Shakespeare in Films

(In-Person)

with Christopher Rhode

Time: 9:30am – 11:30am
Overview: The plays of William Shakespeare have been filmed more than any other author in the English language. From literal adaptations, to unconventional re-imaginings, contemporary updates, parodies and cross-cultural translations, each new iteration provides a fresh interpretation of the text while also being a unique reflection of the values and interests of the specific time and place in which it was made. This course will compare and contrast key scenes from a variety of film and television versions of some of Shakespeare’s most renowned and beloved works, and will give participants the opportunity to analyze and discuss the differences between them in an engaging and accessible format.

Lecture Biography: Christopher Rohde (b. 1983) is an award-winning filmmaker from Ottawa, Ontario. His video The Pink Ghosts (2006) was screened across Canada and was one of the first four films selected for the inaugural edition of EnRoute, Air Canada’s in-flight film festival. Odd One Out (2014) was screened internationally and won awards for Best Film by an Emerging Filmmaker at the Jasper Short Film and Media Arts Festival and Best Director (Experimental) at the 2015 Ottawa Independent Video Awards. He received his M.A. in Film Studies from Carleton University in 2007. He was a member of Available Light Screening Collective from 2006 to 2013 and curated several programmes for the group including Stellar Regions: Jazz & Avant-Garde Film and Raw Power: Rock & Avant-Garde Film. From 2010 to 2014, he was the Programmer at SAW Video Media Art Centre, a dynamic artist-run-centre in the nation’s capital, where he curated dozens of screenings, installations, exhibitions, performances and other projects with many of Canada’s top media artists.

Women in Islam

(Online)

with Monia Mazigh

Time: 9:30am – 11:30am
Overview: An introduction to a popular Lifelong Learning 6 week Lecture Series. Women in Islam provides an introduction to contemporary issues related to Women in Islam. It exposes the participants to a broad range of fiction, non-fiction books, articles, and videos treating of the question of women in Islam written by mainly Muslim authors. It will focus on historical, social, media and political representations of Muslim women. This lecture will avoid the trap of easy media representation or sensationalism centered on the orientalist discourse of passive Muslim women in need to be saved. Instead, we will examine a more nuanced and multidimensional approach to tackle the issues of women in Islam. We will look at Women and Islam not as a homogenous entity, but it would emphasize on the heterogeneity of “Women” and of “Islam”. Participants will be introduced to several fiction works and non-fictions work by some of the most known contemporary Muslim women writers. Issues such as women’s role in Islam, veiling, polygamy, Islamic traditions, as well as Islamic feminism will be discussed.


Lecture Biography: Monia Mazigh is an academic, author and human rights advocate. She was the former National Coordinator of the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group.Mazigh was born and raised in Tunisia and immigrated to Canada in 1991. She was catapulted onto the public stage in 2002 when her husband, Maher Arar, was deported to Syria where he was tortured and held without charge for over a year. She campaigned tirelessly for his release.Mazigh holds a PhD in finance from McGill University. In 2008, she published a memoir about her pursuit of justice, Hope and Despair, shortlisted for the Ottawa Book Award. In 2014, she published her first novel, Mirrors and Mirages. It was short listed for the Book Trillium Award and for the Ottawa Book Award. Her second novel, Hope Has Two Daughters, was published in January 2017 by Anansi House.

Descent to the Underworld: The Eleusinian Mysteries of Ancient Greece

(In-Person)

with Susan Sandul

Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Overview: From time immemorial, the fear of death has been an inescapable part of the human experience. In the polytheistic society of ancient Greece, mystery cults offered initiates a way to confront this fear and experience the renewal of life they observed in the cycles of nature. The ‘Eleusinian Mysteries’ was one of the most famous of these cults, attracting devotees from across the known world and lasting for over a millennium.  According to some, those who were initiated into the Mysteries ceased fearing death.  But because they were sworn to secrecy about their experience, we have scant evidence to illuminate these closely-guarded rites. That said, this lecture will examine what we do know about this influential, secret cult and its impact in the ancient world.  We will look at the foundational myth of the abduction of Persephone, and explore visions of the underworld that have inspired art and literature for centuries.

Lecture Biography: Susan Sandul holds a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies, and Bachelor of Arts degrees In English, Classics and Religious Studies. She worked in the federal public service for thirty years as a Labour Relations Advisor and Conflict Management Specialist, delivering conflict resolution workshops. Susan developed a six-week Lecture Series on the Greek gods which she presented in the Lifelong Learning Program at Carleton University in 2019, and previously in the Continuing Education Program at the University of Ottawa. Passionate about ancient cultures, she was a volunteer for over ten years at the Canadian Museum of History, and currently serves on the executive board of the Archaeological Institute of America, Ottawa Society. In her quest to understand human nature, Susan is convinced that the study of mythology not only enriches our lives today, but also helps us to understand ourselves.

Science of Seed Saving

(Online)

with Alberto Suarez

Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Overview: The first part of this lecture is apart of the Fall Showcase. Seed saving has multiple benefits, including food sovereignty, cost saving, and climate adaptation. In the first part of this workshop (online), we will explore why it is important to save seeds, the basics of seed biology and how different types of seeds are produced, as well as best practices for saving seeds of plants with different life cycles at our latitude. The second part (in-person) of the workshop will be a hands-on seed saving exercise, from harvest to storage, of some of the most common vegetables and flowers, including tips and troubleshooting advice, at Nature’s Apprentice Farm in Pakenham. Stay tuned for information about how to register for Part 2.

Lecture Biography: Alberto was born in Asturias (NW Spain), where he developed a deep fascination for Nature. This fascination led him to a B.Sc in Biology, a M.Sc in Conservation Biology and a PhD in Ecology. While doing research and teaching for a few years in the Yukon, he realized the huge impact that agriculture has on biodiversity, and decided to start a farm and show that it is possible to grow food while supporting the health of humans and non-humans alike. These days developing and running Nature’s Apprentice Farm takes most of Alberto’s energy and focus. Some winters, Alberto gets to teach courses at Carleton University, Algonquin College and Gaia College. Alberto enjoys whitewater canoeing, playing basketball and pickleball, rock climbing, and cross country skiing.