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• Medieval at the Movies
  Professor Sarah Ifft Decker (History)
  Tuesdays, January 21, February 4, 18, March 4; 5:30–7:00 p.m. 
  In-person (Dorothy C. King Hall) or virtual (Zoom)
  $35 per session, $140 for full series 

  Medieval historical fiction and medieval-inspired fantasy media both reflect and shape how modern people view the medieval world. From Braveheart to A Knight’s Tale, from Lord of the Rings to Game of Thrones, movies and television shows portray a medieval world that is at times both alluring and repelling—but one that ultimately tells us more about modern concerns than medieval realities. This course will explore both, as we pair movies set in medieval and medieval-inspired worlds with readings about real medieval experiences sometimes illuminated, but more often misrepresented, in film. Participants may view films independently through streaming services or register to attend optional film screenings (details to be provided), as you prefer. Readings will be shared as PDFs.

  January 21: (2022)
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  February 4:  (1968)
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  February 18: (2001)
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  March 4: (2021)
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

   

• Cinema and Wine: French Culture Through Film 
  Professor Laura Loth (Modern Languages and Literatures)
  Mondays, April 14, April 21, 28; 5:30-7:00 p.m.
  In-person (Dorothy C. King Hall)
  $50 per session, $150 for full series

  This course delves into the relationship between wine, culture, and identity in France, exploring how these themes are portrayed in three vastly different films: Cedric Klapisch’s Back to Burgundy (2017), Gilles Legrand’s You Will Be My Son (2011) and Agnès Varda’s Vagabond (1985). Through the lens of cinema, we’ll study how French wine culture embodies national identity, tradition, and lifestyle, while examining how these films capture the artistry, challenges, and stakes of winemaking. Our selected films will take students to vineyards in iconic wine regions highlighting the craftsmanship and complex social customs surrounding wine. Through screenings, discussions, and critical readings, students will learn how each film’s narrative and cinematography convey the symbolic and literal roles of wine in French culture. We’ll explore themes like family legacy and regional pride, all while analyzing how French films interpret and celebrate wine as an art form. Each session will culminate in a wine tasting featuring selections from the regions portrayed in the films, allowing students to directly experience the flavors and nuances discussed in class. This course is ideal for students interested in cinema studies, French culture, and oenology, offering a blend of film analysis, cultural exploration, and sensory immersion. No prior knowledge of film theory or wine studies is required. Participants may view films independently through streaming services or register to attend optional film screenings (details to be provided), as you prefer.

  April 14: Cedric Klapisch,  (2017)
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  April 21: Gilles Legrand,  (2011)
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  April 28: Agnès Varda, (1985)
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

   

• Meeman Matinees: Lifelong Learning Through Film
  Barret Library Theatre, Room 34
  Sundays, January 19, February 2, 16, March 2, April 13, 27; 2:00 – 4:30 p.m.
  $15 for each screening, $90 for full series

  This film series will be held in the intimate viewing theater classroom in ����Swag College’s Barret Library. “Meeman Matinees” has been created especially to complement our Film and Cinema course offerings but is open to all lifelong learners who share a love of cinema. ����Swag Lifelong Learning fellows will introduce films with background contexts, and a brief discussion will follow each screening. Popcorn and soda included! Register here. 
   

• January 19:  (2022)
• February 2:  (1968)
• February 16:  (2001)
• March 2: (2021)
•  April 13: Cedric Klapisch,  (2017)
• April 27: Agnès Varda,  (1985)

*Please note that there will not be a screening of  (2011); this film, however, can be viewed independently through several streaming services.

• James Joyce’s Dubliners: An Introduction
  Professor Brian Shaffer (English)
  Wednesdays, January 22, 29, February 5, 12; 5:30–7:00 p.m. 
  In-person (Dorothy C. King Hall) or virtual (Zoom)
  $35 per session, $140 for full series 

  James Joyce's Dubliners (1914) is among the most esteemed and influential short story collections in English.  The volume's wry and subtle yet penetrating tales, which are set in the Irish capital at the turn of the last century, anatomize and probe the social and cultural dynamics, and the struggles and aspirations, of ordinary Dubliners.  Written when Joyce was in his early twenties, these stories represent an astonishing achievement given their maturity and sophistication.  Although the later Ulysses (1922) is famous for its "high modernist" literary experimentation, these early realist fictions are remarkably accessible and engaging.  Rather than attempting to discuss the entire collection in the limited class time available, we will burrow into, close read, or "slow read" a handful of the stories (along with selected contextual materials, popular songs included), the better to comprehend and savor the intricacies and richness of Joyce's singular artistic vision. Readings will be provided as PDFs.

  January 22: “Eveline”
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP
  
   January 29: “The Boarding House”
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP
  
   February 5: “Araby”
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  February 12: “The Dead”
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

• �վ���������’s Aeneid
  Professor Patrick Harris (Search)
  Tuesdays, January 28, February 11; 5:30-7:00 p.m. 
  In-person (Dorothy C. King Hall) and virtual (Zoom)
  $70 for full series

  What does it mean to be a hero? How and why do stories about our origins matter to us? How do humans respond to the horrors of war, and can any good come from it? What is the relationship between art and political power? These are just some of the questions that Virgil's Aeneid still demands of us, even as it enthralls its readers with a tale of desperate exiles, doomed lovers, and imperial destinies written in blood. This course draws on SEARCH, ����Swag' signature interdisciplinary humanities program, for which the Aeneid has been a key text for over seven decades. Over the course of two sessions, we will explore one of the world's great works of literature, its historical and mythic context, its powers of poetic expression, and its values—both stranger and more familiar to us than we might think. Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .3 CEU, .3 PDP

• What is a Shakespearean Text?
  (Higher Education Faculty, Shakespeare Globe Theatre, LAMDA, and RADA)
  Tuesday, February 25; 5:30-7:00 p.m.
  In-person (Dorothy C. King Hall) 
  $35

  Have you ever wondered how directors figure out how to stage a speech or a scene from Shakespeare? What role does close attention to Shakespeare’s complex language play in their theatrical choices about character, emotion, and status?  How does the specific textual form affect all these? In this session, British Director Nick Hutchison will explain and use the technique of “close reading” to offer insight into his approach to these questions. Hutchison will focus especially on Hamlet and Ophelia’s famous “nunnery scene,”  alongside a scene from his lesser-known courtly love comedy Love’s Labour’s Lost in which a group of ladies discuss and plot against their “lovers." Readings will be provided in advance. Nick Hutchison’s visit to ����Swag College is made possible thanks to the Pearce Shakespeare Endowment.  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP.

• Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales: An Introduction
  Professor Lori Garner (English)
  Tuesdays, April 1, 8, 15, 22; 5:30-7:00 p.m.
  In-person (Dorothy C. King Hall) or virtual (Zoom)
  $35 per session, $140 for full series

  Through a series of stories told by pilgrims on the road to Canterbury, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales offer readers memorable performances across a vast spectrum of medieval genres—chivalric romances, beast fables, moral allegories, and more. Across the month of April, we will read the General Prologue and six of the most widely-known tales. Readings will be provided in both the original 14th-century Middle English and in modern English translation. 

  April 1: General Prologue
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  April 8: Knight’s Tale and Reeve’s Tale
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  April 15: Wife of Bath’s Tale and Pardoner’s Tale
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  April 22: Nun’s Priest’s Tale and Franklin’s Tale
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

• LinkedIn for Lifelong Learners
  (Career Services)
  Thursdays, January 23, 30; 5:30-7:00 p.m.
  In-person (Dorothy C. King Hall) or virtual (Zoom)
  $70 for full series

  LinkedIn is the world's largest professional social networking platform on the internet. It is designed to connect users with employers, colleagues, and fellow professionals. LinkedIn provides tools for learning new skills, joining groups to discuss relevant topics, and sharing content to enhance professional engagement and networking. Come learn how to build an effective professional profile, navigate industries, learn about professional development opportunities and networking strategies through its powerful information platform.
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .3 CEU, 3 PDP

• Design Fundamentals
  Professor Karl Erickson (Art and Art History)
  Wednesday, February 26; 5:30-7:00 p.m.
  In-person (Clough 302)
  $35

  Graphic Design is creative problem solving, with the goal of effectively and memorably communicating one’s message. From resumes to business cards, and from posters to social media posts, all design makes use of the elements and principles of art and design. In this class, which will meet in the Art and Art History Department’s newly designed computer classroom, participants will learn how to put these into action using commonly available software. Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 16 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

• 20-Hour Teaching English as a Foreign Language Certification
  Dr. Erin Hillis (Buckman Center for Global Engagement)
  Thursdays, March 20, 27, April 3, 10; 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  In-person (Dorothy C. King Hall) or virtual (Zoom)
  $300 for full series

  This is the course for you if you’d like to gain a basic understanding of teaching ESL/EFL and learn beginning-level competencies in core ESL/EFL skills. This brief, 20-Hour TEFL Certificate offered by the Meeman Center will prepare you with the essentials to get started teaching English as a second or foreign language. You will learn basic TEFL elements, such as student-centered teaching and language teaching methodologies. Additional components will provide entry-level knowledge on how to teach vocabulary, reading, listening, writing, and speaking. This course meets for 2 hours/week for 4 weeks. To earn the 20-hour TEFL Certificate, you will attend each lesson and complete assigned readings and written homework. Students will be expected to read 3-4 chapters/week (approx. 2 hours of weekly reading) and complete written assignments for a grade (approx.. 1 hour/week). Successful completion in all elements of the course results in the 20-hour TEFL Certificate. Prior to the class, students will need to obtain the textbook, . Class size: minimum of 4 students and maximum of 20 students. 

• Humans and Nature
  Professor Hadi Khoshneviss (Anthropology and Sociology)
  Mondays, January 27, February 3, 10, 17; 5:30-7:00 p.m. 
  In-person (Dorothy C. King Hall)
  $35 per session, $140 for full series

  European Enlightenment emerged as a response to Europe’s so-called “Dark Ages,” a long era in which human reasoning and scientific explanations were allegedly condemned. The reality, however, is far more complex. An unfortunate outcome of this shift to “enlightenment” was the separation of humans from nature. Due to this separation, humans were elevated above nature, and nature was regarded solely as a passive resource to be controlled and exploited. In this three-session class we will briefly explore this history and its consequences in the past, present, and future. The course will be very interactive with many opportunities for participation and involvement. Readings will be provided in advance as PDFs.

  January 27: Human reasoning, instincts, and emotions
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  February 3: Settler colonialism and the buffalo genocide
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  February 10: Activism and the savior
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  February 17: Capitalism and patenting life
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

• Disability Studies
  Professor Charles Hughes (History and Urban Studies)
  Thursdays, February 6, 13, 20, 27; 5:30-7:00 p.m.
  Virtual (Zoom)
  $35 per session, $140 for full series

  This course will explore the experiences of disabled people in the United States in past and present, as well as different ways that disability has shaped our society, culture, and identities. From medicine to music, from colonial America to the 21st century, Disability Studies not only helps us understand what it’s meant to be disabled, but why disability-centered thinking holds transformative potential in a variety of topics. Register for individual sessions or the full series as your schedule allows.  Readings will be provided as PDFs. 

  February 6: A Disabled History of the United States
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  February 13: Disability in Popular Culture
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  February 20: Sex and Sexualities
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  February 27: Disability Justice and Disability Futures
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

• The Gift of Gender: Living, Theorizing, and Being Trans
  Coordinated by Professor Judith Haas (English), Gender and Sexuality Studies Chair
  Classes taught by Professor Beck Henriksen (Religious Studies) and Professor Laura Leisinger (Anthropology and Sociology) 
  Mondays, February 24, March 3, March 17, March 24; 5:30-7:00 p.m.
  In-person (Dorothy C. King Hall) or virtual (Zoom)
  $35 per session, or $140 for full series

  This course introduces students to the field of trans studies through readings that blend queer and trans theory with elements of lived experience. Beginning with a focus on disrupting normative connections between sex and gender, readings will attend to embodied differences, social implications, political discrimination, and economic justice. We will ask what gender is and what it means to “do gender.” The course will explore trans relationships to the medical system and how people navigate it and care for each other. Students will then have the opportunity to ask questions of and directly engage with renowned trans studies scholar, Dr. Hil Malatino, author of Queer Embodiment: Monstrosity, Medical Violence, and Intersex Experience (2019), Trans Care (2020), and Side Affects: On Being Trans and Feeling Bad (2022). The Question and Answer session will precede a public lecture by Malatino titled “Long Tensions: Trans Advocacy, Homonormativity, and the Reed Erickson Archives.” The course will conclude with reflections on the joys, difficulties, and potential sacredness of bodily “misfits” through “wasted” time within a capitalist framework. Readings will be provided as PDFs. 

  February 24: Introduction to Trans Studies: Categories and Identity, led by Professor Beck Henriksen
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  March 3: Trans Care and the Gift of Gender: Trans Experience, Mutual Aid, and the Medical Industrial Complex, led by Professors Beck Henriksen and Laura Leisinger
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  March 17: Question and Answer Session with (Penn State), facilitated by Professors Beck Henriksen and Laura Leisinger
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

  March 24: Trans/Criptions: Gender, Disability, and Liturgical Disruption of Capitalist Efficiency, led by Beck Henriksen
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP

• Angelina Grimké on Equality, Abolition, and Female Prophets
  Professor Erin Dolgoy (Political Science and Philosophy)
  Wednesdays, March 19, 26; 5:30-7:00 p.m. 
  $70 for full series

  In 1835, Angelina Grimké, born in Charleston to a prominent slave-owning family, gained notoriety when William Lloyd Garrison published a private letter she had sent him in The Liberator. Three years later Grimké would be the first woman to speak in front of a legislative body in the United States. In these sessions, we will read and discuss Grimké's "Letter to Garrison" (1835), An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South (1836), and the "Address to the Massachusetts Legislature" (1838). Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .3 CEU, 3 PDP

• Philosophical Perspectives in Parenting 
  Professor Connor Kianpour (Philosophy)
  Wednesdays, April 9, 16; 5:30-7:00 p.m. 
  In-person (Dorothy C. King Hall) or virtual (Zoom) 
  $70 for full series

  In this series, we will read and discuss contemporary works of philosophy that address questions about what children are owed, and what obligations parents have to children. Some think that people, in general, have a right to raise children and that children are owed the makings of good enough lives. Others think that only those who are best able to raise children have a right to raise them. We will discuss the merits and drawbacks of both of these perspectives. Doing so is important because we were all once children, and on that basis have an interest in understanding what we owe them. And some of us are parents, and on that basis have an interest in understanding what our role is in giving our children what they are owed. Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 30 students. | .3 CEU, 3 PDP

• A Parent-Tween/Teen Book Club: Reading Catherine Newman's One Mixed-Up Night Together
  Professor Rashna Richards (English, Media Studies), with Madeleine Richards
  Saturday, March 29; 2:00-3:30 p.m.
  In-person (Dorothy C. King Hall) or virtual (Zoom)
  $35 adults; $15 children
  
  Do you enjoy lengthy discussions with your reader-ly tween or teen about books? Would you like to join such a conversation with a group of parents and their middle schoolers? In this class, we will discuss Catherine Newman's One Mixed-Up Night, a delightful and poignant story about two tweens, best friends since preschool, who spend an incredible night at IKEA. The book is hilarious and tender—and definitely not just for kids! There's couch jumping and pillow forts at IKEA (who wouldn't want to do that?!), as well as processing grief and growing up. Please join my daughter Madeleine and me on what we hope will be the first session of a book club you can share with your growing kids. 

• Videogames For Parents 101 
  Professor Ricardo Martins (Modern Languages and Literatures)
  Mondays, March 31, April 7; 5:30-7:00 p.m.
  In-person (Dorothy C. King Hall) or virtual (Zoom)
  $70 for full series

  Today’s kids are growing up immersed in technology, with video games playing a central role in their lives. But how can families navigate this digital world and ensure a healthy balance between screen time and other activities? This workshop, led by Professor Martins, will address the following topics:

• The appeal of video games: Why are they so engaging for children?
• Learning through play: How might video games foster creativity, problem-solving, and social skills?
• The potential downsides: How can families address concerns about addiction, online safety, and the impact on physical activity?
• Finding the balance: What are some strategies to balance screen time and play time? How can caregivers be informed without being constantly supervising their children?
   
• March 31: Fundamentals of videogames and technology 
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP
• April 7: Online engagement and social media within the videogame community
  Class size: minimum of 6 students and maximum of 20 students. | .15 CEU, 1.5 PDP 

Where are in-person classes held? Unless otherwise noted, in-person Meeman classes will be held in which is located along University Street on the West Campus of ����Swag College. Simply buzz the doorbell when you arrive, and you will soon be greeted at the door. Light snacks, water, and coffee will be available.

How do I join classes that are offered remotely? Zoom links will be sent to all registrants for remote classes and to those registering for the remote option in hybrid classes. Please note that if you are sharing a screen with other members of your household, only one registration is necessary. If you are new to Zoom, you can find a beginners’ guide .  

How big are Meeman Center classes? In keeping with the liberal arts mission of ����Swag College, our lifelong learning courses are kept small enough to allow everyone to actively participate, including remote participants. The minimum class size is 6, and classes are normally capped between 15 and 25, depending on subject matter and class needs. 

The class I want to take is offered both in-person and remotely. Which is better? The choice is completely up to you. The AV system in our classroom is excellent, and remote learners will be able to see, hear, and fully participate in all aspects of the course. Additionally, a Lifelong Learning fellow will typically be on Zoom calls to help ensure a seamless experience for remote learners. 

Where should I park for my Meeman class? Meeman students are free to make use of any lots on the ����Swag campus at no charge. Parking is available in the lot directly behind King Hall and in the adjacent lot near McNeill Concert Hall. A campus parking map can be found here.

Does Dorothy C. King Hall have accessible facilities? Yes, the back of King Hall has an accessible entrance. Simply buzz the doorbell or knock when you arrive. King Hall also has a wheelchair accessible restroom. Please feel free to contact us with any additional needs you might have.  

Do Meeman courses have textbooks? Some faculty select textbooks that students should purchase ahead of time, others share readings with students as PDFs, and many expect no advance reading at all. Participants will be sent an email well ahead of time with details for their course.

Do Meeman Center classes have exams or other requirements?  Unless otherwise noted, our courses have no entrance requirements, no grades, and no tests. Meeman classes are non-credit bearing and offer opportunities for adult learners to explore new ideas in an informal and open environment.

An emergency came up, and I can no longer attend my Meeman class. Can I receive a refund? We understand that life is sometimes uncertain. Full refunds will be given for registrations cancelled at least two weeks before the first day of your class. Those needing to cancel less than two weeks before a course start date may choose to receive either a credit of the original amount toward future classes or a 50% refund.

What if a class is cancelled due to inclement weather? If any class must be cancelled due to inclement weather or for any other reason, students will be notified via email and plans will be made to reschedule. In the event that rescheduling is not possible, refunds will be issued for any cancelled classes.

I would like to earn Continuing Education Units or Professional Development Points through my Meeman course. How can I do this? All Meeman Center classes are eligible for CEU and PDP credits, normally .1 CEU and 1 PDP per hour of instruction. If you would like a certificate to verify your course completion, simply write to meemancenter@rhodes.edu or to the director, Lori Garner, at garnerl@rhodes.edu. 

My Meeman class ends after dark. Is anyone available to escort me to my car? Yes, ����Swag Campus Safety is happy to escort Meeman students. Just call the Campus Safety non-emergency number: 901-843-3880.

What kind of discussion can I expect in my Meeman class? Meeman Center students can expect the same commitment to an open learning environment found across the ����Swag College campus. Freedom of thought, a respectful exchange of ideas, and an appreciation of diverse perspectives are fundamental characteristics of the ����Swag learning community.

How can I stay connected with the Meeman community on social media? 
Follow us on facebook at facebook.com/meemancenter or Instagram at Instagram.com/meemancenter

I have a question not answered here or an idea I would like to share. Who should I contact? You can reach us by phone at 901-843-3965 and by email at meemancenter@rhodes.edu.  Feel free also to email the director, Dr. Lori Garner, at GarnerL@����Swag.edu. We would love to hear from you!