Classes, Courses, and Lectures

CLASSES BY SUBJECT MATTER

ART

Modern Art: How We Got from Cezanne to Warhol

This course will be an overview of modern art movements, landmark figures, outsize personalities and achievements from the 19th century to the 1960s. Using plenty of illustrations, as well as citations from the work of critics and art historians such as Meyer Shapiro and Dore Ashton, we will discuss out reactions to a number of art works in both an historical and personal context.

Instructor: Peter Bazeley has a BFA from the Cooper Union and MPS in Creative Art Therapy and Creativity Development from Pratt.

CRAFTS

Knitting for All Levels

Beginners will learn the basics, starting with a simple project. Intermediate/advanced knitters will select a project and learn new techniques, stitches, pattern reading and share their ideas with the others. All will receive individual assistance.

Instructor: Linda Broudy was a high school math teacher for over 30 years. After retiring she began teaching other teachers how to knit.

CURRENT EVENTS

Let's Talk About the Election and Current Events

The Chinese curse said: "May you live in interesting times." We do, and this will be a chance to share our views on the election and current events.

Instructor: Gene Reiser has a lifelong passion for history and politics. He is a former labor relations manager for CUNY.

DRAMA

Actor's Workshop

This is your opportunity to tap into your creative side and explore your hidden talents...but most of all to HAVE FUN! Come join us. Please be aware that this class runs from September through May, leading up to a final performance.

Co-Facilitators: Barbara Becker and Lisa Klein

Barbara Becker has been assisting Actor's Workshop for the past 6 years as well as having been an active participant for over 10 years. Her acting experience began in early childhood having performed with the New York City Opera.

Lisa Klein studied at the New York Academy of Theatrical Arts. She began as a Theatre major then switched to Speech Communication Arts and Sciences. Her career as a Speech-Language Pathologist has brought her full circle to her initial passion...acting at BC, her alma mater.

TV's Greatest Detectives

Some live by their wits, some by their fists, but these TV detectives have one thing in common--they're unforgettable.

Instructor: Leo Gerber is a movie buff, lectures on American History, Film Facts and Fiction, Popular Songs and Singers, and the History of Vampires. He enjoys researching and presenting background material for his classes.

FILM

China

We will view documentary videos and have discussions relating to China.

Instructor: Winifred Chin is an adjunct assistant professor of East Asian cultures at NYU and author of "Paper Son" and "Interchange."

Films of Laurel and Hardy

Analysis of Laurel & Hardy films from the 1940s and beyond, including a discussion of "Babes in Toyland"

Instructor: John Beatty has been and still is, teaching in the Brooklyn College Film Department. He has been teaching there for 15 years.

Hollywood's America: U.S. History Through its Films

We will view feature films reflecting American political, economic and social life. A discussion will also follow each screening.

Instructor: Sol Makon (see below).

A Selection of my Favorite Films

We will view some of my favorite films which you will find unusual, intriguing and thought provoking. They will help broaden your film experience and knowledge.

Instructor: Sol Makon is a film and music aficionado. His expertise was further developed by taking college courses in these fields. He also has a large media collection at his disposal.

"Newfoundland" (slideshow)

Photojournalistic images of St. John's (capital city dating to 1497), Terra Nova and Gros Morne National Parks, and the earliest Viking settlement, L'Anse Aux Meadows.

"Biking Along the Camino De Santiago Route" (slide show)

7 day bicycle trip along the pilgrimage route dating back to medieval times from Porto (Portugal) to Santiago de Compostela (Spain).

Presented by Professor Kenneth Axen, an Adjunct Full Professor at Brooklyn College. His training in photojournalism and documentary filmmaking enables him to create slide shows and short films of his world travels.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Spanish for Beginners

This course is based on a functional focus with special emphasis on oral communication. Students will learn about culture and useful Spanish expressions, basic grammatical concepts, and vocabulary needed to interact in a variety of everyday situations and survive in a Spanish speaking environment.

Instructor: Nilita Leon is a certified Spanish teacher with exceptional knowledge of Spanish-speaking countries.

Spanish, Intermediate and Beyond

This course consists of grammar, conversation, reading and interpretative expression. Prior study of the language is beneficial.

Instructor: Edward Drayton's passion for Spanish began when he won the medal for Spanish at his junior high school. He graduated from Brooklyn College, and went on to become a New York public school teacher.

Yiddish Conversation for Beginners

Rekindle your language-learning capabilities! Move beyond the ability to toss "nebbish" and "meshuge" into a conversation, and learn to converse comfortably (and with seykhl) in the rich language of Sholem Aleichem, Peretz, Singer and so many other gifted writers. Enrich your life with the language of Yiddish literature, song and history.

Instructor: Judee Rosenbaum was a NYC high school English teacher for 39 years. She has been teaching Yiddish in various secular Jewish schools for over 40 years.

GAMES

Social Bridge

For those with knowledge of bridge, come and enjoy supervised play in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Instructor: Ira Barnett has been supervising since 2008.

HEALTH

Aging Mastery Program

The goal is to live longer healthy lives through healthy eating and hydration, financial fitness and advanced planning, sleep, relationships, helping others and medication management.

Instructor: Vincent Blazewicz is a parent, grandparent, cancer survivor, investigator and hospice volunteer who enjoys humor and music.

Holistic Approaches to Healing

Designed to enlighten and empower the student to take charge of his/her health related decision making. Non-toxic modalities will be explored that can improve the quality of life. Hand out materials will be provided.

Instructors Dr. Jerome Charyn and Sally Moses

Dr. Charyn has been a faculty member for 14 years. He is a former administrator/consultant/educator with 45 years of healthcare experience. He holds BBA, MBA, MS and PhD degrees and several Board certifications. Sally Moses has been using nutritional supplements as remedies. She has been assisting Dr. Charyn for 5 years.

Long Term Care

Long Term Care insurance is designed to cover long term services and supports, including personal and custodial care in a variety of settings. Policy options and terms will be discussed.

Instructor: Michael Shafir, CFP, CLTC, CLU, ChFC, CASL, is a financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual.

Mindfulness- A Place to Be

Take a moment to slow down, breathe, and simply be. You will notice a rich world of thoughts, feelings and sensory experiences that will keep your mind, brain, and body supple and your heart soft. Learn to listen to yourself by meditating, moving, using words and by being mindful. Bring your sense of curiosity and come play on a path of self-discovery.

Instructor: Peggy Horwitz, LCSW, is a psychoanalyst working with individuals, couples and families. She teaches mindfulness practices to individuals in business, health and service-oriented organizations. She currently practices in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

"PTSD"

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a mental condition triggered by a terrifying event. Presented by Robert Greene, a retired social worker for the U.S. Dept. of Veteran's affairs. He worked with Vietnam Combat Veterans and returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan at the VA NY Hospital Healthcare System. Robert is a Vietnam Combat Veteran and was the Director of the Mayor's Office of Veteran's Affairs under David Dinkins.

HISTORY

America in Transition

We will consider political order and political decay from the period of the Industrial Revolution to the globalization of democracy.

Instructor: Walter Higgins was a news writer at CBS News and the owner of an advertising agency. He has taught courses on the Constitution and U.S. government at Brooklyn College and NYU.

"Astoria" - Walking Tour

Explore the Ditmars section of Astoria, Queens and experience this community's cultural diversity and interesting history.

Tour guide: Susan Castro is an avid traveler who loves learning and discovering. She is a native New Yorker who enjoys exploring our ever changing city. Susan has received a NYC Sightseeing Guide certificate, with star recognition.

Brooklyn History

We will discuss New York City's first municipal airport--Brooklyn's Floyd Bennett Field; the resorts of Old Brooklyn--Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Sheepshead Bay and Coney Island; hurricanes in the past as compared to Sandy; the Brooklyn Bridge; Brooklyn in the Civil War.

Instructor: Ron Schweiger is a retired school teacher who was appointed "The Official Borough Historian" by former Borough President Marty Markowitz. He has lectured for 30 years on aspects of Brooklyn history.

Fashion & Textiles in the 19th Century

This course will describe the changes in fashionable clothing, especially for women in 19th century America. The trends in needlework and other textile crafts will also be discussed. The impact of technologies such as the sewing machine, will be an overreaching theme.

Instructor: Fan Yi Mok is a graduate student in the Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice program at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

The Hebrew Scriptures in Judaism and Christianity

We will watch video lectures of this Harvard University course and discuss them afterwards. Sessions will focus on the "big 3"--circumcision, the food laws, and the Sabbath. They will be examined from both Jewish and Christian perspectives.

Facilitator: Rona Goldwitz

Lecturer: Shaye Cohen is the Littauer Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy at Harvard University. He is the author of many essays and books including "Why Aren't Jewish Women Circumcised? Gender and Covenant in Judaism."

Significant Presidential Elections in U.S. History

We will continue examining the history of important presidential elections including their political and economic backgrounds, the candidates, the campaigns and election results and consequences. We will complete our examination of the 1960 battle between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon and proceed to the 1964 election of Lyndon Johnson and the resultant Great Society Programs.

Instructor: Stephen Appell is an attorney who specialized in labor law. A graduate of Cornell and Rutgers Law School, he is an avid student and teacher of historical subjects.

The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

2016 marks the 80th Anniversary of the start of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). Essentially it was a brutal struggle of opposing ideologies; Republicanism, Communism, Anarchism, and Fascism. It was also a "dress rehearsal" for the weapons of the approaching world war for powerful surrogates on both sides.

Instructor: Earl Cantos is a retired secondary Social Studies teacher who has avidly studied the history of the First World War. He currently is employed as a field supervisor and a mentor for upcoming social studies teachers.

HUMANITIES

Miss Kity's Magickal Kitchen

This class will cover psychic protection. How to manifest positive energy and things you would like to happen. How to work with nature and fire energy and the power of positive thinking.

Instructor: Kathleen Serao is a professional psychic and Tarot consultant for over 30 years with a web site at misskitysmagickalkitchen.com.

Retirement & Aging -- New Phenomena

Why do we retire? Does retirement affect identity? Does gender play a role in how we feel? In addition to these questions, we will look at images of aging in society and how this may impact self-image and opportunities for activities.

Instructor: Dr. Susan Prager taught sociology at Brooklyn College. Her interests include retirement and family.

LITERATURE

*BLL Book Club

We will discuss "A Little Life" by Hanya Yanagihara, "Did You Ever Have a Family?" by Bill Clegg, "Lit Up" by David Denby and "The Story of a New Name" by Elena Ferrante.

*Pre-registration is required, limited enrollment.

The Gothic, Part I (1764-1914)

The Gothic expresses covertly, and safely, the unmentionable, the unthinkable, the forbidden, and enables us to confront terrors about human nature in general, our own psyches and the psyches of others; anxieties about threats to our society; horror at the chaos just under the surface of life.

Instructor: Lilia Melani is an English Professor at Brooklyn College.

Joyce Carol Oates: Fearless Writer

Joyce Carol Oates is an American literary treasure. We will tap into a few of her great works beginning with her acclaimed short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? (1967), and view Smooth Talk, the 1985 film adapted from it. We will then read two of her greatest novels, You Must Remember This (1987), and We Were the Mulvaneys (1996). We will also read a non-fiction work, A Widow's Story: A Memoir (2011). *Please read the short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? for our first class.

Instructor: Joan Ostacher taught English in public schools for almost 30 years. She continued to share her love of reading and writing at BMCC (CUNY) for several years. Joan is a graduate of Brooklyn College.

The Short Story: Here & There

The art form of the short story offers a unique opportunity to explore how fiction can reflect and/or imitate life. Participants help choose stories that stimulate discussion and thought. Instructed by rotating facilitators.

MATHEMATICS & SCIENCE

"Philosophical Aspects in Science & Mathematics"

Presented by Fred Friedland, who teaches Mathematics at Baruch College. He has given lectures at the IRPE/BLL since 1990.

Reading the New York Science Times

Great things are happening in the world of science today. Read and bring the Tuesday NY Times Science Section to class for our informative discussions about the latest breakthroughs.

Instructor: Dr. Leslie Jacobson has been a long-time Professor in the department of Health and Nutrition Sciences. She is a "founding mother" of IRPE/BLL and a major supporter of our organization since its beginning.

MONEY MANAGEMENT

Keeping your Balance in Brooklyn's Real Estate Boom

This course will discuss how to keep your balance--financially and socially amid Brooklyn's dizzying neighborhood transformations as we explore the dynamics of neighborhood change.

Instructor: Jan Rosenberg is an urban sociologist and entrepreneur who founded Friends of Cortelyou and Brooklyn Hearth Realty.

Long Term Care (see "Health")

MUSIC

Folk Music Sing-A-Long

Sing along with Al, the songs of John Denver, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul & Mary, Pete Seeger, etc.

Instructor: Al Wise taught at Sheepshead Bay High School for 30 years. He does volunteer work for nursing homes, the Make-a-Wish Foundation and Hospice of NY.

Opera and People Who Made Music

We will discuss the life and times of Rudolph Valentino; Bartolomeo Cristofori, inventor of the piano; George Gershwin; Caruso & family; Lorenzo DaPonti; the evolution of recorded music; Pavarotti and his music.

Instructor: Commendatore Aldo Mancusi is the Founder and Curator of the Enrico Caruso Museum for over 25 years. He has been a faculty member at the IRPE/BLL since 2011.

PHYSICAL FITNESS

Yoga, Pilates and Body Movement Awareness

This course will consist of a series of postures and breathing exercises combined with relaxation techniques and exercises.

Instructor: Cynthia Arenson is a graduate of Brooklyn College and has a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology from Queens College. She has taught yoga for over 30 years.

POETRY & WRITING

Writing Class

This course will enable writers to get in touch with the stories we all have, and put them into writing for artistic, personal, or even cathartic satisfaction. One of the methods I employ is the Quick Write, which eliminates the struggle about what to write.

Instructor: Elizabeth De Mairo has been an educator for most of her adult life, has developed her own writing program and has been trained in many areas of language arts. She is a graduate of Hunter College.

SPECIAL LECTURES & EVENTS

"Astoria" - Walking Tour

'Biking Along the Camino De Santiago Route"

"Black Laughter: Rebellion with a Cause"

* "Museum Walks & Talks"

"Newfoundland"

"Philosophical Aspects in Science & Mathematics"

"PTSD"

* Limited enrollment/pre-registration required