By Evenlyn C. McDonald
Arts & Culture Reporter
February 1, 2018
It’s February and we are all tired of cold weather. Here’s a chance to give your brain a workout with a series of short, stimulating courses from Amelia Lifelong Learning. Venues include St. Peter’s, the Amelia Community Theatre, and the Plantation. Courses run from February to May.
February starts off with a bang, with global affairs, history and literature highlighted. Global issues in the contemporary world are the subjects of two sessions of the “Great Decisions” course. This course is prepared by the Foreign Policy Institute and covers eight global issues. Bob Straits leads one section, starting on Monday, February 5 and Steve Kimmel leads another section starting on Tuesday, February 6.
The same week, you can join Tony Daniels to discuss what we owe to Rome in “Roman History,” on Tuesday, February 6. If you would prefer your history a little closer to the present, revisit “The Great War: WWI,” with Sal Campanero on February 8. This course is timely as 2018 is the 100th year of the Armistice that ended one war and paved the way for another.
Beginning Wednesday, February 7, Bernie McCabe leads students through a reading of Death of A Salesman, a monumental play by Arthur Miller, one of this country’s foremost playwrights. If you prefer to read a classic, Norman Wesley will discuss Gulliver’s’ Travels. The course, starting Monday, February 26, will explore why so many people have misinterpreted the book.
On February 20, “The Implications of Artificial Intelligence” will explore the areas that AI either has impacted or soon will. From driverless cars to robot caregivers to medical diagnostic tools, AI is poised to move into many aspects of life. (Spoiler alert: this is my course).
Captain Lawrence Piper introduces students to “Back Country Fishing, “starting on Wednesday, February 21. Lea Gallardo will conduct another two of her popular short courses on picture taking and picture making. These sessions are on Wednesdays, March 7 and March 28.
Ron Kurtz is presenting another in his “The Play’s the Thing” series, starting Thursday, April 5. This year Ron is focusing on the differences between staging a play and making a movie of it. The play is “Doubt” which starts an April run at the Amelia Community Theatre. Participants will review the play, see the performance, and discuss it. Then they will see the movie and conclude with a discussion of the two media.
On April 22, Berta Arias is presenting another in her popular series of Spanish courses. This course focuses on people who are either new to Spanish or need to brush up on the basics. The course is designed to make students comfortable with the language to the point that travel is made easier.
Information on these courses and how to register can be found at www.amelialearning.com
Evelyn McDonald moved to Fernandina Beach from the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. in 2006. Evelyn is vice-chair on the Amelia Center for Lifelong Learning and is on the Dean’s Council for the Carpenter Library at the UNF. Ms. McDonald has MS in Technology Management from the University of Maryland’s University College and a BA in Spanish from the University of Michigan.