Professor Joseph Luzzi uncovers the mysteries of 8 books that, in one way or another, changed our world. He explores the creative processes behind these masterpieces, traces their impact, and helps reveal their remarkable riches.:The Bible The Odyssey by HomerThe Divine Comedy by DanteHamlet by ShakespeareTo the Lighthouse by Virginia WoolfInvisible Man by Ralph EllisonTo Kill A Mockingbird by Harper LeeCatch 22 by Joseph HellerJoseph Luzzi is a Literature and Italian Professor at Bard...

While most works of cinema are produced for mass-entertainment and escapism, a peculiar minority have had a profound influence on our culture. Whether intentionally or not, some movies have brought social issues to light, changed laws, forwarded ideologies both good and bad, and altered the course of American history through their resounding impact on society. Renowned Yale Film Professor Marc Lapadula discusses several films that, for better or worse, made their mark.The Jazz Singer, I Am a...

One of the remarkable myths of the American Revolution is that it was an all male affair. Really? An eight year home front war and American women didn't notice it? In fact, women played vital roles throughout the war - from enforcing the boycotts of British imports to writing and publishing propaganda, from nursing the soldiers at Valley Forge to scavenging active battle fields for usable clothing and weapons. Carol Berkin dispels the myth that the success of the war rested solely on the...

Any thinking American is drawn to Abraham Lincoln. His story invites us to marvel at how this poor, self-educated, frontier lawyer transformed himself into a political leader who defended democracy, preserved the nation, and abolished slavery. As late as 1859, when asked to provide an autobiographical sketch, he mused there was not much to say because "there is not much of me." If not much then, there would be plenty ahead.Despite his stature, much of what we think we know about Lincoln isn't...

In the relatively short history of the United States, there have been many turning points and landmark movements that irrevocably altered the direction of the nation and signaled the dramatic start of a new historical reality. Some took the form of groundbreaking political and philosophical concepts; some were dramatic military victories and defeats. Still others were nationwide social and religious movements, or technological and scientific innovations.What all of these turning points had in...

Did you know the best thing you can do for your brain is take a nap? If you ever thought sleep was just downtime between one task and the next, think again. The fact is, your brain pulls an all-nighter when you hit the hay. Many regions of the brain - especially those involved in learning, processing information, and emotion - are actually more active during sleep than when you're awake. These regions work together to sort and process the information you've taken in during the course of the...

Music permeates our lives. It's always with us - via the radio, smart phones, TV commercials and films, even streamed into malls and restaurants. Technology has made it easy to put music in the background. The goal of this lecture is to bring it front and center again.Professor Celenza shows how music doesn't simply reflect culture, it can change it. She highlights three musical masterpieces that, each in their own way, changed America for the better. A 1930s ballad that fueled the need for...

America's founding political commitments were to democracy and the rule of law. Some have described them as the soul and spirit of our nation. But their meanings are contested and open to interpretation. Professor Sarat discusses how the've evolved in American history and assesses the health of the United States today. Does America face an erosion of public faith in long taken-for-granted aspects of our political life? Do we even understand what they really mean? Some believe that the rule of...

Modern science has its roots in western religious thought, was nurtured in universities established for religious reasons, and owes some of its greatest discoveries to scientists who themselves were people of faith. Nonetheless, on one issue after another, from evolution to the "big bang" to the age of the Earth itself, religion is often on a collision course with scientific thought. On one side, religious believers have constructed pseudosciences to justify narrow interpretations of...

The nation's health care system is in the midst of an enormous transformation. Hospitals and insurance companies are merging (and the lines between the two are blurring). Large retail chains (from CVS to Walmart) are entering the health care business.There are fewer and fewer uninsured, but those who are insured are paying more and more of their health care bill (through higher premiums and deductibles).Professor Michael Sparer reviews these trends, as well as several others that are sure to...

They say the personal is political. But the rivalry between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton may be the most political of any relationship in history. Hamilton is experiencing a well-deserved revival. His vision of America as an economic powerhouse with an aggressive government as its engine has found many followers. He helped get the Constitution ratified, found the Federalist Party, and served as the first Secretary of the Treasury. But Jefferson fought bitterly with Hamilton...

The UN released a "Happiness Report" rating nearly 200 countries, which found that the world’s happiest people live in Northern Europe (Denmark, Norway, Finland, and the Netherlands). The US ranked 11th. What role do money, IQ, marriage, friends, children, weather, and religion play in making us feel happier? Is happiness stable over time? How can happiness be increased? Professor Sanderson will describe cutting-edge research from the field of positive psychology on the factors that do (and...