Bi-weekly – Week 2 ; Thursday ; 2pm – 4pm

Term 1 – via Zoom; Term 2 – Tartu (tbc)

Jazz music is considered to be America’s greatest original art form and is well known for its creativity and innovation. Since its emergence at the beginning of the 20th century, its evolution has been closely woven into the tremendous changes and upheaval in American society.

Our Jazz Appreciation workshop features examples and discussions of various different eras and personalities and how the evolution of jazz has reflected and contributed to those changes.

Each participant is requested to select a musician, personality, or genre and prepare a presentation of approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Examples of recorded music should be provided to share with the group and time allowed for group discussion to follow.

This is an enthusiastic, highly interactive and fun class in which all are welcome from curious beginners to those who have enjoyed all aspects of jazz for many years. Wherever possible, we invite a guest musician to explain and illustrate the role of their own instrument in jazz.

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Bi-weekly – Week 2 ; Thursday ; 12pm – 2pm

Term 1 – via Zoom (2 hours); Term 2 – Tartu (tbc) 

Feature films are an excellent way to highlight current and historical socio-political issues in order to inform and arouse a broad public.  This workshop aims to stimulate thought and discussion through such films.  In the workshop, one participant will present background information on the film (director, actors, awards won, context from which the film arose, production values).  A second participant will present the issues raised in the film and their possible relevance to the contemporary world. Examples of films viewed in 2020-21 are Incendies (2010) and Bicycle Thieves (1949).

During the Fall Term this will be a two-hour Zoom workshop.  Participants will view the film at home using Kanopy, (available, free, through the Toronto Public Library.)  In the Winter Term, if conditions allow for in-person meetings, the co-facilitators, in consultation with participants, will decide between continuing the same format as the Fall Term, or moving to a 12-4 pm format in which the participants would view the films together, followed by discussions. 

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Bi-weekly – Week 2 ; Thursday ; 12pm – 2pm

Term 1 via Zoom; Term 2 Tartu (tbc)

Welcome to all Film Fans! In each session we jointly choose two contemporary films. Each member is then expected to view and rate them, based on a set of criteria developed by the group, as well as their personal enjoyment. This has been a lively workshop where members are never at a loss for discussion. Members will take turns introducing the films, but everyone should come prepared to discuss them.

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Bi-Weekly – Week 2 ; Thursday ; 10am – 12pm

Term 1 – via Zoom; Term 2 – Tartu (tbc)

Because of recent events around the world there has been a lot of media attention paid to Populism. This workshop will try to clarify what Populism is and where it fits into a discussion of political and social movements both past and present. For example, should the French Revolution be considered a result of a populist movement? The Russian Revolution? The decolonization movements in the Global South? The Tea Party movement in the US? The Arab Spring? Have the lack of economic opportunities and disparity of wealth been factors? Do ethnic and religious identities or race play a part? Where does a populist movement fit on our Left-Right political spectrum. Participants will research some aspect of this subject and prepare a short presentation (20-30 minutes) to share with the group, with a discussion to follow. The facilitators will help with choosing suitable topics for presentations if necessary. 

Bi-weekly ; Week 2 ; Wednesday ; 12pm – 2pm

Term 1 via Zoom; Term 2 Tartu (tbc)

Please join us for lively discussions of contemporary films. At each meeting we choose two films, released in the last 5 years and available on Netflix and Kanopy, to view on our own before the next class. Films may be from any genre — indies, art films, block-busters — or whatever moves the class when voting. The two presentations per class will focus on aspects such as themes, production values, and take-home values. We rate the films individually, and then compare our class rating to the Internet rating, just for fun. Prior to the first session, the facilitator will contact registered members with the two films for consideration and solicit volunteers for presentations.

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