CALL-8WEEK-01 - CALL 2026 Fall 8 Week Session - Block 1 (10:00am)

This class will examine the history of fascism in the first half of the 20th century, explore post-WWII theories about the nature and defining essence of fascism, and engage with troubling questions about the possible recurrence of fascism today.

Weekly topics (subject to change):

Week 1: Defining fascism
Week 2: Italy and Germany in the 1920s and 1930s
Week 3: Fascism and culture
Week 4: Other fascisms?
Week 5: Hannah Arendt and the idea of Totalitarianism
Week 6: Critical views from the Right and the Left
Week 7: Can fascism recur?
Week 8: Revisiting the problem of definitions

In this class, we will attempt to get to the bottom of the enduring popularity of crime stories, dating back to Edgar Allan Poe’s 1841 short story, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” A century later, the high-minded literary critic, Edmund Wilson, confessed to being perplexed by the fact that “most serious public figures of [his] time, from Woodrow Wilson to W. B. Yeats, have been addicts of this form of fiction.” Wilson’s blunt assessment of the genre as “rubbish” is an attitude that lingers to this day, even as detective novels continue to climb bestseller lists and colleges offer courses with titles like this one: “Mystery, Murder, and Detectives in Literature.” Over the course of eight weeks, we will witness the evolution of the detective/mystery genre as it expands to reflect a changing culture. Along the way, we will read short works by such authors as Edgar Allan Poe, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Raymond Chandler, Walter Mosley, Tony Hillerman, Sara Paretsky, and Jorge Luis Borges.

Weekly Topics/Schedule (subject to change):

• The Beginnings: Edgar Allan Poe
• The Formula: Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Golden Age: Agatha Christie
• The Golden Age continued: Dorothy Sayers
• Hardboiled Detectives: Raymond Chandler
• The Remaking of the Detective: Walter Mosely
• The Remaking of the Detective: continued: Sara Paretsky
• Reworking traditions: Tony Hillerman and Jorge Luis Borges

1. This course examines the life, presidency, assassination, and historical legacy of John F. Kennedy, placing his presidency within the larger context of the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, the Space Race, changing American politics, and the emerging power of television and mass media.

2. Rather than treating Kennedy solely through the popular image of "Camelot," the course will examine the contrast between the Kennedy legend and the historical record. Students will consider Kennedy's privileged upbringing and political family, his World War II service, congressional career, election in 1960, presidential decision-making, and major successes and failures.

3. Particular attention will be given to the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Berlin Crisis, the Cuban Missile Crisis, civil rights, Vietnam, the Space Race, the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, and Kennedy's efforts toward improved relations with the Soviet Union.

4. The course will culminate with an extensive examination of November 22, 1963, including the Dallas motorcade, Lee Harvey Oswald, the Warren Commission, subsequent investigations, the release and interpretation of assassination records, and the development of competing explanations for Kennedy's death.

5. A final component will compare Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, examining their political careers, presidencies, challenges, assassinations, succession by vice presidents named Johnson, and the ways historical memory has shaped their reputations. Students will distinguish between documented historical similarities and popular claims that are based primarily on coincidence or mythology.

6. The course will emphasize primary-source analysis, historical evidence, critical thinking, media literacy, and the difference between historical fact, interpretation, speculation, and conspiracy theory.

The course will focus on what is happening in the world right now, why it is important, and what it means for U.S. National Security. Analysis of these current events will touch on all primary drivers of foreign policy, including geography, history, culture, demography, technology, economics, and leadership. Class engagement will be strongly encouraged. 

Weekly topic list: Each week the course will highlight one geographic area of the world. However, to an extent world events will also dictate each week’s primary discussion points.

With the early hectic days of parenting and working, parents and aunts and uncles have little time to share “trivial” personal stories, but gifting a verbal picture of yourself can now be a priority. This class will produce a personal legacy of 1-2 page typed personal stories that could be put in a small binder (perhaps with photos) for Christmas or birthdays. What could be a more treasured, unique gift? 

In class, we will always read a published writer’s story on the day’s topic and discuss that writing by using a Reader Reaction sheet. Class will end with brief writing time. 

Homework: type two copies, have a secret symbol instead of name at the top. Number each line for easy reference for the anonymous in -class reader who will use the Reader Reaction sheet we used the first day of class. 

Class topics include:

• A place of importance (childhood home, vacation spot, your garden, workplace, gym or sports field, gravesite, any place that matters to you)
• A treasured relationship (aunt or uncle, neighbor, stepparent, spouse, first date, mom, dad, boss, teacher or pet!)
• A family gathering or tradition (Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthday, vacation, trip, memorial service, summer fishing)
• A challenging period or event (difficult loss, major change, health issue, accident)
• A time of personal pride (This does NOT require a public award!  Maybe you were a good Samaritan, quietly helped a neighbor, rescued an animal, faced a fear or refused to give up)
• A life lesson learned (maybe you were caught doing something wrong, maybe you learned by watching someone you admire, maybe a parent instilled a positive motto in your head)
• One additional option for the last writing is to write your own obituary. This is becoming an interesting personally written reflection, not just a list of deeds and remaining family.

This 8-week review will discuss the development of vaccines, the ways in which both the immune system and vaccines work, pros and cons of vaccination and future developments including the use of vaccines in cancer and other diseases currently under investigation.

Weekly Topics (subject to change):

• Week One: Immunity: A brief review of how the immune system works and the response to infection with foreign material. How long-term immunity is acquired.
• Week Two: The enemy: Pathogens which include viruses, bacteria, parasites and prions
• Week Three: Smallpox: Goals of vaccination and why man developed vaccines in the first place
• Week Four: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Tuberculosis are early vaccines but very different from modern vaccines (what these infectious agents have in common)
• Week Five: Polio
• Week Six: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Meningococcal vaccines
• Week Seven: New approaches: mRNA vaccines, and those for Corona- and Flavi-viruses
• Week Eight: Can vaccines be used to immunize against cancer? HPV vaccine and those targeting cancer cells.