“... the best education in upstate New York.”
– Warren Roberts, U. at Albany
Quick Links
| H.I.L.L. Spring 2013 Courses |
MONDAY A.M.
Theories of Comparative & International Politics
Starts: March 4
Ends: April 15 (no class April 1)
Time: 10:00 -12:00 noon
Place: Delmar Reformed Church
INSTRUCTOR: Victor Asal, Associate Professor of Political Science, SUNY, Albany
We will explore the major actors, issues, and processes that drive international relations and comparative politics as well as the theories that attempt to explain them. Among the questions to be examined: Why are there wars? How does democracy develop? How do leaders impact the outcome of political events? We will examine specific historical events, including the two world wars, to help address these important questions. Classes will include fun exercises and simulations, where participants can serve as “lab rats” to help us consider the implications and potential utility of the theories we discuss.
MONDAY P.M.
What Were Those Justices Thinking? : The Last 50 Years at the Supreme Court
Starts: March 4
Ends: April 15 (no class April 1)
Time: 2:00-4:00 p.m. (note change from normal 1:30 p.m. start)
Place: Delmar Reformed Church
INSTRUCTOR: Laura Wittern-Keller, Lecturer in U.S. History, SUNY, Albany
Today’s Supreme Court has befuddled commentators, pundits, and court watchers. While nearly every one predicted that the Court would overturn the Affordable Care Act last year, they were wearing collective egg on their faces when, by a single vote (the Chief Justice’s no less), the Court upheld most of the health-care law. This course will consider the last 50 years of Supreme Court history to help us understand how justices work, think, and ultimately make their decisions. Beginning with the height of jurisprudential liberalism during the Warren Court years, we will follow each personnel shift as the philosophical tilt of the Court gradually moved toward more conservative views.
TUESDAY A.M.
The French, and How They Got That Way
Starts: March 5
Ends: April 16 (no class April 2)
Time: 10:00-12 noon
Place: Delmar Reformed Church
INSTRUCTOR: Richard S. Fogarty, Associate Professor of History, SUNY, Albany
“Those damn French!” American President Dwight D. Eisenhower exclaimed in exasperation in 1954. A great historian of France once expressed a similar sentiment: “Wonderful country, France…pity about the French.” These are just two of the most famous expressions of perplexity and frustration that many people—particularly les Anglo-Saxons, a term many in France use to include both the British and Americans—feel toward the people of France. These views fly in the face of the impressive French achievements in many fields throughout that nation’s long history. This course will explore recent French history and contemporary culture in France. Specifically, we will examine the historical events that have formed the core values and character of the French people; and, we will pay particular attention to the diversity and variety of experiences that make any simple generalization about “the French”, whether made “tongue in cheek” or not, problematic.
TUESDAY P.M.
Spring Sampler
Starts: March 5
Ends: APRIL 16 (No class April 2)
Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Place: Delmar Reformed Church
A lecture series, each session presented from the prospective of an expert in that area.
March 5
The Last Refuge of Scoundrels: The Mutiny on the Bounty and Subsequent History of Pitcairn Island
INSTRUCTOR: Tillman Nechtman, Associate Professor of History, Skidmore College
March 12
Fighting for a Nation’s Soul: African Americans and the Civil War
INSTRUCTOR: Eric J. Morser, Assistant Professor of History, Skidmore College
March 19
Why Is Contemporary Art so Weird?
INSTRUCTOR: Katherine Hauser, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Art History, Skidmore College
March 26
The Art and Architecture of the Early Ottoman Empire: Crossroad of East and West, Old and New
INSTRUCTOR: Louisa Matthew, Professor of Visual Arts, Union College
April 9
TOPIC: What’s Behind the Curtain: Decision Making at the Federal Reserve
INSTRUCTOR: Mitchel Y. Abolafia, Professor of Public Administration and Policy, Rockefeller College, SUNY, Albany
April 16
Not Another Study!: How a Consumer Can Evaluate the Many Health Studies
INSTRUCTOR: Josef Schmee, K. B. Scharpe Professor Emeritus, Union College
WEDNESDAY P.M.
Genres in Photography: How Did We Get Here? Where are We Heading?
Starts: March 6
Ends: April 17 (no class April 3)
Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Place: Delmar Reformed Church
INSTRUCTOR: William Jaeger, Instructor, Art & Art History, SUNY, Albany
This high dive exploration into photography zeroes in on particular genres in the last 150 years. When we see new lush landscapes, we can’t help but think of some of the old masters, and the same applies to recent portraits and war photographs. We will investigate and compare key photographers within each genre—show how world events, culture, geography, and the other arts influenced their work. Any one of these genres could be the title to a book of great works such as the Human Condition, Street Photography, Human Body, Abstract Adventures, Mother Nature. We will look at famous as well as more obscure photography, all of it terrific, and we will bring each genre into the 21st century to consider the digital and social media impacts on these genres.
Theories of Comparative & International Politics
Starts: March 4
Ends: April 15 (no class April 1)
Time: 10:00 -12:00 noon
Place: Delmar Reformed Church
INSTRUCTOR: Victor Asal, Associate Professor of Political Science, SUNY, Albany
We will explore the major actors, issues, and processes that drive international relations and comparative politics as well as the theories that attempt to explain them. Among the questions to be examined: Why are there wars? How does democracy develop? How do leaders impact the outcome of political events? We will examine specific historical events, including the two world wars, to help address these important questions. Classes will include fun exercises and simulations, where participants can serve as “lab rats” to help us consider the implications and potential utility of the theories we discuss.
MONDAY P.M.
What Were Those Justices Thinking? : The Last 50 Years at the Supreme Court
Starts: March 4
Ends: April 15 (no class April 1)
Time: 2:00-4:00 p.m. (note change from normal 1:30 p.m. start)
Place: Delmar Reformed Church
INSTRUCTOR: Laura Wittern-Keller, Lecturer in U.S. History, SUNY, Albany
Today’s Supreme Court has befuddled commentators, pundits, and court watchers. While nearly every one predicted that the Court would overturn the Affordable Care Act last year, they were wearing collective egg on their faces when, by a single vote (the Chief Justice’s no less), the Court upheld most of the health-care law. This course will consider the last 50 years of Supreme Court history to help us understand how justices work, think, and ultimately make their decisions. Beginning with the height of jurisprudential liberalism during the Warren Court years, we will follow each personnel shift as the philosophical tilt of the Court gradually moved toward more conservative views.
TUESDAY A.M.
The French, and How They Got That Way
Starts: March 5
Ends: April 16 (no class April 2)
Time: 10:00-12 noon
Place: Delmar Reformed Church
INSTRUCTOR: Richard S. Fogarty, Associate Professor of History, SUNY, Albany
“Those damn French!” American President Dwight D. Eisenhower exclaimed in exasperation in 1954. A great historian of France once expressed a similar sentiment: “Wonderful country, France…pity about the French.” These are just two of the most famous expressions of perplexity and frustration that many people—particularly les Anglo-Saxons, a term many in France use to include both the British and Americans—feel toward the people of France. These views fly in the face of the impressive French achievements in many fields throughout that nation’s long history. This course will explore recent French history and contemporary culture in France. Specifically, we will examine the historical events that have formed the core values and character of the French people; and, we will pay particular attention to the diversity and variety of experiences that make any simple generalization about “the French”, whether made “tongue in cheek” or not, problematic.
TUESDAY P.M.
Spring Sampler
Starts: March 5
Ends: APRIL 16 (No class April 2)
Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Place: Delmar Reformed Church
A lecture series, each session presented from the prospective of an expert in that area.
March 5
The Last Refuge of Scoundrels: The Mutiny on the Bounty and Subsequent History of Pitcairn Island
INSTRUCTOR: Tillman Nechtman, Associate Professor of History, Skidmore College
March 12
Fighting for a Nation’s Soul: African Americans and the Civil War
INSTRUCTOR: Eric J. Morser, Assistant Professor of History, Skidmore College
March 19
Why Is Contemporary Art so Weird?
INSTRUCTOR: Katherine Hauser, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Art History, Skidmore College
March 26
The Art and Architecture of the Early Ottoman Empire: Crossroad of East and West, Old and New
INSTRUCTOR: Louisa Matthew, Professor of Visual Arts, Union College
April 9
TOPIC: What’s Behind the Curtain: Decision Making at the Federal Reserve
INSTRUCTOR: Mitchel Y. Abolafia, Professor of Public Administration and Policy, Rockefeller College, SUNY, Albany
April 16
Not Another Study!: How a Consumer Can Evaluate the Many Health Studies
INSTRUCTOR: Josef Schmee, K. B. Scharpe Professor Emeritus, Union College
WEDNESDAY P.M.
Genres in Photography: How Did We Get Here? Where are We Heading?
Starts: March 6
Ends: April 17 (no class April 3)
Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Place: Delmar Reformed Church
INSTRUCTOR: William Jaeger, Instructor, Art & Art History, SUNY, Albany
This high dive exploration into photography zeroes in on particular genres in the last 150 years. When we see new lush landscapes, we can’t help but think of some of the old masters, and the same applies to recent portraits and war photographs. We will investigate and compare key photographers within each genre—show how world events, culture, geography, and the other arts influenced their work. Any one of these genres could be the title to a book of great works such as the Human Condition, Street Photography, Human Body, Abstract Adventures, Mother Nature. We will look at famous as well as more obscure photography, all of it terrific, and we will bring each genre into the 21st century to consider the digital and social media impacts on these genres.