COURSE INFORMATION

SGL Name: Suzanne Art

Course Meeting Times/Dates: Tuesdays at 11:10 am

Contact information of SGL: Pemblewick@aol.com

Zoom Link: https://brandeis.zoom.us/j/95454108918?pwd=x7L7HaVzia7QNuojAzZyYMwtAasNjW.1

COURSE DESCRIPTION: 

Cityscapes have been popular since ancient times and are considered treasures by art lovers and historians alike. In this course we will explore three renowned western cities – Venice, Paris, and New York – through the works of some of history’s greatest artists. 

In the case of Venice, we’ll begin with a brief glance at the founding of the city in the lagoon and its evolution as the center of a vast trading empire; we’ll also discover how it remained radiant even in its inevitable economic decline. We’ll study the Gothic and Renaissance architecture of palazzi and cathedrals and catch glimpses of the lives of various city dwellers through the paintings of Masters from Canaletto and Guardi to Turner, Whistler, and Sargent. The writings of Ruskin, Henry James and Marcel Proust will enrich our sense of the place, as will the melodies of Venetian composers Gabrielli and Vivaldi.

Our visit to Paris involves a similar approach, beginning with the small island settlement in the Seine, progressing to the construction of Gothic cathedrals and ultimately the city planning designs of Haussman. Manet, Caillebotte, and Picasso will be among our guides, with Proust and Hemingway offering commentary. Musical interludes include the works of Ravel and Satie, with a bit of Piaf.

Then on to New York, from the founding of New Amsterdam to the building of skyscrapers in the 20th century. We will be guided by Bellows, Hopper, O'Keeffe, Estes, and others, with commentary by Mark Twain and Walt Whitman and musical interludes featuring Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, and Frank Sinatra.

WELCOME LETTER:

Welcome to City Visions! Get ready for an enlightening grand tour of three of the western world’s most fascinating cities.

Here is the link to my Google site for the course:

       https://sites.google.com/view/cityvisions/home

Visit the website as soon as you finish this letter to familiarize yourself with its layout. As you will see when you arrive at the Homepage, links to the ten classes of the course are listed at the top right corner. Click on the first one (Class 1). This is your homework assignment for the first class. As you know, the course is multi-faceted, combining elements of history, music, literature, and art. Sometimes even cuisine! Much of the historical background, excerpts from literature, and examples of music appear on the webpage. Be sure to view the various articles and videos before each class as these provide essential background material for my weekly presentations, which will focus on the art.

       We will be meeting via Zoom every Tuesday at 11:10. Here is the zoom link:

       https://brandeis.zoom.us/j/95454108918?pwd=x7L7HaVzia7QNuojAzZyYMwtAasNjW.1

Please come to class the first day at 11 am, so that I can briefly welcome you and go over basic zoom procedures. And do feel free to sign on early every week, as it allows time for chatting among yourselves or asking me any questions that might pop up. Although I have a lot to say, I encourage you to ask questions and make comments as I proceed, using your electronic hand (I’ll tell you how in the first class). By the way, would someone volunteer to be my co-host? This is a very simple job, which involves muting any unwelome background noise. Thanks in advance!

Looking forward to seeing you all on the first day of class, March 11th – at 11 am. I was happy to see some familiar names on the class list, as well as some new ones (new to me). Together we’ll be experiencing Venice, Paris, and New York from many perspectives – thanks to the works of some very creative minds. As Proust remarked, "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes…"