OLLI-UO in Portland
Find a group that fits your interests.
The following study and discussion groups meet regularly throughout the year. All members are welcome to attend these sessions. Past participation is not required. For questions, study materials or more information on these groups, please call the OLLI-UO in Portland office at 503-412-3653.
Tuesdays
Monarchy: The Complete Series
10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., weekly
“Over more than a millennium, the British monarchy has survived brutality, betrayal, and bloodshed to emerge as the oldest functioning political institution in Europe. Join eminent historian David Starkey as he probes the personalities of the men and women who wore the crown. Meet the Anglo- Saxon king Offa, who ruled more like a mafioso than a monarch; Henry VIII, who cultivated celebrity like a modern rock star; and Victoria, who remade the monarchy into the model of middle-class morality. Through it all, visit the very sites where history happened: Hastings, Bosworth Field, the Tower of London, and more.
“Starkey advances a unifying narrative—the dynamic tension between authoritarian order and rule by consent of the governed—that makes Britain unique among the world’s nations” (http://amzn.to/yXLQuz).
Facilitator: George Davidson
Wednesdays
The History of World Literature
10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., weekly
“In The History of World Literature, you’ll sample brilliant masterpieces that reflect a deep need for self-expression. It’s a journey that will take you around the world—from the enormous auditoriums of Ancient
Greece, to the dazzling courts of Classical China and Japan, to the prison camps of Stalinist Russia, to a quiet study in the home of a nineteenth-century New England spinster.
“Your guide on this enchanting literary tour is distinguished scholar Grant L. Voth. An experienced teacher, critic, and lecturer, professor Voth provides the perfect introduction to the history of world literature, offering concise summaries and thought-provoking interpretations of each work.
“As Professor Voth explains, “As long as there have been people in the world, there have been stories.” In this course, you’ll sample some of the greatest literary expressions the world has known and experience storytelling in its many forms, including poetry, drama, and narrative” (http://bit.ly/nBlUt2).
Facilitator: TBA
Literati
April 4, 11, 18, and 25, 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Join the OLLI-UO book club, Literati, in April as they read and explore William Boyd’s Any Human Heart, a “rich, sophisticated, often hilarious and disarming novel” that chronicles the life journey of Logan Mountstuart.
“This flawed yet immensely appealing protagonist is one of Boyd’s most distinctive creations, and his voice— articulate, introspective, urbane, stoically philosophical in the face of countless disappointments—engages the reader’s empathy. Logan is a man who sees his bright future dissipate and his great love destroyed, and yet can look back with ‘a strange sense of pride’ that he’s ‘managed to live in every decade of this long benighted century.’ His unfulfilled life, with his valiant efforts to be morally responsible, to create and, finally, just to get by, is a universal story, told by a master of narrative” (http://amzn.to/h7sZnM).
Literati will discuss Any Human Heart on Wednesday, April 4. On April 11, 18, and 25, Literati will view the Masterpiece Classic series Any Human Heart, staring Sam Claflin, Matthew Macfadyen, and Jim Broadbent.
In May, Literati will read and discuss Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James: “A rare meeting of literary genius: P. D. James, long among the most admired mystery writers of our time, draws the characters of Jane Austen’s beloved novel Pride and Prejudice into a tale of murder and emotional mayhem” (http://amzn.to/sAynZL).
Facilitator: George Davidson
Thursdays
Leaving a Trace: Writing About Your Life
April 12 and 26, 2:30–4:30 p.m.
This group provides a friendly, supportive, and intimate setting to explore and share memories and experiences.
In this course, we will explore moving from journal writing to finding the ‘line of thought.’ We will write, share, engage in writing exercises, and have a couple of guests who have moved from journal, to memoir, to a published book.
Through this experience, I hope to share with you how to leave a lasting piece of work about your lives. We will identify ten key patterns hidden in all journals and find the story underneath the surface of recorded fact. We will learn how to play detective to your days, find the ‘thought line’ or the arc of life’s meaning in your life, and frame these stories for journal, family chronicle or memoir.
Past questions the writing group has considered are:
- What is something that got left behind?
- What is something you cannot deny?
- What is something you wrote or did that you no longer understand?
Members may join this group at anytime.
Instructor: Judi McGavin
Brown Bag Luncheons
April 3, 4, 11, 17, 18, and 25, 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Get to know your fellow OLLI-UO members at these weekly brown bag luncheons. Bring a lunch from home or order takeout from one of Old Town’s many restaurants. Lunch will be held in the OLLI-UO office, suite 148C or in room 149. Lunches are always preceded and followed by an OLLI-UO course, lecture or discussion group. We hope to see you there!
