Election day is coming soon – November 3rd! This lecture looks at the key legal and constitutional factors that influence elections and voting in the United States. The session will focus on election law and how those laws impact political participation. An examination of federal legislative and constitutional requirements that shape voter turnout will inform why voter turnout is higher among members of some groups compared with others. Examining the U.S. Constitution and federal election law will give the audience insights as to why and how election laws vary across the nation.

From sweet to spooky, Halloween offers opportunities for imagination. Classical composers have embraced that in various ways. Music historian Betsy Schwarm brings some examples: music for a haunted mountain, an apprentice sorcerer, and a hint of Alfred Hitchcock.

The shower scene in Psycho. The flying bikes in E.T. The title song in Singin’ in the Rain. All are memorable movie moments that have been cherished for generations and will be cherished for years to come. In this hour-long lecture, you’ll enjoy an insightful look at these scenes and more, sharing the stories, backgrounds and secrets that made them so unforgettable.

What happens when celebrity status collides with the criminal justice system? Join federal criminal defense attorney Adriana Collado for an insider’s look at high-profile cases that captivated the nation.

Explore how fame shaped the legal strategies, influenced proceedings, and impacted outcomes in some of the most notorious celebrity trials. Go beyond the headlines to understand the defense tactics, courtroom dynamics, and lasting consequences that followed the verdicts.

This lecture provides unique perspective in which entertainment meets the law.

You don’t need to be a Taylor Swift fan to appreciate how popular culture processes history. This lecture uses Swift’s songwriting as a window into how we remember (and misremember) our past. Through close readings of Swift’s historical references, from Shakespeare to World War II and the Medieval period to the Gilded Age, we’ll explore the power of myth-making through popular music. Let’s take an unexpected journey through history, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we were – all through the music of the world’s most famous songstress.

In honor of Veterans Day, Dr. James Todd’s lecture reviews the origin and history of military veterans commemorations in the United States. The focus is mainly on how we came to celebrate Veterans Day each November, and it shares how Americans celebrate the day (parades, etc.) throughout the United States.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) is a beloved Thanksgiving classic that is frequently considered John Hughes’ best work. Its Rotten Tomatoes score is 92%. It ranks either #1 or #2 on lists from Variety, Screen Rant, and Movie Maker. Dan Aykroyd even likens the movie to Arthur Miller’s great American play, Death of a Salesman, calling John Candy’s shower curtain ring salesman “the Willy Loman of his age.”

Why has Planes, Trains and Automobiles earned this elevated status in John Hughes’ body of work? It’s just a comedy with a simple premise, silly slapstick, and caricatures as leads, right?

Yes, the movie is all of that. But it is also perhaps Hughes’ most mature screenplay.

In this lecture featuring HD video footage, you’ll visit the suburban Chicago house where Planes, Trains and Automobiles ends. You’ll hear plenty of behind-the-scenes stories. And you’ll discover how the movie intertwines humor with the complex notion that “home” is both a comfort and a constraint.

This lecture will explore how brands reach consumers today versus in the past. How has digital advertising evolved and changed brand building? We’ll focus on some successful brands in the past and how they have changed their campaign approaches for today’s consumers. Disney, Coca Cola, McDonald’s and more will be discussed.

Join Dr. Catherine Kleier as she travelogues through her trips to New Zealand. Learn the stories of some fascinating plants (and birds!) that occur nowhere else on earth. Understand what makes this Colorado-sized island nation so unique.

It’s Thanksgiving Eve. Families are gathered together. Memories are made. But what about the memories of yesteryear? This workshop shares ways to preserve your memories and experiences for future generations.

Can you name your great-grandparents? Do you know what they dreamed of, fought for, and laughed about? Rich, full lives vanish after only two generations … unless we do something about it.

• What dreams did you chase?
• What hardships did you triumph over?
• Should your wisdom serve future generations?

No one else has lived your life or seen the world through your eyes. Whether you sailed oceans, raised a family, built a business, ran the race, or fought for freedom, your authentic story deserves to be preserved.

In this engaging live workshop, you’ll discover a simple way to organize your memories into a compelling book.

Preserve your ideas, experiences, and memories, and leave a meaningful, lasting legacy.

It’s December. Christmas season is in full swing, and Hanukkah begins December 4th. Join Music Historian Betsy Schwarm for a festive journey through the classical music of the holiday season. Explore how sacred and secular traditions have inspired composers and communities, from Yuletide celebrations and Hebrew folk songs to the timeless beauty of Christmas melodies. This engaging lecture highlights the stories, history, and cultural meanings behind beloved seasonal music, celebrating the songs that bring light, joy, and connection during this special time of year.

The movies and dancing are a partnership born in heaven. From its very beginnings, the new medium of motion pictures turned toward dance as one of the best ways to showcase its unique ability to make movement come alive. And through the decades, it’s been dancing on the big screen that has provided some of the most ecstatic moments in film history—whether it’s Fred Astaire gliding on the ceiling in Royal Wedding, the Nicholas Brothers leaping down a staircase in Stormy Weather, Moira Shearer pirouetting through the dreamscape of The Red Shoes, or John Travolta burning up the dance floor in Saturday Night Fever. Illustrated with more than 75 video clips, this talk will survey 130 years of thrilling movie dance performances and demonstrate the extraordinary ways cinema brought dance to life.

Most of our holiday standards were written between 1942 and 1952, in a burst of activity inspired by the enormous success of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” and came into existence in various and surprising ways. Taken together, the stories behind these immortal songs paint a fascinating cultural picture of America itself during the era of and after World War Two. Note: Some portions of this presentation were pre-recorded.

Part I includes discussion of the songs White Christmas, I’ll Be Home For Christmas, Winter Wonderland, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, The Christmas Song, Let It Snow, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, and Here Comes Santa Claus.

Most of our holiday standards were written between 1942 and 1952, in a burst of activity inspired by the enormous success of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” and came into existence in various and surprising ways. Taken together, the stories behind these immortal songs paint a fascinating cultural picture of America itself during the era of and after World War Two. Note: Some portions of this presentation were pre-recorded.

Part II includes discussion of the songs All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty The Snow Man, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Silver Bells, There’s No Place Like Home For The Holidays, and A Holly Jolly Christmas.