Schemel Evening Courses: Fall 2023

Course Fees for Non-Members are $100 per individual * Couple $150


Indiana Jones and the Twentieth Century

DATES: Tuesdays, September 12, 19, 26, & October 3, 17, 24                  
TIME:  6:00 to 7:15 p.m.
LOCATION: Weinberg Memorial Library, Room 305 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: 

One of the most popular characters of the last forty years, the creation of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr, as portrayed by Harrison Ford, is a globe-trotting archaeologist and university professor who, throughout the twentieth century, searched for valuable artifacts with mystical powers and battled, among others, the Thuggee Cult in India, Soviet special forces, and, of course, Nazis, in comic books, video games, television shows, and five films from 1981 to the present day. This course will examine how the character was created and his cultural impact, before moving on to examine not just the historical environments depicted in the films (in 1935, 1936, 1938, 1957, and 1969) but also the historical origins of the famous relics featured in them, from the Ark of the Covenant to the Antikythera. 

Sean Brennan, Ph.D. Professor, Department of History, The University of Scranton  


The Crisis of the Sciences: Positivism, Essentialism, and the Need for Critical Theory?

DATES: Wednesdays, October 4, 11, 18, 25 & November 1, 8                  
TIME:  6:00 to 7:15 p.m.
LOCATION: Weinberg Memorial Library, Room 305

COURSE DESCRIPTION: 

This course will investigate western science's alliance with the twin pillars of Positivism and Essentialism. Such an alliance renders both natural and social science structurally incapable of responding to real social and ecological problems (e.g., starvation, structural racism, or global warming). With the advent of new forms of AI (especially machine learning), this incapacity will only make matters worse. In the face of this crisis, science must dissociate itself from Positivism and Essentialism through a critical turn to Critical Theory. 

Andrew LaZella, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Philosophy, and Director, Asian Studies Program, The University of Scranton 


Writing in Place

DATES: Mondays, October 23, 30 & November 6, 13, 20, 27
TIME:  6:00 to 7:15 p.m.
LOCATION: Weinberg Memorial Library, Room 305

COURSE DESCRIPTION: 

This course is a creative writing class. From Illiers-Combray for Proust's Remembrance of Things Past to Tinker Creek for Anne Dilliard, location has been a font of inspiration and investigation for an untold number of writers. Throughout this session, we will use our places--from personal experience and memory--as well as a selection of writings to write about where we are, where we have been, and where we are going. As such, we will delve into different genres, authors, time periods, and (yes) locations, as we share writing to bring us closer to our common home and shared experiences. 

Hank Willenbrink, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of English & Theatre, The University of Scranton


For more information and to register, contact: 

Kym Fetsko
Schemel Forum Events Coordinator
570-941-4740
kym.fetsko@scranton.edu
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