Society & Culture

John Gutman, retired sociology lecturer, Hunter College

Gain a practical understanding of how criminal law shapes society and affects everyday life. Explore key concepts including types of crimes, legal classifications, and how laws evolve over time. Discuss real-world examples such as marijuana and marriage laws while developing a clearer understanding of how the legal system functions and adapts to social change.

3 Sessions

Tuesday, June 2 – 16, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
XHUMG 009, $89

Brooks Susman, scholar, rabbi emeritus

Explore the nature of knowledge and how we determine what is true or reliable. Through discussion and examples, examine how understanding is shaped by experience, evidence, and interpretation, and reflect on how we navigate information in an increasingly complex world.

3 Sessions

Tuesday, June 16–30, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
XHUMN 385, $89

Bruce Brickman, Esq.

Are the constitutional guardrails envisioned by the Founders still holding? Examine the evolving balance of power among the branches of government, with particular attention to recent Supreme Court decisions and the rise of the “unitary executive” theory. Through close reading of constitutional text, historical context, and selected excerpts from oral arguments, explore whether presidential authority has expanded in ways that challenge traditional checks and balances — and what that may mean for the future of American democracy.

2 Sessions

Wednesday & Thursday, June 24 & 25, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
XHUMN 369, $69

Brian McGackin, MFA, professional poet and writer

One of the defining characteristics of Bruce Springsteen’s career has been his songwriting, but his approach has taken many forms since he first began recording music in the early 1970s. Examine the ways the poetry of his lyrics has evolved over the years, looking at songs like Rosalita, Thunder Road, Badlands, Because the Night, and more.

2 Sessions

Wednesday, July 1 & 8, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
XHUML 128, $69

John Gutman, retired sociology lecturer, Hunter College

What makes a society endure or collapse? Explore this question through four influential works: Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies, 1984, and Brave New World. Examine how essential institutions — government, law, education, and social norms — shape the stability and character of imagined societies. Consider how the presence, absence, or distortion of these structures influences each society’s ability to survive. Exchange perspectives and reflect on enduring questions about the forces that sustain — or undermine — civilization.

3 Sessions

• September 22: Animal Farm & Lord of the Flies
• October 20: 1984
• November 17: Brave New World

Tuesday, September 22 – November 17, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
XHUMN 386, $89