The courses listed below start in January
~~~~
Baldwin’s Trifecta | $50 Bailey Brooks
January 20-February 24, 2026 | Tuesdays | 2:00-4:00pm
One of America’s greatest minds, James Baldwin ascribed himself a trifecta: “gay, poor, and Black.” It was through these lenses that he observed and assessed a country in upheaval—the Civil Rights movement, the Women’s Liberation movement, the rise and fall of Black Power, and so on. The complex characters in his works often reflected his intersectional position, from the bold Richard Henry in “Blues for Mister Charlie” to the soft-spoken Fonny in “If Beale Street Could Talk” to the fickle David in “Giovanni’s Room”. In this class, we will examine these three Baldwin works and reflect on his legacy in the face of today’s rapidly evolving world.
The Dramatic Monologue | $50 Trevor McMichael
January 21-February 11, 2026 | Wednesdays | 2:00-4:00pm
Poetry has always been a medium through which poets can express their beliefs, thoughts, and desires. According to Victorian philosopher John Stuart Mill, “Poetry is feeling confessing itself to itself in moments of solitude and embodying itself in symbols which are the nearest possible representations of the feeling in the exact shape in which it exists in the poet’s mind.” At the same time, in the nineteenth century, however, poets also explored how to convey thoughts and feelings that were not their own, in the dramatic monologue, a genre that reveals the personality of a fictionalized speaker in a dramatic setting. In this seminar, we will examine dramatic monologues from before, during, and after the Victorian era, including poems by Letitia Landon, Alfred Tennyson, Robert Browning, T.S. Eliot, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Sylvia Plath. We will also frequently discuss poetic form and explore what distinguishes the dramatic monologue from other related forms of lyric poetry.
Cultural Issues on the International Screen | $50 Betty Robbins
January 21-March 11, 2026 | Wednesdays | 1:00-4:00pm
From its inception, the Hollywood film industry has played a pivotal role in promoting American Democracy, not only in the US but also around the world. In fact, as Allied forces moved through Europe after World War II, their initial moves were to take control of film studios in Italy, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. Yes, even in England. The US government mandated the percentage of US film productions shown in theaters in these countries. Why? An OU film student from Bangladesh, who is now working in Hollywood, put it this way: “Film is the fastest and most compelling teacher of the general population.” Globally, and since the film’s inception, filmmakers have addressed critical socio-political issues on screen. This course will screen six international and US films chosen for their focus on socio-political issues from the 1930s to the present, and with no intent to persuade. Before each class, a film from an international or Hollywood source will be shown. Representation, theme, and production values will be topics for discussion as we watch dramas, satires, and even dark comedies.
IOS Fundamentals | $50 Jeremy Hessman
January 22-February 26, 2026 | Thursdays | 1:30-3:30pm
Technology is everywhere in our lives these days, and nowhere is it more evident than with our phones and tablets. For Apple users, a better understanding of their device and using more of its features can make their lives easier. This course will provide users with a basic understanding of the iPhone and iPad. We will cover the most general settings, common device navigation, and security tips.
Chinese Painting | $50 Paul Bell
January 22-February 26, 2026 | Thursdays | 9:30-11:30am
The Chinese have been expressing themselves through the medium of painting for over 2 millennia. This course will introduce participants to the depth and breadth of Chinese artistic expression through painting, beginning with works found in tombs from the Han dynasty (202 BCE to 220 CE) and ending with paintings by contemporary Chinese artists. During this six-week course, we will explore the methods and forms employed by Chinese artists throughout the millennia, including the use of black and colored inks on silk and paper in various formats such as hanging scrolls, handscrolls, album leaves, and fans. We will also discuss how Chinese approaches to painting differ from those in Western culture. Although we will introduce the full spectrum of subject matter, ranging from religious paintings to portraits of people, we will focus primarily on landscape paintings and so-called “bird and flower” paintings as the highest forms of Chinese artistic expression. We will also discuss the concept of the “three perfections” through which painting, calligraphy, and poetry are integrated to maximize the emotional expression of the artist. Finally, although we will, of necessity, consider technical aspects of Chinese painting, the emphasis of the course will be on how works of art reflect the emotions of the artists and the emotional effect of these works on the viewer.
It’s All Greek to Me | $50 Tom Pender
January 23-February 13, 2026 | Fridays | 1:00-3:00pm
An introduction to Greek Tragic Theatre, focusing on theatre space, performance conventions, and dramatic structure. The course will focus on Sophocles’ OEDIPUS THE KING and Aristotle’s POETICS, which often uses OEDIPUS as the ideal example of the genre.
What Actors Do | $50 Judith Midyett Pender
January 23-February 13, 2026 | Fridays | 10:00am-12:00pm
Have you ever wondered what it is exactly that actors do? How do they prepare themselves for taking on a role? What does actor training consist of? We will explore acting theory and practice in this class. Students will participate in acting exercises on their feet and on paper. You will be required to read a play supplied by the professor. This course focuses on the industry’s best practices for contemporary theatrical Realism.
Women Who Kill - The Battered Woman’s Syndrome | $50 Susan Sharp
January 26-February 16, 2026 | Mondays | 10:00am-12:00pm
Oklahoma has a crisis. It is ranked number 1 in domestic violence in this country, and number 3 in domestic homicides. Women are far less likely than men to kill. However, when they do kill, it is often their partner. A fairly high percentage of women who kill a partner have histories of being abused by that partner. This course will examine Battered Women Syndrome as a legal defense against crime. This defense is not self-defense but rather based on the idea that over time, battering can create the fear of being killed oneself. That in turn can lead to killing the person out of fear of losing one’s own life. The Oklahoma Survivors’ Act (Senate Bill 1470) was passed in 2024. The bill allowed women to introduce evidence of their battering at trial, reduced penalties, and allowed women to file for potential resentencing. We will examine the stories of some women in this state who have been convicted and are now seeking resentencing.
The Political Dynamics of Contemporary Southeast Asia | $50 Paul Chambers
January 27-March 3, 2026 | Tuesdays | 1:30-3:00pm
Southeast Asia is a geographical region between China and India that has long been plagued by war, dictators, insurgents, and foreign intervention. Such instability has threatened not only state and regional security but the welfare of all people in Southeast Asia, though some parts of this region are becoming prosperous. This course will examine why Southeast Asia has had such a violent history, to what extent it has become more stable, the principal political problems it faces today, and the reasons behind these problems. The course will survey the political development and causes of conflict. Issues examined include decolonization, nationalism, guerrilla conflicts, under-development, and the role of foreign powers (e.g., China, United States). Session One of the six-week course offers an Introduction and general history of the region. Session Two examines three countries in mainland Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia), each governed by dictatorial political parties. Session Three turns to maritime Southeast Asia, examining two semi-democratic states (Indonesia, Philippines). Session Four examines the military-dominated regimes of Thailand and Myanmar. Session Five examines current regional issues, including border disputes, human trafficking, narcotics, and scam centers. Session Six—focuses on the prospect for regional cooperation through ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) amidst continuing geopolitical issues (e.g., South China Sea, Mekong River).
What Even is Contemporary Art? | $5 Olivia Murphy (Mornings with the Professor)
January 27, 2026 | Tuesday | 9:30-11:00am
These days, it seems as if anything can be called “contemporary art.” A fresh banana duct-taped to the wall sold at an art auction for $6.2 million in 2024! Can you imagine? In this session, we will figure out what, exactly, we mean when we say “contemporary art.” Did this genre of art appear out of nowhere? Is it true that my grandchild could make art like that? Is it even worth trying to understand? All these pressing questions, and more, will be answered. We will examine the origins of contemporary art and explore the various forms it can take in the twenty-first century. These forms include more “traditional” media such as oil painting, sculpture, and photography, but also “new media” such as performance, digital installation, and sound art. We will also examine the state of contemporary art, both globally and right here in Oklahoma. In doing so, we will learn the vocabulary and tools needed to have an informed discussion of any work of art, whether it be a fresh banana titled “Comedian” or da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.”
The Modern Short Story: Japanese Contributions | $50 Chris Carter
January 30-March 6, 2026 | Fridays | 2:00-3:30pm
In this course, we will read modern short stories by all three Japanese winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature: Yasunari Kawabata (1968), Kenzaburo Oe (1994), and Kazuo Ishiguro (2017). We will also read Higuchi Ichiyo, the young woman whose short stories about life in the most impoverished districts of Tokyo in the 1890s captured the interest of her entire country, before she tragically died of poverty-related tuberculosis at the age of twenty-four. We will finish with a story by the Japanese American writer Ruth Ozeki, a contemporary author, Zen Buddhist priest, filmmaker, and environmentalist. *Class will NOT meet 2/20
The Symphonies of Dmitri Shostakovich | $50 Clive Mander
January 30 – March 13, 2026 | Fridays | 10:00am-12:00pm
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 – 1975) stands as one of the towering figures of 20th-century music, celebrated for his profound influence on symphonic, chamber, and instrumental music. Belonging to the first generation of Russian composers educated entirely under the Soviet system, his music is intensely personal and deeply social, reflecting the joys, sorrows, and contradictions of his life.
Shostakovich’s fifteen symphonies stand as some of the most deeply expressive and powerful orchestral works of the 20th century. Each composition is a reflection not just of a singular creative vision but of a tumultuous era where artistic innovation, state politics, and personal struggle intersect.
This six-week course is an introduction to the unique sound world of Shostakovich’s symphonic output, providing historical context and analytical insight. Classes will feature listening to music together with some analysis. No prior musical knowledge is required. *Class will NOT meet 2/20
