University of Delaware. She was a postdoctoral researcher for 3 years at the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of the Czech Republic, located in rural Prague, before receiving a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Paris Observatory in France.
At CLU, Dr. Oksala teaches both introductory and upper level physics courses, as well as the Introduction to Astronomy course. She is also the faculty advisor for the Physics Club and the Physics Honors Society, Sigma Pi Sigma.
Monday, July 15, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
Like many tools of modern technology, GPS (built into our phones!) and online maps
have begun to supplant and decay our ability and motivation to read paper maps. The
GPS and its related services do all sorts of things that your paper map cannot – planning
for traffic, easily adding a stop, recognizing when you’ve gone astray and rerouting
you. But the GPS and the underlying mapping services (like most new technologies)
also bring a new set of risks. You might get sent off on a detour that doesn’t go
through; you might be routed off a freeway and into a once-quiet neighborhood, where
misguided travelers clot narrow streets and block the locals from their travels. What
information do mapping services use to do this routing? How do they choose among routes?
What happens when you not only don’t read a map, but the car no longer has controls
– it’s entirely self-driving? Let’s talk about this wide range of outcomes, and the
data that feeds them!
Click the following link to listen to Paul's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/yQDbPYam2rE
Bio:
Paul Witman (Ph.D.) is a Professor of Information Technology Management, in California Lutheran
University’s School of Management. His research interests include social networking
for non-profits, information security, usability, health care information, and electronic
banking and finance. Prior to joining Cal Lutheran, Dr. Witman served as Director
of Integration Engineering for Digital Insight Corp. and as Director of Global Delivery
Systems at Citibank. He earned his Ph.D. in Information Systems and Technology from
Claremont Graduate University.
Wednesday, July 17, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
Who was Joan of Arc? Was she a hero, a saint, a witch, a martyr, a patriot, a mentally
ill person, or a visionary? Although we do not know much about her, except for the
information gathered during her trial, she is part of the Western imaginary as a woman
who challenged traditions and stereotypes and changed the course of history during
her short life. There are more books written about her than about any other woman.
We will learn about her life and deeds and will discuss the meaning of her actions
and her significance as a symbol of women’s heroism as well as the reactions to and
interpretations of her and her behavior through the centuries.
Click the following link to listen to Oliva's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/O8MVVTdpVnw
Bio:
Oliva M. Espín 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.
Dr. Espín was a pioneer in the practice and theory of feminist therapy with women
from different cultural backgrounds, particularly immigrants and refugees. A native
of Cuba, she received her BA in Psychology from the University of Costa Rica and her
PhD from the University of Florida. She did post-doctoral work at Harvard University
with a fellowship from NIMH. Dr. Espín held the 2010 Fulbright Distinguished Chair
in Gender Studies at the University of Klagenfurt, Austria. She recently published
Gendered Journeys: Women, Migration, and Feminist Psychology and Women, Sainthood,
and Power: A Feminist Psychology of Cultural Constructions. Her most recent book is
My Native Land is Memory: Stories of a Cuban Childhood, winner of the 2021 San Diego
Book Award.
Part 1: Monday, July 22, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Monday, July 29, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks
Lecture Description:
The United States incarcerates 689 human beings out of every 100,000 residents – a
total of about 2.3 million people. Black, Latino and indigenous men are disproportionately
incarcerated, and likewise people living in poverty have disproportionately frequent
contact with police and prisons. The U.S. is a nation that enshrines liberty and freedom
as its core values, however this nation has historically denied freedom to large sections
of its population and incarcerates more people per capita than any other nation in
the world. This is what is meant by the term ‘mass incarceration.’ But as a cultural
and historical phenomenon, mass incarceration runs deeper than mere statistics. As
such, the thesis of this lecture is that mass incarceration is but one manifestation
of a carceral, slave-holding society.
To truly understand and grapple with mass incarceration, we will engage in a practice of “societal exegesis” that uses philosophical, theological and sociological texts to interrogate the slave-holding society and to articulate what its abolition will require and entail. This two part-lecture will focus on the history of the prison industrial complex and its implications for today’s society, as well as potential alternatives to prison as a form of punishment.
Click the following link to listen to Rev. Scott's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/G6MZSXS1v_E
Bio:
Rev. Scott Hamilton Adams serves as the current University Pastor at California Lutheran where he provides
spiritual leadership and pastoral care to students, faculty, staff and administrators.
His primary focus is to create safe and empowering spaces of belonging for spiritual
growth, service to neighbor and building strong interpersonal relationships towards
the realization of Beloved Community. Rev. Scott is committed to a progressive interfaith,
multicultural and intergenerational approach to ministry and strives to promote an
openness to difference and diversity, and a deep respect for the distinctiveness of
every human being.
Before coming to Cal Lutheran, Rev. Scott served as Senior Pastor of Heritage United Church of Chris, as well as the Assistant Director of Interfaith and Ecumenical Ministries at Loyola University, Maryland. Rev. Scott received his second Master’s Degree (ThM) from Duke University's School of Divinity. He has also completed his course of study to become a Certified Executive Coach from The University of Texas. He holds a Master’s degree in Theology from St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from James Madison University. He also has completed significant coursework in Clinical Pastoral Counseling at Loyola University in Maryland, and Clinical Pastoral Education as a hospital chaplain at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Rev. Scott believes that his greatest gift in life and his first ministry is in his role as husband and a father. He and wife Tanya are the proud parents of two sons, Ray and Scotty.
Rev. Scott is also a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.
Thursday, July 25, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
The aftermath of World War 2 led to a population explosion in L.A. and the Southland.
Housing developments sprang up, freeways were built, and rampant traffic congestion
led to the area’s first smog alerts. We look at the bright side of the mid-to-late
1940s: the rise of radio and television entertainment, and the flourishing movie
industry. We will also examine the dark side of this tumultuous time: the still-unsolved
Black Dahlia murder case, and the Cold War fears that forced the “Hollywood Ten” movie
screenwriters to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee as suspected
communists.
Click the following link to listen to Sharon's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/FunrOYaPB7M
Bio:
Sharon Boorstin is a contributing writer for the Los Angeles Times, specializing in lifestyle, food
and travel. In 2019 she won Visit California’s Eureka Award for Best Newspaper Travel
Article. In the 1970s and ‘80s Sharon was the Restaurant Critic of the (late) Los
Angeles Herald-Examiner, and in the ‘90s she edited the annual Gayot Guidebooks for
Los Angeles and other cities. She also wrote for magazines including Bon Appetit,
Smithsonian and Town & Country Travel. With her husband Paul, she wrote dozens of
screenplays for feature films and television including Angel of Death (ABC) starring
Jane Seymour. Her memoir/cookbook, “Let Us Eat Cake: Adventures in Food and Friendship”
(Harper-Collins 2002), was a selection of the Pulpwood Queens Book Club. Raised in
Seattle, Washington, Sharon moved to Los Angeles in 1966 after earning a California
Lifetime Teaching credential at U.C. Berkeley. She taught high-school History, English
and Social Studies in L.A. for 11 years.
Wednesday, July 31, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
Documentaries are as creative, moving, and carefully constructed as any Hollywood
film. Arguably, they require even more skill to do and do well, since they draw directly
from real life and tell us something specific about it. Using Bill Nichols six approaches
to documentary filmmaking, we’ll explore documentary practices past and present and
think about how contemporary filmmakers, in very different ways, share important insights
about life and the world in ways that captivate our imagination, increase our understanding,
and inspire our empathy.
Click the following link to listen to Sarah's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/nm_USiwz-aQ
Bio:
Dr. Sarah Childress is the Director of Strategy & Operations at Nashville Public Television, where she
also works with independent producers to distribute their work to public-television
stations across the country. Sarah’s career began in advertising, where she supervised
TV campaign development for brands like ESPN and the Discovery Channel. Her interest
in visual media led her to Vanderbilt University, where she earned a Ph.D. in Cinema
Studies and helped found the International Lens film series. She has taught film courses
at Vanderbilt University, Bowdoin College, Belmont University, and San Francisco State
University. She produced a film, Música Campesina, which screened at internationally
renowned film festivals and her short film Blue Dragon Mussel Wagon exhibited at the
Boston Center for the Arts and the Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin. She is also
the Nashville Film Festival’s Education & Engagement Manager.
Thursday, August 1, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks
Lecture Description:
What is propaganda art? We sense that we know it when we see it but can it be defined?
Art Propaganda is not new. Art has been used throughout history as a means to influence
and manipulate, usually for political or religious purposes.
In this lecture, past and current examples of government control, exploitation and
subversive actions will be examined. We will question how does art and the use of
propaganda art affect our perspectives and cultural conflict. The participation of
artists and their art can reposition a narrative, ideal or policy. Is their participation
compulsory, agreed upon or simple greed? Welcome to our investigation….let’s begin.
Click the following link to listen to Christine's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/pqIO90UxU0Q
Bio:
Christine Maasdam holds a Master in Humanities and a B.A. in Cultural Geography. Her art studies include
The Courtauld Institute of Art in London, The Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center
in D.C. and Post Graduate studies in Antiquities Trafficking and Art Crime at the
University of Glasgow. She is a graduate of the Art Crime Investigation Seminar led
by Robert Wittman, founder of the FBI's National Art Crime Team. Christine is a member
of the International Foundation for Cultural Property Protection and holds a certificate
from Trident Manor on Protection of Cultural Venues. Christine received Sotheby’s
certification on Determining Value: An Appraiser’s Perspective. She has spent over
a decade as a LACMA docent and is an active volunteer at the City of David archaeological
dig in Israel.
Monday, August 5, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
For well over half a century, discoveries made on the Northern Channel Islands off
the coast of California have driven the national conversation on the antiquity of
an initial human dispersal into what is now North America. These ecologically rich
islands were thrust into the spotlight with the 1959 discovery of the 13,000 year-old
Arlington Springs Man. Arguably the oldest human remains found anywhere in North or
South America, this initial find was the beginning of the search for what eventually
uncovered some of the earliest and most abundant cultural sites in the New World that
dated older than 10,000 years ago. Yet, sea-level rise following the end of the last
ice age submerged millions of square kilometers of coastal landscapes around the world,
complicating efforts to understand the paleolandscapes, paleoecology, human dispersals,
and the cultural history of these now drowned regions.
In this lecture, we will examine the particularly troublesome situation in the Southern
California Bight on the eastern Pacific Coast where sea-level rise inundated thousands
of square kilometers of coastal terrain, including entire islands. Recognizing that
these spaces are critical to understanding our human past, we will explore recent
interdisciplinary research that focuses on the area’s submerged paleolandscapes to
identify how rapidly shifting habitats and evolving landscapes affected human migration,
settlement, and resource strategies during periods of drastic climatic change. This
marine social science research is informed and supported by geological, biological,
and geophysical marine science disciplines as well as traditional indigenous knowledge
and considers both the landscape and seascape as a continuous ancient maritime cultural
space.
Click the following link to listen to Amy's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/TUZ2ZPDicao
Bio:
Dr. Amy E Gusick earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara is currently the
Curator of Anthropology and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
Officer for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHMLA). She is an archaeologist
who oversees research and management of the archaeology and ethnology collections
at NHMLA, and conducts research focused on human-environmental dynamics, the development
of maritime societies, peopling of the Americas, and maritime cultural landscapes.
She uses both terrestrial and underwater archaeological methods in her research which
has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, Bureau Of Ocean Energy Management, and the National Park Service,
among other organizations.
Wednesday, August 7, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
What makes human language unique? How did it evolve? Which of our ancestors already
had it? In this lecture, we'll probe into these questions, exploring the seemingly
meager evidence coming from archeological digs. We will explore the latest findings
in biology, paleoanthropology, genetics and linguistics that shed new light on this
fascinating topic. Our focus will be on Neanderthals, our closest biological “cousins”,
who mysteriously died out shortly after Homo sapiens populated Europe. Was it our
language and Neanderthals' lack thereof that caused their extinction? Or did they
have language after all? And most importantly, how can we study such an intricate
issue, if all we have left from the Neanderthals are their bones, stone tools, burial
sites and other bits and bobs?
Click the following link to listen to Asya's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/KvRAXDpmnUo
Bio:
Asya Pereltsvaig, Ph.D., received a degree in English and History from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
and a PhD in Linguistics from McGill University. She taught at Yale, Cornell, and
Stanford universities, and has been teaching in lifelong education programs since
2010. Her expertise is in language, culture, and history, and the relationship between
them. Asya has published five scholarly books with Cambridge University Press. Asya
is a popular instructor for several lifelong learning institutes around the country.
Thursday, August 8, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
Embark on a captivating journey of exploration into the realm of Preventative Medicine
& Wellness, guided by a presentation that unveils the pivotal role of proactive health
measures in sculpting our overall well-being. In a world where healthcare often lurks
in the shadows until health issues arise, the urgency of embracing Preventative Medicine
& Wellness cannot be overstated. This lecture aims to redirect our attention from
reactive treatments to a proactive approach, empowering individuals to seize control
of their health journey. Learn how active participation in preventive measures not
only safeguards our well-being but also contributes to an improved health status and
an elevated quality of life. Together, let's chart the course towards a future where
we embrace a sense of responsibility for personal well-being and make it not just
an option but an integral part of our daily lives.
Click the following link to listen to Arvind's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/2lA6qKR0GXk
Bio:
Arvind Grewal is a dedicated individual with an unwavering passion for enhancing the quality of
life for older adults. With a natural inclination to help others, he prides himself
on being a lifelong learner. Currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology
with a specialization in Gerontology, his research centers around the aging process
and its profound impact on individuals, communities, and societies. Arvind aspires
to return to his alma mater to share his knowledge and teach, driven by his deep commitment
to making a positive difference in the lives of older adults. With fluency in multiple
languages, exceptional communication skills, and a warm and energetic demeanor, he
thrives on connecting with new people and spearheading positive change in the field
of gerontology.
Monday, August 12, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks
Lecture Description:
In 1987 an open-air museum and amusement park opened in Hamburg, West Germany. Curated
by Austrian artist Andre Heller, he collaborated with 32 of the leading contemporary
artists of the day, including Keith Haring, Salvador Dali, Sonia Delaunay, David Hockney,
Roy Lichtenstein, Jean-Michel Basquiat, among others, to design the rides and attractions.
After being open over the one summer, the pieces ended up in 44 shipping crates in
Texas until it was revived in 2022 for a global tour by rapper Drake. Described by
Life magazine as the "most dizzying, dazzling art show on Earth," it has recently
been on view through Spring of 2024 in Downtown Los Angeles. This lecture will give
an overview of the history of Luna Luna, its rehabilitation and look into each of
the artists represented.
Click the following link to listen to Katherine's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/sPp7W2JO6ug
Bio:
Katherine E. Zoraster is an Art Historian and a Professor of Art History at several local colleges specializing
in Western art from the Renaissance to the 20th century. She graduated with a double
major in English Literature and Art History from the University of California, Los
Angeles. Following her undergraduate degree, she received a Master’s Degree with Distinction
in Art History from the California State University at Northridge.
In addition to the courses Katherine teaches for other lifelong learning programs, she also works as an Art History Instructor for the full-time program at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Arts. Katherine also serves as a commissioner for the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission and volunteers at the Burbank Animal Shelter. In her free time, Katherine is an avid runner and travels extensively.
Tuesday, August 13, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
In the great musicals of the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s, it was standard practice to dub
the voices of actresses and actors if their singing was considered weak or inappropriate
for a role. Many of these talented artists received no screen credit. A great example
is Marnie Nixon whose voice was used for Deborah Kerr, Natalie Woods and Audrey Hepburn.
In this lecture, watch, listen, and learn as we explore the roles these great ghost-voice
dubbers played in musicals.
Click the following link to listen to Sam and Candy's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/GmY8fTCJn54
Bio:
Film historians Sam and Candy Caponegro are passionate about movie musicals. For over thirty years, they have acted, directed,
and produced professional, community, and school theater. Candy’s most notable professional
acting roles are Adelaine opposite Nathan Lane in Guys and Dolls and Cheri opposite
Divine in the New York production of Women Behind Bars. Sam and Candy have taught
numerous courses and lecture on cruise lines, at libraries, and for many 50+ audiences.
They hope to keep the classic movie musical and the golden age of Broadway alive through
their lectures.
Thursday, August 15, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
The music industry is in the midst of a seismic shift as artificial intelligence delivers
unprecedented new capacities into the creative realm. Generative AI algorithms and
AI platforms are transcending their roles as mere tools, evolving into collaborators
that can sculpt melodies, develop songs, and even resurrect the likenesses of artists.
From generating original compositions to enhancing existing works, AI is creating
a new category in the creative process, one that will re-define the music industry
in the years to come. In this lecture, we will delve into AI's profound influence
on the music industry and explore the burgeoning tools and platforms that will reshape
the very essence of music creation.
Click the following link to listen to Josh's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/n5cFFBqWe8Q
Bio:
Josh Antonuccio is the director of OHIO’s School of Media Arts and Studies offering
expertise in music business, technology, music production, entrepreneurship, and experiential
learning.
He is the director of the Music Industry Summit, the largest music conference in the Midwest, welcoming a range of acclaimed artists and music industry leaders each spring.
Antonuccio is a Grammy-voting member of The Recording Academy with more than two decades in multiple industry roles as a producer, musician, audio specialist, technology adventurist, studio owner and media journalist. In addition, Antonuccio produces and hosts the performance series “The Sycamore Sessions,” a partnership with the Nelsonville Music Festival and WOUB Public Media that has been nominated for a regional Emmy.
Antonuccio developed the music industry major at Ohio University and in 2016 helped establish virtual reality education and production capacities in the Scripps College of Communication through a nearly $1 million innovation grant. Most recently he pioneered course and experiential opportunities with artificial intelligence in specialized courses. This spring he helped to program the inaugural AI Symposium at Ohio University with leaders in Hollywood film production and journalism discussing the ramifications of AI in their respective fields. A regular conference presenter, he has interviewed key leaders across technology and creative fields and most recently was interviewed about AI and Music by NBC News.
Part 1: Wednesday, June 26, 1-3pm (Pacfic)
Part 2: Wednesday, July 24, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Part 3: Thursday, August 22, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Oxnard
Lecture Description:
From the earliest cave paintings to contemporary depictions, images of both domestic
and wild animals have decorated our abodes and adorned our museums. Taking symbolic
and sentimental forms, animals in art history have given us a rich connection with
historical styles while incorporating topical discussions of political and social
issues. Through exploration of three focused animal themes of dogs, cats, and everything
else, this series covers the engaging and sometimes thought-provoking connections
we have with the animal world.
Click the following link to listen to Eleanor's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/SNqkGCWVmDk?si=GlhfYLxHsn6MeP4p
Part 1: All Manner of Beasties:
From feathers to scales, from beasts of burden to pampered pets, animals have come
to represent a plethora of symbolism and multi-layered meaning in painting and sculpture.
Through portrayals of animals in art, the viewer may discern and interpret depictions
of social status, cultural associations, dramatic events, and sociopolitical issues.
This lecture will encompass the natural beauty and majestic power of animals within
the context of that of their human counterparts, highlighting the mutual bonds that
exist between the two.
Part 2: Goin' to the Dogs:
Symbols of faithfulness and dedication, our canine companions have traveled with us
from our days as hunters and gatherers to basking in posh surroundings in royal courts.
Representations of dogs in art became more elaborate as individual breeds evolved
and the relationships between human and canine developed. Valued not only for their
courage and fidelity but also as status symbols, the depiction of dogs in art often
symbolized the social standing and personality traits of their owners. This lecture
will pay homage to the intimate bond between human and dog as we view the artistic
portrayals of mankind’s faithful companion.
Part 3: Nine Lives and Catnip:
Tracing their history from worshipped gods in Ancient Egypt through their precarious
place in medieval times to their pampered place in modern times, our feline companions
have been subjects of both reverence and revulsion. Sometimes symbolic of cunning
and contrariness, other times symbolic of leisure and abandon, the relationship between
cats and humans have been depicted in art primarily through metaphorical meanings.
This lecture will cover generations of artists who have captured the sleek forms of
beauty of the cat, offering fascinating insights into the prominence of the cat in
art in cultures worldwide.
Bio:
Eleanor Schrader is an award-winning educator, lecturer, and author. She lectures worldwide on art
and architectural history, and leads art and architecture tours throughout the world.
She has been named a Distinguished Instructor at UCLA Extension, where she teaches
history of architecture, interior design, furniture, and decorative arts. She is also
Professor Emeritus of Art and Architectural History at Santa Monica College. She has
done graduate work in fine and decorative arts at Sotheby's Institute in London and
New York. She has served as a Design Review Commissioner for the City of Beverly
Hills and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the John Lautner Foundation.
Part 1: Tuesday, August 20, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Tuesday, August 27, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
Every generation wants its own music, dance, clothing and style. Swing music evolved
rapidly through dynamic processes of artistic development and competitive commercial
enterprise that compressed musical eras into mere months. In this hothouse Duke Ellington,
Benny Goodman, Bunny Berigan, Artie Shaw, Count Basie and Billie Holiday shaped a
new musical idiom, launching a second flowering of America’s most original art form,
Jazz. Each class offers a dozen audiovisual clips, many created expressly for the
course. Linked playlist and resources documents are provided for each class.
Click the following link to listen to Dave's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/9iBayR6ZvPs
Bio:
During the last four decades, Dave Radlauer has been telling tales of early Jazz, Blues and Swing on the radio, garnering six
broadcast awards and authoring 200 articles for online and print publications. For
Stanford Libraries, he’s written interpretive online text and donated a large collection
of unique music and photos. He teaches lifelong learning courses at UCLA, UC Berkeley,
San Francisco State and Dominican University.
Part 1: Wednesday, August 21, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Wednesday, August 28, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
Join us for a two-part lecture examining slavery in first century Rome through the
eyes of Publius Curtilius Agatho, a freed slave who died early in the first century.
Slavery in Rome was a multifaceted institution that permeated every aspect of society
and cultural norms. We will delve into the lives of those enslaved to reveal a complex
tapestry of exploitation, resistance, and resilience. We will hear from the great
men of Rome as well as those who were enslaved in order to understand this institution
from a variety of perspectives. This lecture series aims to unravel the intricacies
of this system, exploring its origins, dynamics, and the experiences of those ensnared
within its grasp.
Click the following link to listen to Scott's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/VRmIt2NcaF0
Bio:
Scott Jones is a retired naval officer and businessman with broad experience in national security,
foreign relations, and politics. Scott is also a docent at the J. Paul Getty Museum
(Getty Villa) where he leads tours in the Greek and Roman Galleries, special exhibitions,
Roman architecture, and Roan gardens. He teaches for a few lifelong learning programs
in the area.
Monday, August 26, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom (this lecture is no longer being held in-person in Oxnard)
Lecture Description:
In 1939, MGM released The Wizard of Oz, a film destined not only to become one of
America’s most loved films but also which featured the song, “Over the Rainbow,” a
song that would arguably become America’s favorite. Sung by 17-year-old Judy Garland,
the song became a hallmark of The Wizard of Oz. It quickly came to be featured as
a minor theme in other movies, and multiple singers and instrumentalists recorded
it. The National Endowment for the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of
America recently named it as the greatest song of the twentieth century. After Judy
Garland’s introduction, the song took on a life of its own, and its many interpreters
added layers of meaning to the piece. With music written by celebrated composer Harold
Arlen and lyricist Yip Harburg, generations of fans have loved “Over the Rainbow”
for its themes of hope and transcendence. Many have tried to delve into the origins
of the song’s lyrics and have offered various theories regarding religious and historical
events that may have motivated lyricist Yip Harburg in its composition. This lecture
will explore the origins of the song and its long and varied career and offer an explanation
for how it came to represent one of America’s most beloved “secular hymns.”
Click the following link to listen to Cliff's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/3PbxWbXc82E
Bio:
Clifford Wilcox, Ph.D., is a historian who focuses on American intellectual and cultural history
and Jewish Studies. His courses concentrate on the intersection of culture, ideas,
politics, and religion in American history. He is Director of Education and Operations
at Temple Beth Torah in Ventura, CA and has taught in the CLU FAB program since 2021.
He holds a Ph.D. in American intellectual history from the University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor.
Registration Reminders:
Once registered, the confirmation email will come from fab@CalLutheran.edu; make sure to add "fab@CalLutheran.edu" to your address book. If you do not see the FAB email, try checking your junk or spam folders, or your Promotional or Social folders in Gmail. If you don't see the FAB email the morning of your lecture, please email fab@CalLutheran.edu.
For those lectures where the fee is paid, we will send the Zoom link the evening before and the morning of each lecture.
Payment Options:
Payment through our online registration system accepts Visa and Mastercard, as well as electronic banking. Please note that American Express is not accepted.
If you need to submit your payment in person, call our office at 805-493-3290 to set up an appointment. Walk-ins are not permitted.
If you have questions regarding registration or payment, please send an email to fab@CalLutheran.edu.
Future Lecture Series Dates
Fall: November-December, 2024