And When They Were Good, They Were Very Very Good
This will be a wonderful week of women at their “worst” – their
wits, their wiles, their wills and their won’ts – as displayed and
directed by the men who conjured them that way.
From the very beginning, Hesiod knew that the problems of mankind
could be blamed on women. Chaucer showed us what “we” (the
male we) have to fear from women as wives. As did Euripides (boy
did he) and Aristophanes. Then Nabokov showed us that size does
matter – if she is between nine and fourteen years old. Lolita is a
funny but sad classic, not for the faint of heart! And then came
Emily. Sweet Emily.
We will engage in a spirited
examination of how some
men have imagined some
women throughout literary
history and how we as readers
respond to them.
“There is no beast, no rush of fire, like woman
so untamed. She calmly
goes her way where even
panthers would be shamed.”
– Aristophanes, Lysistrata
LEADER
David Schmitt has been leading
Great Books discussions for two
decades. He says: “Girls scare me.
Bad girls scare me more. These
girls scare me most!” An architect,
a tutor, and an entrepreneur, David
lives in Evanston, IL with his best
bad girl, Beth.
BOOKS
Participants are required to obtain
the specified editions in order to
facilitate the group’s ability to
find and cite portions of the text
during discussion. PDF versions
will be posted on the website of
“Pandora” by Hesiod, “Wife of Bath”
by Chaucer, and “A Rose for Emily”
by William Faulkner.
Please obtain the following:
Euripides, Medea, trans. Diane
Arnson Svarlien,
Hackett Publishing
(2008)
ISBN-10: 0872209237
ISBN-13: 978-0872209237
Aristophanes, Lysistrata, trans.
Sarah Ruden,
Hackett Publishing
(2003)
ISBN-10: 0872206033
ISBN-13: 978-0872206038
Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita,
1st Vintage
International Ed edition (1997)
ISBN-10: 0613706250
ISBN-13: 978-0613706254
FEES
CAD$1250 includes five weekday morning seminars, lunches, guided art walks, afternoon speakers, five afternoon opera talks with Iain Scott, two receptions, a dinner and movie night, and a broad array of cultural and social activities.
ADDITIONAL THEATRE/CONCERT EXCURSIONS
Add-on Theatre/Concert Performances now available for Thursday evening, July 19, 2012 there are two options for either a Soulpepper Theatre Performance or Concert Performance: Toronto Summer Music Festival.
Soulpepper Theatre Evening
This option is for a Soulpepper Theatre production of The Sunshine Boys by Neil Simon. In the historic Distillery District of Toronto. Click here for details.
Concert Performance: Toronto Summer Music Festival
This option is to attend the Toronto Summer Music Festival – a string ensemble performance of Romantic music by the Seoul Spring Festival Ensemble at the exquisite new Koerner Hall, a 10-minute walk from Victoria College. Rick Phillips will be giving a pre-concert talk. Click here for details.
Please let us know by July 1, 2012 which option you will choose as we only have a certain number of tickets on hand otherwise people will need to purchase any tickets on their own.
Also, please note participants who have registered before January 1, 2012 are eligible for a complimentary ticket for either Thursday July 19, 2012 performance providing no other discount has been applied. For those participants registered before January 1, 2012 please contact us by email to confirm your choice of performance.
ACCOMMODATIONS
You are responsible for booking your own accommodation.
Options include both single and double rooms available in Rowell Jackman Hall at Victoria College and the nearby Park Hyatt Hotel.
Victoria College. Book online at http://www.vicu.utoronto.ca/hospitality/SummerAccommodations/ReservationInformation/MakeAReservation.htm, or call 416-585-4524.
- Basic, air-conditioned rooms with shared baths. Includes hot breakfast. All linens provided.
Park Hyatt Hotel, 4-star hotel that is a 5-minute walk from Victoria College.
- Inquire about special rate for Classical Pursuits participants at the nearby Park Hyatt Hotel.
www.parktoronto.hyatt.com 416-925-1234
DISCOUNTS – one per registrant
- Participants who have attended Toronto Pursuits at least five times receive a CAD $150 discount.
- Register with a friend, and if one or both are first time participants, each receives a CAD $150 discount.
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