Fall 2024 Overview
Lecture Series
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This course is 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 course 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, the course will examine a more nuanced and multidimensional approach to tackle the issues of women in Islam. The course 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.
Dates: Mondays, September 9 – October 21, 2024
Time: 9:30am-11:30am
Price: $150 + HST
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This lecture delves into the core principles of Pharmacokinetics (PK) and Pharmacodynamics (PD), examining how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted, and how they interact with their targets to produce effects. We’ll simplify complex concepts, making them accessible through real-world examples and case studies. Key topics include drug-receptor interactions, dose-response relationships, and signal transduction. We will also discuss the regulatory framework governing drug development, clinical trials, and post-marketing surveillance. This session is designed to enhance understanding and ultimately contributing to safer and more effective pharmaceutical practices.
Dates: Tuesdays, September 10 – October 15, 2024
Time: 9:30am-11:30am
Price: $150 + HST
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This course will help to fine tune your ears and develop strong listening abilities. Learn about musical forms like the 12-bar blues and 32-bar chorus form, and how to identify individual instruments through sound. A wide variety of popular music genres will be covered including rock, pop, blues, country, R&B, reggae and more. The ultimate goal of this course is to increase your enjoyment of music through a greater understanding of what you are hearing. Our analyses will not be overly technical, and you don’t need to have a musical background; all you need is a love of music.
Dates: Wednesdays, September 11 – October 16, 2024
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm
Price: $150 + HST
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In this World Affairs lecture series, we will discuss current events making the news, affecting our lives and our world. “Power in America” will be a prominent theme throughout this session, providing in-depth analysis and insights this election season.
Hot topics of the week will be explored in-depth, providing context and background for stories in the headlines. We will also be exploring some topics that did not make the headlines, but should have. The content will be determined weekly by emerging issues of importance to Canadians. Come for lively discussions of the news that matters, led by a veteran Carleton University political scientist and media commentator.
Perspective and analysis will be provided by the lecturer, followed by a discussion with participants. Come see why this series is an engaging and enlightening favourite for so many.
There is no outline for this series given the nature of its topic. Each lecture will cover up-to-the-hour information on current news and world events.
Dates: Wednesdays, September 11 – October 16, 2024
Time: 1:30pm-3:30pm
Price: $150 + HST
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This series is an Introduction to Logic through the Sherlock Holmes stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Logic is the discipline of philosophy concerned with precise reasoning. Participants will explore logic by examining the methods of Conan Doyle’s beloved fictional detective. Have your magnifying glass ready! In this series, we explore Epistemology, the branch of philosophy that asks how we know what we know. We discuss what it means to know versus what it means to believe. And we examine how women, historically, have been dismissed as less capable of logical thinking than men.
Dates: Thursdays, September 12 – October 17, 2024
Time: 1:30pm-3:30pm
Price: $150 + HST
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It is not just about challenges with paying attention and being over-energetic. Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is difficult to recognize and characterized by many obstacles in addition to attention problems. The name of the disorder changes every few years as do the criteria for its diagnosis. In this series, we will briefly trace the history of the concept of ADHD and theories about what causes it. The majority of the series will be devoted to the assessment and treatment of ADHD in children, adolescents and adults, focusing on recent research. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss their own perspectives about the disorder and its treatment.
Dates: Thursdays, September 12 – October 17, 2024
Time: 1:30pm-3:30pm
Price: $150 + HST
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Music is a crucial component of virtually all Hollywood films. The sensation of suspense or joy or sadness that a film audience might feel is not only reflected in the music, but often dictated by the music. This course will cover the use of music in film from the silent era to the present. Film techniques and their relation to the score or soundtrack will also be discussed, as will some of the most prominent Hollywood composers. Each class will feature plenty of examples from films.
Dates: Wednesdays, October 30 – December 4, 2024
Time: 1:30pm-3:30pm
Price: $150 + HST
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The music that supports the story in a film has tremendous power to enhance and even determine the emotion and impact of a scene. How is film music created and why does it work the way it does? How has film music evolved over time? Join Ottawa composer and film music lover Jack Hui Litster on a deep dive into the award-winning music that has brought to life five of the most iconic epic films in Hollywood history.
Dates: Tuesdays, September 10 – October 15, 2024
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm
Price: $150 + HST
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This course explores the explosion of creativity in American and British popular music, starting with the birth of rock and roll through to the British Invasion. Styles to be discussed include rockabilly,
Brill Building pop, surf rock, folk, and more. The social and historical context of this music – including a growing youth culture and changing race relations – will also be examined. From Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan, to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, the music of the 1950s and early 1960s exerted a cultural influence that lives on to the present.
Dates: Tuesdays, September 10 – October 15, 2024
Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm
Price: $150 + HST
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This six-session interactive series reaches beyond these sorts of headline-grabbing statements by unpacking the human consequences of climate change and delving into potential challenges and opportunities to address the current climate crisis over the short to longer-term. It will provide you with a better understanding of the science behind human-induced or anthropogenic climate change and we will collectively explore the prospects for addressing this far-reaching and difficult to resolve ‘wicked’ issue that is intertwined with our daily lives. Canadian and international examples will be used to illustrate both challenges and opportunities stemming from human interactions with climate processes at local through global levels.
Dates: Wednesdays, September 11 – October 16, 2024
Time: 9:30am-11:30am
Price: $150 + HST
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The South of France, colloquially known as Le Midi, is one of the best-loved regions of Europe. These lectures will explore some of the more salient historical influences that have shaped the region. The lectures are topical, not chronological; aside from the usual kings, nobility and wars, equal weight will be given to broad economic and social themes.
Dates: Thursdays, September 12 – October 17, 2024
Time: 9:30am-11:30am
Price: $150 + HST
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A study of a broad selection of short stories, novellas, and a few classic novels of horror fiction with each week devoted to a subgenre or prevalent topic within the genre. Using historical contexts and journal articles to identify, discuss, and analyze these respective works. While art is rarely apolitical, horror fiction presents alternative perspectives as inherently horrific, whether of a historical event or a status quo. Unlike science fiction or fantasy that is based on available information, whether existing science or folklore, horror finds substance in the unknown. Through analyzing these texts, we will study how authors shift perspective to create horror.
Dates: Thursdays, September 12 – October 17, 2024
Time: 1:30pm-3:30pm
Price: $150 + HST
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This course is an opportunity to explore complex themes around Islam that we often hear or read about in the media but rarely understand in depth. The perspectives will be focused on concrete geopolitical examples from the Muslim world and other countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, France, Canada and the United States of America.
Dates: Mondays, October 28 – December 2, 2024
Time: 9:30am-11:30am
Price: $150 + HST
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The music that supports the story in a film has tremendous power to enhance and even determine the emotion and impact of a scene. How is film music created and why does it work the way it does? How has film music evolved over time? Join Ottawa composer and film music lover Jack Hui Litster on a deep dive into the award-winning music that has brought to life 10 outstanding drama films over the past 35 years, from around the world.
Dates: Tuesdays, October 29 – December 3, 2024
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm
Price: $150 + HST
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By the mid-to-late 1960s, rock music had solidified its place as a respected artform. No longer dismissed as disposable teen pop, it was widely recognized for its musical and cultural significance. This course focuses on rock music from 1967-1980, including subgenres such as psychedelic rock, blues rock, progressive rock, and early punk. The social and historical context of this music, its major figures, and descriptions of musical characteristics and sounds will be explored. Discover the various sounds and cultural influences of this exciting era of rock music!
Dates: Tuesdays, October 29 – December 3, 2024
Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm
Price: $150 + HST
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This course is intended as an introduction to a better understanding of cancer in general. No previous knowledge of biology is necessary as the introductory phase will very briefly review the structure of cells and formation of tissues as well as cell division and the importance of the cell replication cycle in understanding how cancers arise. Following this the concept of “neoplasia” or new growth will be introduced with a discussion of how a mutation in DNA can create a growth advantage for a cell, setting the stage for tumour development. The types of mutations and the genes involved will be discussed, with reference to common tumours to provide clinical context. How a pathologic diagnosis is made and the grading and staging of cancer will be discussed as a basis for choosing among the different types of treatment currently available. Finally, we will touch broadly on colon, breast, prostate and skin cancers to show how these are thought to arise and how some biologic features of these cancers can provide opportunities for specific therapies.
Dates: Wednesdays, October 30 – December 4, 2024
Time: 9:30am-11:30am
Price: $150 + HST
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At this moment any number of global situations are being exacerbated by discrimination amongst different groups of humans. Why do some people do this? In a safe environment we will examine the origins of discrimination and try to understand the underlying psychology of this very human behaviour. We will look at the sociobiology, the cognitive, social, and cross-cultural forces that are adding fuel to this fire. We will end on an optimistic note by attempting to identify some of the things that can be done to mitigate human discriminatory behaviour.
Dates: Thursday, October 31 – December 5, 2024
Time: 9:30am-11:30am
Price: $150 + HST
Workshop & Gallery Series
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Unleash your creativity and learn methods to revive your beloved torn or discoloured clothing and textiles to give them new life. Fibre Artist Anne Warburton will guide you through a variety of techniques to repair your items, giving them a fresh new look, using fabric, stitch, paint and more. As with the Japanese art of “Kintsugi”, we will highlight the mend instead of trying to hide it, while keeping these old and damaged items out of landfill. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to refresh your items into something beautiful and unique. We will also discuss the importance of such creative activities on our well being and mental health, helping us live in the present moment.
Dates: Thursdays, October 31 – December 5, 2024
Time: 1:30pm-3:30pm
Price: $200 + HST
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This workshop has been designed to put into practice the knowledge acquired in the basic levels of Spanish. Through different activities, for example: group activities, short readings, short films, etc. You will have the opportunity to practice your Spanish according to the topic of each class. It is also a good opportunity to increase your vocabulary, improve your pronunciation and keep your language active. Please note: Participants will require basic knowledge and understanding of the Spanish Language.
Dates: Tuesdays, September 10 – October 15, 2024
Time: 9:30am-11:30am
Price: $250 + HST
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As a continuation of the first part of Spanish Conversation Workshop Part I, you will continue to practice your Spanish. Cultural topics will be included to enrich your Spanish. Through different activities, for example: group activities, short readings, short films, etc., you will have the opportunity to practice your Spanish according to the topic of each class. It is also a good opportunity to increase your vocabulary, improve your pronunciation and keep your language active. Please note: Participants will require basic knowledge and understanding of the Spanish Language.
Dates: Tuesdays, October 29 – December 3, 2024
Time: 9:30am-11:30am
Price: $250 + HST
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This workshop will provide participants with the skills to feel comfortable while communicating during a trip to Italy or in an Italian environment. Teaching each you how to introduce yourself, make hotel reservations, make a phone call, write an email, order in a restaurant, and shop for food.
One field trip will familiarize participants with Italian food products in an Italian shop. Audiovisual materials about Italian culture, music, and daily life will also be a part of the workshop. Vi aspettiamo!
Dates: Tuesdays & Thursdays, November 5-28, 2024
Time: 10:00am-12:00am
Price: $300 + HST
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This lecture uses Italian songs to enhance language learning and practice while deepening cultural understanding. The course has three key goals:
- Language Acquisition – Songs are used to improve vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
- Cultural Understanding – The historical, social, and cultural contexts of Italian songs are explored.
- Engagement and Creativity – Students actively participate through song analysis, discussions, and creative projects, including opportunities to express themselves through music.
The curriculum features a diverse selection of Italian songs from various eras and genres, with lessons structured around listening exercises, lyrics analysis, and cultural discussions. Interactive activities enhance the learning experience. Benefits include increased engagement, cultural appreciation, and confidence in using the Italian language.
Dates
Song
Overview
September 23
“Buongiorno” di L. Pavarotti
Greetings. Role play in a bar. Italian Breakfast. Likes and dislikes. Luciano Pavarotti and Italian Opera.
September 30
“Grazie Roma” di A.Venditti
Roma: main tourist attractions. Role play: asking for directions
October 7
“Alghero” di G.Russo
Sardinia: a mediterranean island. Planning holidays
October 28
“Volare” di D.Modugno
Talking about memories. Describing a dream. Describing past events
November 4
“Felicità” di Albano e Romina
Daily routine. Talking about feelings. Italian food.
November 11
“L’italiano” di T. Cutugno
Italian Stereotypes. Italian recipes.
November 18
“Con te partirò” di A.Bocelli
Talking about journeys. Role play: at the airport.
November 25
“Azzurro” di A.Celentano
Talking about holidays. Describing a city.
December 2
“Un’estate italiana” di G.Nannini
The four seasons. Talking about the weather. Numbers and Nationalities.
December 9
“Firenze Santa Maria Novella” di Pupo
Florence: the most important tourist attractions. Role play: at the restaurant.Dates: Mondays, September 23 – December 9, 2024
Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Price: $35+HST, per class
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We all have a story to tell. Often we think of a life story or memoir as a chronology of events. However, knowing where to begin can become so overwhelming that we put off writing the story at all. This is an invitation to re-collect, record and share the stories from your life through the lens of work. What were the chores you did as a child? Were you expected to work as a teen? How did work play a role in your young adult life? What kind of work did your mother do? Your father? How is your adult life defined by work? Who were the most inspiring people in your working life? Least inspiring? What were the challenges? How might writing about what we did as we define as “work” give us a glimpse into who we were and who we have become? Please bring your own writing instruments to a safe environment where you will experiment with writing strategies using prompts, share your writing with others, and begin your collection of life-stories.
There are writers who write for fame. And there are writers who write because we need to make sense of the world we live in; writing is a way to clarify, to interpret, to reinvent. We may want our work to be recognized, but that is not the reason we write. We do not write because we must; we always have a choice. We write because language is the way we keep a hold on life. With words we experience our deepest understandings of what it means to be intimate. We communicate to connect, to know community. Even though writing is a solitary act, when I sit with words that I trust will be read by someone, I know that I can never be truly alone.”—bell hooks
Dates: Wednesdays, October 30 – December 4, 2024
Time: 9:30am-12:00pm
Price: $200 + HST
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We all have a story to tell. However, knowing where to begin can become so overwhelming that we put off writing the story at all. This is an invitation to re-collect, record and share the stories from your life through the memories of your mother. How do we capture our mother in a single story and is that even possible? What are the stories we want to remember, share and honor? We will work at isolating the small, rare and authentic stories that most effectively show who she was/is. What made/makes her laugh? What were/are her secret pleasures and how do you know? What was/is outside her bedroom window? Did/Does she sing, read, dance, play cards, govern, teach, draw, design, write, administer, research – what did/does she keep in her top drawer and what was/is her favourite sweater? How might writing about our mothers give us a glimpse into who we are, who we were and who we have become? Please prepare for this course by collecting photographs and “artifacts” (jewellery, scarves, books, spoons, cameras…) that you associate with your mother. Bring your own writing instruments and photographs to a safe environment where you will experiment with writing strategies using prompts, share your writing with others, and begin your collection of life-stories.
Dates: Wednesdays, October 30 – December 4, 2024
Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm
Price: $200 + HST
Gallery Series
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This small-group series led by Maria Martin will help you to develop your knowledge, appreciation and comfort level when viewing and discussing art. Each week you will gather together at the National Gallery of Canada, with a variety of themes, including Portraiture, Sculpture, Myths and Symbols, Art by and about Women; plus Abstract and Contemporary Art. We will take a light-hearted approach, looking at works of art in their historical context, including discussions on artistic techniques, meaning, conservation, and valuation. Lectures and discussions will take place in front of selected work’s in the Gallery’s collection.
Dates: Thursdays, October 31 – December 5, 2024
Time: 10:30am-12:30pm
Price: $195 + HST
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Some of the most dramatic revolutions in the history of art occurred at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Late 19th century French Impressionism presented new artistic concepts on matters of painting, colour, sensibility and subject matter. Under heavy ridicule these pioneering artists led the way for daring art movements to unfold in the decades that followed. Over three meetings, using the National Gallery’s collection, supplemented by prints from other museum collections, we will uncover the core concepts of some of the art movements that contributed to 20th Century Abstraction by the Post Impressionists, Picasso, Kandinsky, Malevich, Mondrian, Duchamp. The Canadian response will be demonstrated in the ground breaking works of Canadian artists in the Twentieth Century.
Dates: Wednesdays, October 30 – November 13 & November 20 – December 4, 2024
Time: 10:30am-12:30pm
Price: $100 + HST