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Resources
The Institute for Lifelong Learning
Shoeless Joe Jackson and Early American Baseball
Come; learn about baseball as it was played in its early days, a time when baseball was perhaps at its best. You will hear about the game, favorite players, their careers and lives both on and off the field.
Consider Greenville’s Shoeless Joe Jackson, the infamous Black Sox scandal's most celebrated figure. Find out about Flint Rhem, resident of Greer, SC in retirement, who pitched in the major leagues for 12 seasons. Discuss Dizzy Dean, who had only six full seasons in the majors, but no player packed more accomplishments, excitement, and shenanigans into a short time and continued his colorful approach to the game when he entered the radio broadcaster's booth. Hear about Satchel Paige, who pitched for nearly four decades, and his pitching style, a distinctive windmill delivery that resulted in such things as the “Two-Hump Blooper”. Picture Stan Musial, the left handed-hitter who was famous for his compressed, closed batting crouch, from which he appeared to be peering at the pitcher around a corner. Laugh of Yogisms, the memorable insights of Yogi Berra, catcher for the New York Yankees.
An optional field trip will take you to the statue of Shoeless Joe Jackson and to visit sites touched by him.
We are so pleased to be able to offer this new course to our LLI friends. Please join us. This promises to be fascinating - and lots of fun!
Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Five week course: Sept 19, 26, Oct. 3, 10, 17
(Optional field trip planned for a Saturday.)
Location: On campus
Registration: $25
SCOTT WITHROW has been a high school social studies teacher, a living history curator, an interpretive park ranger, and is currently an adjunct college instructor. Scott has invited several friends: authors, collectors and fellow baseball-lovers, to join him in presenting this class.
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"I Like a Gershwin Tune, How About You?"
Come and hum, sing, tap a toe, here many tunes of the Gershwin brothers – George and Ira. Even enjoy some of their tunes – live and living color. We'll even take requests!
Plan also to hear most of George’s orchestral works, his three Rhapsodies, and his piano concerto. Enjoy “An American in Paris,” ballet and even some opera, “Porgy and Bess,” some film clips of his Broadway shows, videos of the family, and salutes from admirers over the years.
Our new fall course will be presented by Dick Cockrell and Rosalyn Silverstein.
Course meets Tuesdays: 4:15 – 5:45 p.m.
Five week course: Sept. 19, 26, Oct. 3, 10, 17.
On campus in Rainey Fine Arts Center
Registration: $20
DICK COCKRELL is a retired Episcopalian pastor who has been a teacher, counselor and music lover for over 50 years. A popular course leader, Mr. Cockrell has taught 12 previous courses for LLI friends.
ROSALYN SILVERSTEIN is an actress, vocalist and teacher who has performed in Winston-Salem, Greenville and Anderson.
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An Inside Look at Afghanistan
Afghanistan: A previously obscure nation that is "now a pivot point in the global politics of the new millennium." Can you imagine life before the Taliban? What were the customs, the food, the sights and smells? How can Americans be fighting in this far off land and understand so little about what Afghans have lost? This fall, our discussion group will focus primarily from two recent books by Afghani writers.
Amazon.com on-line offers this review of our first book: "In his debut novel, The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini accomplishes what very few contemporary novelists are able to do. He manages to provide an educational and eye-opening account of a country's political turmoil - - in this case, Afghanistan - - while also developing characters whose heartbreaking struggles and emotional triumphs resonate with readers long after the last page has been turned over."
Our companion book is The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra: "Khadra is the non de plume for Algerian army officer Mohamed Moulessehoul, who illustrates the effects of repression on a pair of Kabul couples in this slim, harrowing novel of life in Afghanistan under Taliban rule . . . Like Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner, this is a superb meditation on the fate of the Afghan people." Publisher's Weekly
Using two powerful novels as a guide, our group will discuss not only political issues in Afghanistan, but also the social and family concerns that are part of the human condition and common to all. Please join us.
Wednesdays, 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Six-week course Oct. 11, 18, 25, Nov. 1, 8, 15
Registration: $20
Location: On campus
Discussion leader GAYLE PRUITT MERRITT is a graduate of Anderson College, Furman and Clemson and lives in Taylors. Gayle taught English at AC for several years before beginning a career in insurance. We are fortunate that Gayle has now returned to literature and teaching. This is the third book discussion Gayle has led for LLI friends.
Gayle's co-leader DR. SHIRLEY JACKS attended Carson-Newman, UNC, and the University of Georgia. She is a professor of French and Spanish at Anderson University.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, (Riverhead Trade, 2004) and The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra, (Knopf Publishing, 2005) will be available in the campus bookstore (phone: 231-2010). The price of The Kite Runner should be $10.75. The Swallows of Kabul is expected to be available for $9.25.
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Tracking the Frankenstein Monster
On a dark and stormy night in 1816, Mary Godwin Shelley, the wife of noted English poet, Percy Shelley, and her husband were visiting Lord Byron, at his manor on Lake Geneva. Dr. Polidori, a scandalous friend of Byron’s was also in attendance. While exchanging ghost stories, Byron threw out a challenge to see who could write the scariest original story. Over the next few weeks only Mary and Polidori obliged. Polidori wrote a short story entitled Vampyre, which became the precursor of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. But Mary, at age 19 and not a writer, penned Frankenstein, which became a classic in literature that eclipsed Byron’s and Percy Shelley’s works in its fame.
The story has persisted in popularity over the years. The 1931 movie, “Frankenstein,” starring Boris Karloff, although not true to Mary’s original story, is still the touchstone of classical horror movies and propelled the Frankenstein legend into lasting international fame. Previously in 1910, Thomas Edison produced a short, silent movie of Frankenstein. Some 40 Frankenstein movies in several languages have been produced up to modern times. Several ridiculous movies of Frankenstein have been made, for example “Jesse James meets Frankenstein’s Daughter.”
In the 1935 sequel to the 1931 movie, true to the original story, the monster has a bride made to order. In some of the early Frankenstein movies, the monster is linked up with other classical ghouls: Dracula and the Wolf Man. Even the comedy team of Abbot and Costello got into the act. A 1988 spoof by Mel Brooks, “Young Frankenstein,” was well received, even by the purists. A radio show, a television serial, a TV spoof – “The Munsters,” and a Broadway Musical followed. Merchandise proliferated: toys, games, costumes, comic books, puzzles, etc., etc., etc.
We will explore the Frankenstein legend through the ages. Film clips from several of the movies will be shown along with memorabilia. Internet research will be encouraged, but will not be mandatory or necessary.
Course meets Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 12 noon
Four week course: Sept. 18, 26, Oct. 3, Oct 10
Location: Anderson Place, Activities Room
Registration: $20
DR. JIM CHISMAN is a productivity consultant and retired Professor of Industrial Engineering from Clemson University. He is an avid collector of antique art, furniture and electro-mechanical devices. He and his wife, Jeanne, enjoy performing in Senior Follies and foreign traveling.
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Opera 101: An Introduction to the Beauty and Joy of Opera
Everyone loves a beautiful song, enjoys listening to great music, admires the work of creative artists and talented dancers, and is touched when emotions are stirred. Did you know that opera is the only art form where all of these elements are brought together in a single performance? To millions of people, opera is almost a way of life. What do they know that you haven't yet discovered?
Opera 101 is intended to introduce the beginning student to the beauty and joys of grand opera. Using lecture, CD and tapes, videos, and active discussion, we will begin with the "sound of opera" before moving on to learn about the beautiful visual aspects. Our beginning class will focus on:
"Aida" by Verdi
"La Boheme" by Puccini
"Carmen" by Bizet
"Faust" by Gounod
"The Barber of Seville" by Rossini
"La Traviata" by Verdi
"Tosca" by Puccini
"Rigoletto" by Verdi
Most importantly, we will have fun! It is a well-known fact that more fun goes on backstage in opera than in any other performance medium! So join us. Find out what you've been missing. Discover the beauty and joy of opera – and have fun!
Course meets Wednesdays, 2:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Eight week course: Sept 20, 27, Oct 4, 11, 18, 25, Nov. 1, 8
On campus: Rainey Fine Arts Center
Registration: $25
In addition to having taught the initial Packaging Science courses and program at Clemson and other universities in Europe and Asia, LEROY DOAR, Jr. has taught opera in conjunction with the Kansas City Lyric Opera Co., the Opera Company of Boston, and the Opera Company of Geneva.
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China's Cultural Tradition: What the West Should Know
Do you realize that China is the world's oldest continuous civilization? . China is part of our daily lives, yet most of us know little or nothing about China's long history and culture. China's products dominate our stores; its political assistance is sought, for example in our dealings with Iran and North Korea. China's global role in the twenty-first century is discussed and speculated about, but despite China's obvious importance, we in the West don't take time to really know China.
Erudite political scientists and economists writing in prestigious journals often make false and misleading assumptions about China. The Chinese know far more about us than we do about them. And the Chinese would be honored – and our relations improved – if we would all try to learn something of their sacred and ancient tradition.
Join our study group as we seek to understand China better – from oracle bones, bronze metallurgy, Confucius and silk brocade, to hydraulics, gunpowder and printing.
Course meets Thursdays. 2:30–4:00 PM
Six-week course, Sept 21, 28, Oct 5, 12, 19, 26
Location: On Campus
Registration: $20
Prof. EDWARD EZZELL has taught World Civilization and East Asian History in the Georgia college system and is active in the Assoc. for Asian Studies. Ed has previously presented a popular course on Japanese history and culture for LLI friends.
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Charting Your Journey
Have you ever thought of your life as being a spiritual journey? Is it possible that each of us is on a spiritual journey whether we call it that or not?
The convener of our course, Dick Cockrell, has found that there is much to be gained and learned from setting down the journey on paper and from sharing one's journey with friends.
If your curiosity has been tweaked and you are ready to start thinking about and recording your personal journey, come join us.
There will be no assigned text but all registrants are encouraged to bring their “special book” that has meaning and value for their own journey.
Course meets Tuesdays, 4:15 – 5:45 p.m.
Oct. 24, 31, Nov. 7, 14, 21 (Five weeks)
Location: On campus
Registration: $20
DICK COCKRELL is a retired Episcopalian pastor who has been a teacher, counselor and pastor for over 50 years. A popular course leader, Mr. Cockrell has taught 12 previous courses for LLI friends.
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Yoga for All Ages
Yoga is a unique combination of exercise and breathing techniques that help to increase your energy, strengthen and tone your body, build stamina, improve balance, and decrease stress. Yoga can be helpful in reducing muscle tension, alleviating back, neck, and shoulder pain, and lowering blood pressure.
In the great tradition of yoga, midlife is the ideal time to restore health and vitality, and soften the aging process. In this class we develop a multileveled and heart-centered practice with the three R's of stretching (resist, relax, and re-stretch), basic postures (asanas), and breathing.
Instruction will be individualized to allow for differences in body structure, strength, and flexibility. All ages, sizes and shapes, welcome.
Class meets Mondays, 5:00 - 6:15 p.m.
Five-week course: Oct. 16, 23, 30, Nov. 6, 13
Registration: $30 (Class size will be limited.)
Location: The Yoga Place, North Main Street, Anderson
(We will send more specific directions along with your confirmation.)
Please make your check payable to: The Yoga Place.
Our course leader is HELEN SABLAN, elementary teacher, professional yoga instructor, and owner of The Yoga Place.