Newberry SeminarsWINTER / SPRING 2015

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Chicago Interest

Surrealism and the Second CityWednesdays, 6 – 7:30 pm February 25 – April 15

From the absurdist writings of David Mamet to the bizarre iconography of Hairy Who, Chicago has been home to odd, eccentric, and uncanny forms of artistic and literary expression. Is this penchant for the surreal merely happenstance, or can we identify a conf luence of socioeconomic, political, and aesthetic forces that made Chicago a breeding ground for surreal activity? Please read Andre Breton’s Manifesto of Surrealism prior to the first session. Additional preparatory readings will be distributed electronically; please refer to your registration confirmation for details. Eight sessions, $200.

Harrison MJ Sherrod is a Chicago-based writer, curator, and educator. He is the coordinator of the Karla Scherer Center for the Study of American Culture at the University of Chicago.

Best Addresses: Notable Residential Streets in ChicagoSaturdays, 10:30 am – noon March 28 – May 23 (class will not meet April 4 or May 2)

Through a series of walking tours, this seminar will explore some of Chicago’s “best addresses” —residential streets known for signif icant domestic architecture, notable residents, or historical events. Examples will be drawn from a variety of neighborhoods, including Prairie Avenue, the Gold Coast, Streeterville, Lake Shore East, Lakeview, and Hyde Park. We will pay special attention to how residential architecture and urban design shape local identities as well as the way historic landmarks promote tourism, commerce, and design innovation. Eight sessions, $200.

Diane Dillon holds a PhD in art history from Yale University. She is Interim Vice President for Research and Academic Programs at the Newberry.

Arts, Music, and Language

Beethoven’s “Mighty Nine” SymphoniesTuesdays, 2 – 4 pm February 17 – April 7

Beginning with the Eroica (Symphony no. 3) in 1805, Beethoven’s compositions paved the way into the Age of Romanticism from the Classical Period and represented the individualism, innovation, and change that are hallmarks of the nineteenth century. By listening carefully and chronologically to Beethoven’s “Mighty Nine” symphonies, as well as to a sprinkling of his f ive piano concertos, participants will experience a musical tale like none other. We will place Beethoven’s genius in context by examining his personal life and the historical and sociological environment in which he lived. Please listen to Beethoven’s Symphonies nos. 1 and 2 prior to the first session. Eight sessions, $220.

Stephanie Ettelson has offered preconcert lectures and classes on symphonic and chamber music for more than four decades. She is an orchestral and chamber music violinist, arts writer, and music reviewer.

The Latin Roots of the Romance Language Family TreeTuesdays, 5:45 – 7:45 pm February 17 – April 28 (class will not meet on March 31)

This course in beginning Latin takes an approach that is unique among introductory language classes, offering a brief sketch of both the ancient roots and the modern branches of a linguistic family tree. Intended for students with no prior knowledge of Latin but with a basic speaking knowledge or two semesters’ study of a Romance tongue, this seminar will offer participants a rare opportunity to view their languages of interest from a broader perspective. Ten sessions, $250.

Susan Pezzino, a former United States Fulbright Scholar, holds an MA in applied linguistics and works as a professional language teacher and multimedia curriculum designer in Chicago.

Great Movie Music from Garbo and Valentino to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance KidWednesdays, 2 – 4 pm February 18 – April 22

This course will explore the development of film music from the early 1900s to the 1960s. By listening to and discussing some of the greatest film composers of that era, we will discover how music enhances cinema’s atmosphere and emotional expression. We will get to know composers Aaron Copland, Adolph Deutsch, Erich-Wolfgang Korngold, Alfred Newman, Alex North, Miklos Rozsa, Dmitri Shostakovich, Max Steiner, Dimitri Tiomkin, Franz Waxman, and the incredible Bernard Herrmann, to name a few, without forgetting the incomparable contribution of the Disney Studios. Ten sessions, $250.

Stephen Kleiman holds an MM in music composition from the University of Michigan and was an orchestra conductor in Europe and music director of the National Chamber Orchestra in Washington, DC.

The History and Art of the Book of KellsWednesdays, 2 – 4 pm February 18 – March 25

The Book of Kells, an illuminated Gospel book well over a thousand years old, has a complex history and legacy. Exploring one of the finest existing examples of medieval manuscript-making, this seminar will study the historical setting and artwork that inf luenced the Irish scribes who created this famed book. Readings for the first session will be distributed electronically; please refer to your registration confirmation for details. Six sessions, $200.

Francis Crowley holds an MA in education. He teaches traditional Celtic art, gives presentations of the Book of Kells in Chicago and nationally, and writes a column on the book for the Irish American News.

Bookbinding with Paste PapersWednesday, 5:45 – 7:45 pm February 18 – March 11

Decorative paste paper has been used in bookbinding construction since as early as the sixteenth century. Referencing exquisite bookbindings from the Newberry collection, this course will explore historical designs and techniques, which participants will then apply to the creation of their own patterned paste papers and model bookbindings. Four sessions, $180 (includes a $20 materials fee).

Lesa Dowd is the Director of Conservation Services at the Newberry. She also practices the art of fine bookbinding. She has studied French fine binding technique with Tini Miura and Monique Lallier.

Registration opens January 6. The early registration deadline is February 10. Register online at

www.newberry.org/adult-education-seminars or call (312) 255-3700.

Music Appreciation through Performance: A Chamber EnsembleTuesdays, 5:45 – 7:45 pm February 17 – April 28 (class will not meet on March 10)

This unique class offers participants a way to experience music not only as listeners, but also as performers. Last fall, we launched the Newberry’s chamber ensemble seminar with meaningful success. We rehearsed reorchestrated versions of Gabriel Faure’s Pavane, Johannes Brahms’s Variations on a Theme of Haydn, and Anton Webern’s Concerto op. 21 (2nd move-ment). For the Winter/Spring term, we will be working on Leonard Bernstein’s Prologue to West Side Story, Dmitri Shostakovitch’s Symphony no. 15 (1st movement), and W.A. Mozart’s Symphony no. 25 in G minor (1st movement).

We are not looking for virtuoso musicians. However, musical competency is required. Percussionists, pianists, and string, wind, or brass players are invited to join. Participants must be able to read music in most keys, interpret rhythm, follow a conductor, and possess a desire to be part of an expressive musical community. Previous experience playing in an orchestral or chamber music setting is also an asset. This seminar is dependent on a dedicated group spirit; committed attendance is essential. Ten sessions, $250.

Stephen Kleiman holds an MM in music composition from the University of Michigan and was an orchestra conductor in Europe and music director of the National Chamber Orchestra in Washington, DC.

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Ballet Music from Beethoven to BernsteinThursdays, 2 – 4 pm February 19 – April 23

This seminar will trace ballet’s journey from Beethoven’s 1801 The Creatures of Prometheus to Bernstein’s 1944 Fancy Free. After setting the stage with the early patrons Catherine de Medici and Louis XIV, we will leap into great nineteenth- and twentieth-century ballets by masters such as Copland, Gershwin, Prokofiev, Respighi, Stravinsky, and Tchaikovsky. We will pay special attention to the cross-fertilization, in the twentieth century, between ballet and the modern dance of dancers Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Mary Wigman, and others. Ten sessions, $250.

Stephen Kleiman holds an MM in music composition from the University of Michigan and was an orchestra conductor in Europe and music director of the National Chamber Orchestra in Washington, DC.

From Caravaggio to Bernini: Italian Baroque Art, 1600–1700Tuesdays, 2 – 4 pm February 24 – April 14

Baroque, the word most closely identif ied with seventeenth-century European art, has also become a byword for excess, bombast, and theatricality. The goal of this seminar will be to approach the art of seventeenth-century Italy on its own terms, and to discover a greater understanding and appreciation of the goals and values of its artists, patrons, and origi-nal audiences. Sessions will include visual analysis of period artwork and discussions of readings from the work of contemporary theorists and critics. Each session will focus on a broad theme that can be asso-ciated with seventeenth-century art, with the high-er aim of getting to the essence of Italian Baroque art. Readings for the first session will be distributed electronically; please refer to your registration confirmation for details. Eight sessions, $220.

Jeff Nigro is an art historian and lecturer who has been affiliated with the Art Institute of Chicago for over 25 years.

Sun, Sea, and Swans: Musical Images of NatureThursdays, 2 – 4 pm February 26 – April 16

Composers have always been interested in natural phenomena, including the sun, moon, and stars; oceans and rivers; rain and snow; f lowers and trees; and animals, especially birds. Some music simply imitates natural sounds; but more often, music aspires to convey the essence of a living form or offer the composer’s feelings about an element of nature. We will listen to examples from all periods of classical music, including popular and traditional music, to compare different approaches taken by composers as they have confronted the natural world. Eight sessions, $220.

Guy A. Marco holds a PhD from the University of Chicago, has taught in 11 universities, and has written or edited more than 50 reference books, including Literature of American Music III.

Early Opera: Music, Drama, and Society from the Renaissance to the EnlightenmentSaturdays, 1 – 3 pm February 28 – April 25 (class will not meet on April 4)

Explore the origins and early development of opera in Western Europe. We begin with the private courtly entertainments of the Renaissance, when music and theater were intertwined with myth, magic, and royal ceremony. We end with the star-studded commercial enterprises of the Enlightenment, along with the divas, impresarios, and chattering socialites who peopled them. In addition to developing skills in opera criticism and becoming familiar with several historically significant compositions, participants will gain insights into the web of social conditions and intellectual trends that shaped the first 150 years of opera’s existence. Eight sessions, $220.

Brian Oberlander is a PhD candidate in musicology at Northwestern University. He has taught music history at Northwestern, National Louis University, and the Newberry.

Gustav Mahler Reconsidered: The Conductor and ComposerSaturdays, 10 am – noon March 7 – May 9 (class will not meet April 4)

Gustav Mahler was a musical innovator as both a conductor and a composer, and this seminar will explore the many factors that have contributed to the continued relevance of his music. We will enter Mahler’s mind through his memoirs and let-ters, as well as by examining the literature he read and adapted. By parsing these documents, we will trace the intellectual and aesthetic development of a brilliant composer. Nine sessions, $240.

Salvatore Calomino is a Germanist who has done extensive research in music, and James L. Zychowicz is a musicologist who has specialized in Mahler’s music and published extensively on the composer and his works. Both are Scholars-in-Residence at the Newberry.

Making a Drop Spine BoxSaturdays, 10 am – 1 pm March 7 – March 21

Some books are so fragile they can’t be mended. Others are so valuable they need special protection. Whether it’s a scrapbook bursting with unruly pages, or a rare volume beautifully bound, a drop spine box can serve as a valuable encasement for all manner of materials. This standard enclosure is used to house books in special collection libraries across the world. It is elegant, easy to make, and will protect its contents from the damaging effects of light and environmental changes. Participants will gain the skills necessary to construct this custom enclosure; each participant will make a model tray and a box to house a small book from their own collections. Three sessions, $185 (includes a $15 materials fee).

Barbara Korbel is the Collections and Exhibitions Conservator at the Newberry.

Genealogy

Fundamentals of Genealogy: Basics for EveryoneFebruary 21 – March 21

Six-session rate: $210. Individual prices marked below.

Whether you’re new to genealogy or simply looking for formal fundamentals training, try these seminars, tailored to meet your research needs. Take all six or just those that interests you most.

Research MethodologySaturday, February 21 10 am – 1 pm

We will tackle the fundamentals of accredited genealogical research and process methodology, including research basics, precepts, strategies for beginners, and standards of proof. We will review genealogical software and online resources for research. One session, $50.

Records Group I: Vital RecordsSaturday, February 21 2 – 4 pm

This session will address how to find basic biographical information from the U.S. Census, religious records, vital records, and other sources using Newberry.org, Ancestry.com, and FamilySearch.org. One session, $40.

Records Group II: Library ResearchSaturday, February 28 10 am – noon

This session focuses on library research and reference tools, including library catalog searching, interlibrary loan, Chicago genealogical materials, and a tour of the Newberry and its genealogical resources. One session, $40.

Records Group III: Directories, Wills, and Military and Ethnic RecordsSaturday, February 28 1 – 3 pm

We will discuss wills and probate records, military records, tax records, local histories and city/coun-ty/telephone directories (including HeritageQuest books), genealogical publications (including PERSI), and ethnic records. One session, $40.

Networking, Analyzing, Recording, and OrganizingSaturday, March 21 10 am – noon

Network the old fashioned way as well as online via genealogical service providers (like Ancestry.com), social media, e-mailing lists, e-bulletin boards, DNA databases, and more. We will also discuss information analysis methods, worksheet examples, recording software, citations, style sheets, and other methods of organizing information. One session, $40.

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Records Group IV: Maps, Land, Newspapers, and ImmigrationSaturday, March 21 1 – 3 pm

We will examine the important sources of maps, land records, newspaper records, as well as immigration and naturalization records. One session, $40.

Marsha Peterson-Maass is a forensic genealogist and member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She has taught Newberry Seminars since 2003.

An Introduction to DNA for Kinship Saturday, 1 – 4 pm March 7

Whether you have taken any DNA tests or not, this seminar will give you the information and tools to understand mtDNA, Y-DNA, and atDNA test results including haplogroups and ethnicity and cousin matches. We will also discuss options for kinship results and networking beyond the offerings of the three leading testing companies. One session, $65.

Marsha Peterson-Maass is a forensic genealogist and member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She has taught Newberry Seminars since 2003.

An Introduction to Western European Surnames Saturdays, 1 – 3 pm March 28 – May 2 (class will not meet April 4)

What mysteries of the past can be unlocked by your family’s last names? This seminar provides an introduction to the surnames of Western Europe, which derive from family lineage, occupations, nicknames, and placenames. In addition to a primary focus on English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, we will touch on Jewish surnames, as well as Dutch, Gaelic, Scandinavian, and Slavic. Please read the first chapter, “Classif ication of Surnames,” in Smith’s American Surnames in preparation for the first session. Five sessions, $170.

Jack Shreve is a historical linguist who holds a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh and 32 years of teaching experience at Allegany College of Maryland.

Genetic GenealogySaturdays, 10 am – noon April 11 – May 2

The use of DNA testing is exploding in the genealogy field. All genealogists know the frustration of being stymied when the paper trail ends or there is not enough evidence from existing documents to prove relationships. An analysis of DNA results, combined with traditional documentary research methods, can extend the reconstruction of your family tree. Although not a requirement for the course, participants will derive maximum benefit from the seminar if they have DNA autosomal testing results from one of the three testing companies (Familytreedna.com, 23andme.com, or Ancestry.com). Please read the first two chapters of Mastering Genealogical Proof for the first session. Four sessions, $160.

Karen Stanbary is a professional genealogist trained in the use of DNA testing for genealogical purposes.

History and Social Science

Legacies of the Great WarSection A: Tuesdays, 1 – 3 pm Section B: Tuesdays, 5:45 – 7:45 pm February 17 – April 21

The political, social, and cultural consequences of the First World War continue to shape the world today. Political boundaries drawn in the war’s aftermath set the stage for future conf lict in central and eastern Europe. Many of the still unresolved issues in the Middle East, including the Israeli-Palestinian conf lict, the aspirations of the Kurds for autonomy, and sectarian divisions in Syria and Iraq may be traced to decisions made during and after the Great War. For the first session, please read parts one and two (chapters 1-8) of Margaret MacMillan’s Paris 1919. Ten sessions, $250.

Frank Biletz holds a PhD in history from the University of Chicago, with a primary specialization in modern British and Irish history. He is currently Lecturer in History at Loyola University Chicago.

Telling History with Maps and Corresponding Satellite ImagesTuesdays, 5:45 – 7:45 pm February 17 – March 24

This seminar will use maps and satellite images to make sense of modern spaces in urban and rural areas on both sides of the Atlantic. Participants will view maps from the Newberry’s world-class cartography collections showing historical elements—towns, f ield-systems, fortif ications, roads—alongside current satellite images of the same area. We will examine and interrogate these contemporary scenes by thinking about what has survived and what has not. Six sessions, $200.

David Buisseret is an emeritus professor who has taught at the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of the West Indies. He was the Director of the Newberry’s Smith Center for the History of Cartography for 15 years and is the author, co-author, or editor of 30 books.

Medieval Britain 1307-1485 through Historical FictionWednesdays, 5:45 – 7:45 pm February 18 – April 22

Explore the Hundred Years War, the Black Death, the Age of Wycliffe, the Peasants’ Revolt, the Wars of the Roses, and other highlights of medieval British history. Rigorously researched historical novels by P.C. Doherty, Sharon Penman, Candace Robb, Josephine Tey, and others provide an engaging introduction to the period. With the readings as background, we will discuss historical issues such as family dynasties, civil wars, taxation, peasant rebellions, anti-clericalism, plagues, royal intrigues, and everyday life. Ten sessions, $250.

Matthew Bird, law librarian and independent scholar, holds a BA in history from Princeton University and a PhD in international politics from the University of Wales.

Colonial Rivalries: The West and the World, 1870–1918Thursdays, 5:45 – 7:45 pm February 19 – March 26

What motivated Western powers and Japan to assert political control over distant territories in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries? How can we expose as narrowly ideological the explanations provided by both imperialists and their critics? In this seminar, participants will delve into the motivating factors and dynamics of the colonial expansion that forever transformed our political world map. Readings for the first session will be distributed electronically; please refer to your registration confirmation for details. Six sessions, $200.

Joseph Harrington holds a master’s degree in history from the University of Connecticut. He has led numerous Newberry Seminars.

Ellis Island: The Immigrant’s ExperienceThursdays, 5:45 – 7:45 pm February 19 – March 5

Sixty percent of Americans descended from immigrants who arrived at Ellis Island, and multitudes of Chicagoans can claim Ellis as their ancestor’s entry point into the United States. This seminar explores the iconic status of this island and details the procedures of immigration, including how arrivals were processed between 1892 and 1954. Using architectural drawings, immigration statistics, and ship manifests from the island’s archives, this hands-on seminar is designed for anyone with an interest in learning about the history of Ellis and its impact on America’s working class. Three sessions, $120.

Bill Cellini, Jr. has 20 years of experience working with and interpreting Ellis Island manifests for genealogical use.

Native Cultures, Manifest Destiny, and the Rise of American AnthropologySaturdays, 10 am – noon February 21 – April 11 (class will not meet on April 4)

This seminar explores two intersecting themes: the impact of westward expansion on American Indian cultures during the second half of the nineteenth century, and the parallel development of anthropological research. This research, primarily undertaken by the Smithsonian Institution, aimed at better understanding American Indians and what many white Americans believed was their rapidly disappearing ways of life. Reading selections from and about early anthropology, participants will encounter a painful, complex, and fascinating period in American history. Readings for the first session will be distributed electronically; please refer to your registration confirmation for details. Seven sessions, $210.

Lee Minnerly, an archives assistant for the Webster Institute for the History of Astronomy at Adler Planetarium, holds an MA in anthropology and teaches classes on anthropology, cultural astronomy, and the extraterrestrial life debate.

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The Windsors: The British Monarchy, 1910-2015Saturdays, 10 am – noon February 21 – May 2 (class will not meet on April 4)

Despite being dismissed by some as an anachronism since its loss of effective political power, the British monarchy has adapted during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries to assume a symbolic and ceremonial role as the embodiment of British identity. Topics of this seminar will include the abdication of Edward VIII; the royal family’s role in maintaining morale during the Blitz; the coronation of Elizabeth II; the phenomenon of royal celebrity and scandal; the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee; and prospects for the future. Please read part one (“The Mystery”) of Tom Nairn’s The Enchanted Glass before the first session. Ten sessions, $250.

Frank Biletz holds a PhD in history from the University of Chicago, with a primary specialization in modern British and Irish history. He is currently Lecturer in History at Loyola University Chicago.

The Anatomy of Confederate Defeat: Why the North Won the Civil WarSaturdays, 1 – 3 pm February 21 – May 2 (class will not meet on April 4)

As we commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Confederate surrender at Appomattox, this seminar will consider the litany of explanations for why the South lost and the North won the Civil War. Reading the works of many different historians, we will explore economic, political, social, and military factors in the war’s outcome. We will pay particular attention to the roles of white women and African American slaves—two groups of southerners that were excluded from power in the Confederacy. For the f irst session, please read “God and the Strongest Battalions” from Donald’s Why the North Won the Civil War and “American Victory, American Defeat” from Boritt’s Why the Confederacy Lost. Ten sessions, $250.

John Drodow holds a masters degree in history from Northwestern University and has taught American history at Northwestern; the University of Indiana, Fort Wayne; and other institutions.

With Firmness in the Right: The Moral History of the Civil WarSaturday, 9 am – 4 pm March 14

The American Civil War was as much a clash of moral visions as a f ight over political doctrines or economic systems. In this seminar, participants will discuss how Northerners and Southerners saw the moral stakes of the conf lict, and whether the ends, both as perceived and actually achieved by the combatants, justif ied the often ruthless means employed to fight the war. Readings for the first session will be distributed electronically; please refer to your registration confirmation for details. One session, $120.

Joseph Harrington holds a master’s degree in history from the University of Connecticut. He has led numerous Newberry Seminars.

1865 - 1914: Remaking America, Birthing an EmpireThursdays, 2 – 4 pm March 19 – April 23

The Civil War ended the old order in a violent conf lagration. How was America to be remade? We will examine this remaking—a turbulent, violent struggle over vision, power, and the meaning of America. Topics include the growth of the new industrial order, the fight to reshape America along more democratic lines, the cre-ation of a new national political system, the role of disenfranchisement and racial violence, and the United States’ emergence as an imperial power. Readings for the first session will be distributed electronically; please refer to your registration confirmation for details. Six sessions, $180.

Brooke Heagerty, PhD in history, is writing a book about the legacies of slavery and the power of history and memory. She has led previous Newberry Seminars in American history.

Literature and Theater

Our Writing/Ourselves: Women’s Writing in the Twentieth CenturyTuesdays, 2 – 4 pm February 17 – April 21

This seminar will examine American women’s writing over the last century. We will consider how craft and form affect content by reading samples of poetry, f iction, creative nonfiction, and essays, by authors such as Mary Gaitskill, Zora Neale Hurston, Jhumpa Lahiri, Ursula K. LeGuin, and Adrienne Rich. Participants will examine these texts in terms of their own experiences, goals, and creative work; those interested in creative writing may complete optional biweekly writing exercises. Men and women are both warmly welcomed in this seminar. Excerpts from Virginia Woolf ’s A Room of One’s Own will be distributed electronically to be read for the first session; please refer to your registration confirmation for details. Ten sessions, $250.

Ariana Nadia Nash is the author of Instructions for Preparing Your Skin, which won the 2011 Philip Levine Prize for Poetry. She currently teaches at the University of Chicago.

Flannery O’Connor and the Agency of GraceWednesdays, 2 – 3:30 pm February 18 – April 22

In the work of Flannery O’Connor, the human condition is reduced, often by violent circumstances, to a state in which faith may or may not lead to any kind of salvation or redemption. Freakish tragedies strip O’Connor’s characters of pretention, leaving them in a state of grace—a condition most of them, no doubt, would have preferred to avoid. Following an introduction to southern gothic literature, participants will read and discuss selected stories, essays, and one novel by Flannery O’Connor. Please read “Some Aspects of the Grotesque

in Southern Fiction” (Mystery and Manners) and “The Geranium” (Collected Stories) for the first class. Additional preparatory readings will be distributed electronically; please refer to your registration confirmation for details. Ten sessions, $220.

Lyle Roebuck holds an MA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and has been teaching Latin, classics, and English literature for over 20 years.

Reading James Joyce’s UlyssesWednesdays, 6 – 7:30 pm February 18 – April 22

How does one approach James Joyce’s Ulysses? Reading this literary masterpiece is both like and unlike reading other novels. Through close examination and discussion of the text, we will explore its major themes and concepts, navigate its calm and turbulent sections, and enjoy our journey through the landscape of this fascinating book. Participants will emerge from the seminar stronger readers. Prior to the first session, please read the first two chapters of the novel (the Gabler edition). Ten sessions, $220.

Susan Bazargan is a professor emerita of English whose teaching and scholarship focuses on James Joyce.

Dazzled by the Truth: The World and Work of Franz Kafka, a Modern Jewish StorytellerWednesdays, 6 – 7:30 pm February 18 – April 22

W.H. Auden wrote, “Had one to name the author who comes nearest to bearing the same kind of relation to our age as Dante, Shakespeare and Goethe bore to theirs, Kafka is the first one would think of.” Through a close reading of Kafka’s short stories, and through examination of his life and of early-twentieth-century Prague, we shall attempt to penetrate the seemingly unfathomable and inscrutable writing of this giant of literature. Ten sessions, $220.

Dagmar Herrmann, an award-winning translator and independent scholar, has studied and lived in Prague.

Marcel Proust’s Sodom and GomorrahTuesdays, 6 – 7:30 pm February 24 – April 21

Human sexuality—its mystery, its variety, and above all its power—is the principal subject of the fourth volume of Proust’s great novel In Search of Lost Time. As he begins to see the extent to which society’s codes and conventions are designed to accommodate or control sexual instincts, the narrator finds himself overwhelmed by his desire for and jealousy of Albertine. Please read to page 44 prior to the first class. Nine sessions, $210.

Mike Levine’s most recent Newberry Seminar was on Proust’s The Guermantes Way. He holds a PhD in English from Rice University.

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Victorian Style: British Fashion and Fiction, 1850 to 1900Wednesdays, 5:45 – 7:45 pm February 25 – April 22

This seminar will explore dress as a key to character in four iconic Victorian novels (Great Expectations, Lady Audley’s Secret, Far from the Madding Crowd, and The Picture of Dorian Gray). Behind the era’s elaborate etiquette and strict ideas of gender and class, the Victorian dress code allowed and encouraged individuality and eccentricity. As we filter the age through the lens of fashion, we will see how the rules were bent and, sometimes, broken. Eight sessions, $220.

Debra N. Mancoff, author of Danger! Women Artists at Work and Fashion Muse, writes on the connections of art, fashion, and culture.

Watching, Thinking, Dancing, Acting: Angles on Bob FosseThursdays, 5:45 – 7:45 pm February 26 – April 16

Known for his choreography and directing in Cabaret, Chicago, and How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, Broadway legend Bob Fosse cooked up some unforgettable dances. His slinky, suggestive moves leapt from the stage to the screen and continue to swagger through music videos (ask Beyoncé!). By critically appraising Fosse as an arbiter of space, style, and the physical body, this seminar takes apart his cinematic-choreographic art from four angles: genre, editing, movement, and politics. Dancing and moving will be encouraged but not required. Material for the first session will be distributed electronically; please refer to your registration confirmation for details. Five sessions, $170.

Edward Crouse is in his third decade of writing about movies and other media for publications such as the Village Voice, Film Comment, Time Out Chicago, and Stagebill.

Endgame or Arcadia? European Drama 1950–presentThursdays, 6 – 7:30 pm February 26 – April 16

In this lecture- and discussion-based seminar, we will examine the rich period of European theater from mid-twentieth century to the present. Major themes and movements in European drama during this period will emerge in the existentialism of Samuel Beckett’s Endgame, in the innovations of Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia, and in the comedy of Alan Bennett’s The History Boys. The seminar will also consider how these works function as social commentary beyond their artistic achievements. Eight sessions, $200.

Todd Bauer holds an MA in liberal studies from Northwestern University. He is a playwright and director whose work has been performed in Chicago and New York.

Toni Morrison’s BelovedThursdays, 6 – 7:30 pm April 2 – May 7

A 2006 New York Times survey of writers and literary critics found Toni Morrison’s Beloved to be the best work of American fiction of the previous 25 years. An enthralling and shocking work of historical f iction, Beloved portrays a woman and her children’s escape from slavery—and the aftermath. In the seminar, we will read and discuss the novel, considering its story’s historical, social, and cultural context. We will explore the literary techniques Morrison uses in her supernatural story as she explores such themes as mother-love, self-love, and the trauma of slavery. Six sessions, $180.

Linda Levine holds an MA in English education from Northwestern University. She has taught English and other subjects in the humanities for many years. Her most recent Newberry Seminar was on twenty-first-century literature.

The Golovlyov Family and Satirical Tales by ShchedrinSaturdays, 10 am – noon April 18 – May 9

We will examine Shchedrin’s The Golovlyov Family, one of the least-known great nineteenth-century Russian novels, and several tales that demonstrate Shchedrin’s gift as a satirist. Exploring this masterpiece of unsentimental naturalism, we will encounter Porphyry Golovlyov, a classic hypocrite and Shchedrin’s most original creation. Readings will be supplemented by biographical, historical, and critical information provided by the instructor. Please read parts 1 and 2 of The Golovlyov Family prior to the first meeting. Four sessions, $160.

Julia Kriventsova Denne studied literature at St. Petersburg University, Russia, and teaches Russian literature in the Chicago area.

Philosophy and Religion

Does God Exist? How Can We Know?Tuesdays, 5:45 – 7:45 pm February 17– April 28 (class will not meet on March 31)

Does God exist? Our response to this question guides and informs what we make of ourselves, as well as what we make of the world in which we live. This seminar will use David Bentley Hart’s The Experience of God as an entry point into the question of God’s existence both within the great theistic faiths ( Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism) and within the current thinking of the “new atheists.” Ten sessions, $250.

Robert Sprott holds an MA in anthropology and theology, and a PhD in linguistics. A Catholic priest and a Franciscan, he is administrator of St. James Church in Chicago.

Laughter in Paradise: The Divine Joy in the Bible and BeyondTuesdays, 5:45 – 7:45 February 17 – April 7

Christianity is a religion hardly associated with humor. Is there laughter in the Bible? Exploring the theme of laughter as it appears in the traditions, rituals, and religious texts of cultures surrounding the biblical world will inform the discovery of laughter in the Christian Bible itself. A glance at the historical developments within the Christian church will reveal the reasons laughter later receded from the practice of Christianity. For the first session, please watch the film The Name of the Rose (1986), or, alternatively, read the novel (by Umberto Eco) from which it was adapted. Eight sessions, $220.

Una Stroda holds a PhD in systematic theology with a focus on the depiction of the image of God in literature and cinema.

Hannah Arendt’s The Human ConditionThursdays, 2 – 4 pm February 19 – April 23

This course examines the human condition through a close reading of Hannah Arendt’s 1958 work of the same title, which portrays the rise of modern society from its origins in the classical Greek city-state. Short weekly readings will let us appreciate the great complexity and scope of Arendt’s examination—made in prose of surpassing power and beauty—of the forces that have shaped individual and collective human activity over time. Please read pages 1 – 21 of The Human Condition for the first session (the introduction by M. Canovan is optional). Ten sessions, $250.

Stuart Patterson has taught Arendt’s work and the Western tradition for 10 years at Shimer College in Chicago.

Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus: Existential Literature as PhilosophyThursdays, 5:45 – 7:45 pm February 19 – March 26

The literary texts of the great French existentialists are perhaps the most effective presentations of their philosophies. Close readings of Jean-Paul Sartre’s Nausea and Albert Camus’ The Stranger will elucidate the themes of existential angst, the absurd, and the possibilities of authentic living and action. Before the first session, please read the Sartre chapter (chapter 10) of William Barrett’s classic study Irrational Man. Six sessions, $200.

Eugene Newman has led Newberry Seminars on existentialism and other philosophical topics since 2001.

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Norse Mythology: Religion and CultureWednesdays, 5:45 – 7:45 pm March 4 – April 29

Discover the relationship between the tales of Norse mythology and the cultures that produced them. Participants will learn how the powerful myths preserved by Icelanders in the thirteenth century relate to the religious beliefs and practices of the pre-Christian northern world. Particular attention will be paid to the role of women in Norse culture and how, as Christianity spread and gained power, these stories descended from religion to myth to legend to fairy tale to superstition. Nine sessions, $240.

Karl E.H. Seigfried writes The Norse Mythology Blog and is currently working on his fourth degree, an MA in religion at the University of Chicago Divinity School.

Cogito Ergo Sum: Descartes’ Meditations on First PhilosophyThursdays, 5:45 – 7:45 pm March 12 – April 23

Rene Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy (1641) is among the greatest philosophical works of all time, as well as one of the founding texts of modernity. In these Meditations, Descartes outlines his famous method of doubt, explains the certainty of his own existence as a thinking being, explores the relationship between mind and body, offers two controversial arguments for the existence of God, and lays a new intellectual basis for religion and the sciences. For the first session, please read pages vii-xvii and 3-11 of Meditations on First Philosophy: with Selections from the Objections and Replies. Seven sessions, $210.

Thomas Zebrowski holds a PhD in religious ethics from the University of Chicago Divinity School and has taught seminars at the Newberry on philosophical, religious, and literary topics.

Writing Workshops

Reach Across the Truth to Find Her: Poetry WorkshopSaturdays, 10 am – noon February 21 – March 28 (class will not meet on April 4)

From Li Po to Patricia Smith, from werewolves to Jesus to George Wallace to Janis Joplin, persona poetry (which inhabits a dramatic voice other than that of the writer) provides a means for expressing the unspoken, f inding new corners of history, and retelling a tale. In this workshop we will read examples of persona poetry, explore our Newberry surroundings, and talk about writers’ choices and styles as avenues to enhance your writing. Expect to write seven to eight new poems and leave with a collection of exercises you can return to in your own practice. Six sessions, $200.

Valerie Wallace holds an MFA in creative writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and has taught workshops throughout Chicago. She is an editor with RHINO Poetry and the author of The Dictators’ Guide to Good Housekeeping.

The Elements of Creative Writing: A WorkshopSaturdays, 1 – 3 pm February 21 – April 25 (class will not meet on March 7 or April 4)

Painters have colors. Musicians have sounds. Writers have words, which create colors, sounds, f igures of speech, images, suspense, characters, conf licts, ideas, plots. This workshop will explore the elements, methods, and skills of creative writing in three ways: the workshop leader will provide detailed weekly writing prompts; participants will be encouraged to present their work for formal (and lively) discussion at least once during the term; and everyone will exercise their creative faculties in the class discussion of work. This supportive, challenging, and collaborative workshop is open to all writers of all levels. Eight sessions, $220.

Brooke Bergan has taught creative writing for more than 25 years; has published critically acclaimed poetry, fiction, essays, translations, and a play; and is currently working on a novel.

Writing for the TheaterSaturdays, 1 – 3 pm February 28 – April 18 (class will not meet on April 4)

Designed for beginning playwrights as well as for writers working in other forms, this seminar emphasizes what makes a scene successful, how to develop characters through dialogue and action, and how to think in theatrical terms. At the conclusion of the class, students will have a better understanding of how to write a dramatic, engaging scene. Eight sessions, $220.

Douglas Post is an award-winning playwright whose plays have been produced around the world. He has taught at Northwestern University, DePaul University, and Victory Gardens Theater. He currently teaches at Chicago Dramatists.

Oh, the Possibilities: Writing for Children in Today’s Children’s Book WorldSaturday, 10 am – 4 pm March 7

Still wanting to realize your dream of writing a children’s book someday? Anxious to learn what to do once you write it? This workshop introduces newcomers to today’s world of children’s book publishing—the markets, the genres, the formats, the audience niches, the publishing venues—and offers a few rules of the road for navigating the craft and the industry. Participants will have the opportunity to share a work-in-progress in order to see its possibilities in today’s publishing world. (Note: please bring a bagged lunch as the class will continue to meet during the lunch hour.) One session, $120.

Esther Hershenhorn authors picture books and middle-grade fiction, coaches children’s books writers, and recently served on the Board of Advisors of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Writing the Hero’s JourneyTuesdays, 5:45 – 7:45 pm March 31 – April 21

Good stories resonate deeply within our psyche: they make us laugh, cry, shriek, blush, or howl. But how do writers successfully develop the unforgettable characters that elicit these responses? One way is by learning how to construct character arcs and the hero’s journey through the plot. Using excerpts from Joseph Campbell, Christopher Vogler, and Maria Louis Von Franz, we will explore the 12 stages of the hero’s journey and discover how to use these tools in developing memorable tales. Four sessions, $160.

Colleen Delegan, a member of the WGAW, is an author, screenwriter, television writer, and ghostwriter.

The Elusive Muse: Journaling Your Way to Better WritingThursdays, 5:45 – 7:45 pm April 2 – May 7

There are days when we are confounded by writer’s block, but that does not mean that we must submit to it. Practice leads to proficiency: the more we write, the better our writing becomes. One easy and creative way to commit to writing and produce better work is to keep a journal. This class will show you how to use journaling techniques to find ideas, practice skills, and develop better writing habits. Six sessions, $200.

Beatriz Badikian-Gartler has been teaching writing for over 30 years.

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To register for a seminar please submit this form, along with your payment, to:

Newberry Library, Attn: Seminars, 60 W. Walton Street, Chicago, IL 60610

SEMINAR TITLE

SEMINAR TITLE

SEMINAR TITLE

Tuition $

Tuition $

Tuition $

Total $

Total tuition $

Welcome to the Winter/Spring 2015 term of the Newberry Seminars Program

We are proud to offer a wide variety of informal, noncredit courses designed for adults with busy schedules and inquiring minds, all under the roof of one of the nation’s most renowned humanities research libraries.

Registration opens Tuesday, January 6. The early registration deadline is Tuesday, February 10. After this date, registration costs will increase by 10 percent and classes with fewer than the minimum seven registrants will be canceled. All listed prices in the brochure reflect the early registration cost. Classes begin Tuesday, February 17.

We are certain there is a class for you: writing workshops for both beginning and advanced writers; discussion-based seminars on a variety of topics in literature, history, arts, music, genealogy, and Chicago culture. Explore the humanities in a Newberry Seminar this winter/spring.

Register online at www.newberry.org or call (312) 255-3700.

We offer a 10% discount to: – Associates of the Newberry at the

Author level ($100 and above), or– Seniors 65 and over, or– Students (valid student ID required)

Refunds: Requests for refunds must be received in writing; to request a refund, email us at programs@newberry.org. The Seminars Office retains a 10% processing fee.– For single- or two-session seminars,

tuition (less the 10% processing fee) is refundable until one day before the seminar begins.

– For all seminars longer than two sessions, tuition (less the 10% processing fee) is refundable until one day prior to the second class meeting.

Books and Materials: The Newberry’s Bookstore stocks most required and recommended titles for the seminars. Associates of the Newberry at the Author level ($100 and above) receive a 10% discount on all seminar texts. Book and material costs are not included in the tuition price unless otherwise noted.

Seminar registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Many seminars fill quickly; therefore, we encourage you to enroll early. Full payment is required at the time of registration, and we cannot pro-rate tuition to compensate for missed classes. Seven registrants are needed to run a class.

Take 10% off if you fit one of the criteria below

¨ I am a senior (65 or older). (10% discount) or

¨ I am a student (with a copy of valid ID enclosed). (10% discount) or

¨ I am an Associate of the Newberry Library at the Author level ($100) or above.

Associates at the Author level of $100 or above receive a 10% discount on seminar tuition.

¨ I want to become an Associate now at the $ ______________ level.

Amount $ Discount

SEMINAR REGISTRATION WINTER/SPRING 2015

NAME (Mr./ Mrs./ Ms.)

ADDRESS APT.

CITY STATE ZIP

DAY PHONE (required) EVENING PHONE (required)

E-MAIL (required)

¨ Enclosed is a check payable to the Newberry Library in the amount of $ .

¨ Please charge my credit card in the amount of $ .

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EXHIBITIONS

Love on PaperJanuary 15 - April 4

Exploration: The Chicago Calligraphy Collective’s Annual Juried ExhibitionMarch 16 - June 13

JANUARY

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago“50-Minute Hamlet” and “50-Minute Romeo and Juliet”Saturday, January 17, 10 am

ConcertChamber Music by Stephen KleimanSaturday, January 24, 1:30 pm

Meet the AuthorTimothy Lacy, The Dream of a Democratic Culture: Mortimer J. Adler and the Great Books IdeaTuesday, January 27, 6 pm

Meet the AuthorMargaret Garb, Freedom’s Ballot: African American Political Struggles in Chicago from Abolition to the Great Migration Saturday, January 31, 1 pm

FEBRUARY

Faces of Love: A Memorial Concert for Norman PellegriniThursday, February 5, 5:30 pm

Between the Second World War and the Cold War: The Yalta Conference RevisitedEugene BeirigerTuesday, February 10, 6 pm

Make Love on Paper: Valentine WorkshopWednesday, February 11, 4 – 7 pm

Chicago Map SocietyDennis Downes, “Native American Trail Marker Trees”Thursday, February 19, 5:30 pm reception; 6 pm program

The Shakespeare Project of ChicagoMacbethSaturday, February 28, 10 am

MARCH

Genealogy Workshop with Joshua TaylorSaturday, March 7, 9 amReservations are required (online only)

Meet the AuthorStacey Robertson, Hearts Beating for Liberty: Women Abolitionists of the Old Northwest Thursday, March 12, 6 pm

Meet the AuthorChicago in Ten StoriesAuthor and speaker Richard Fizdale and speaker Paul DuricaTuesday, March 17, 6 pm

Chicago / Midwest HistoryJohn Gurda, “Chicago and Milwaukee: Siblings and Strangers in a Shrinking World”Saturday, March 21, 1 pm

Meet the AuthorGillian O’Brien, Blood Runs Green: The Murder That Transfixed Gilded Age ChicagoTuesday, March 24, 6 pm

APRIL

Staged ReadingLincoln in Limbo, a play by Robert BraySaturday, April 4, 10 am

The Caxton Club / Bibliographical Society of America / Newberry Library 2015 Symposium on the Book Preserving the Evidence: The Ethics of Book and Paper ConservationSaturday, April 18, 8:30 am – 3 pm

GENEALOGY AND LOCAL HISTORY ORIENTATION

Usually held the first Saturday of the month at 9:30 am (1/3, 2/7, 3/14, 4/4)

Winter/Spring 2015 Newberry Public Programs This is a partial list; check www.newberry.org for more programs. Unless otherwise noted, all public programs are free and no reservations are required.