In Appreciation of the Arts
In this series of presentations,
participants can deepen
their understanding of the arts and enjoy the experience
that comes from contemplating a work of art.
 Kirsti Minsaas, PhD
Ayn Rand and the Aesthetics of Romanticism
Do Ayn Rand's writings on aesthetics present a coherent and integrated theory? Dr.
Minsaas will try to answer this question by examining the nature of Ayn Rand's
Romanticism, paying special attention to Rand's attempt to bring her Romantic view of
art into accordance with the broader Enlightenment orientation of her philosophy. Dr.
Minsaas is a lecturer in English literature at the University of Oslo, Norway, having
recently received her doctoral degree from that institution. She has lectured often at
previous Summer Seminars and is currently working on a book on Ayn Rand's literary
art.
Lee Brooks, MD
Verdi as a Musical Dramatist
One of Ayn Rand's great gifts to her readers was a renewed appreciation of
Romanticism. Through opera, Giuseppe Verdi created musical drama in the spirit of the
great romantics, with larger-than-life characters, passionate utterance, and the grand
gesture. Using scenes from Verdi's early masterpiece "Macbeth," Lee Brooks
will show how Verdi recreated the villainous Macbeth and Duncan's murder—all in
the ghostly penumbra of this strange drama. By penetrating some of the superficial
barriers to the enjoyment of opera, Dr. Brooks will show how the drama of Verdi's
imperishable music can be appreciated. A longtime opera enthusiast and erstwhile student
of Italian culture and music, Dr. Brooks is a practicing anaesthesiologist in Orlando,
Florida.
 The Seminar was everything I had hoped for and more! It
was so sad for it to end! The people were even more intelligent and interesting than I had
imagined. The air of openness and congeniality was exhilarating. This was my best vacation
ever. — Donna Sensor
Michael Newberry
Form, Formlessness, Violence,
and Beauty:
Concepts of the Sublime Manifested in Painting
Using reproductions of historical masterpieces and modern works, Michael Newberry will
show how fundamental aesthetic principles are manifested in these works. He will show how
the concepts of meaning and purpose are antithetical to modern art and why this explains
the frustration many people feel about such art. By contrast, he will show how form,
beauty, and integration are present in historical masterpieces. An artist whose paintings
have found a worldwide audience, Mr. Newberry has frequently lectured, taught seminars,
and exhibited his own work. He taught at Otis/Parsons School of Art and Design in Los
Angeles and currently resides in Rhodes, Greece.
John Enright
Understanding Modern Poetry
John Enright will offer an introduction to poetry of the 20th century, examining its
difficulties but also emphasizing enjoyable examples and positive developments. In
particular, he will explore the features of free verse. Mr. Enright is a published poet
who has also written and lectured about the art of poetry for the Summer Seminar and
elsewhere.
 Susan McCloskey, PhD
How to Read a Novel
A good plot offers us pleasure, but alertness to language, detail, form, and context
offers even more. Susan McCloskey will present techniques of literary reading that can
enhance our enjoyment of literary works, from lyric poems to novels. Examples will be
drawn principally from Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged.
Dr. McCloskey is the president of McCloskey Writing Consultants. After receiving her
doctorate from Princeton University, she taught for twelve years in the English Department
and humanities program at Vassar College.
Douglas Wagoner
The Role of the Conductor in the Orchestra
Most people appreciate the polished grace of professional orchestral musicians, but the
role of conductors is less obvious. What is their function? How do they prepare for
concerts and rehearsals? In a talk aimed at non-musicians—through lecture,
recordings, and live demonstration—Douglas Wagoner will work through a single piece
in detail, showing what materials and techniques the conductor works with and discussing
the challenges he confronts. Mr. Wagoner is a player, composer, and conductor with over
twenty years of professional experience, including work as a conductor for the Berklee
Concert Wind Ensemble, The Brookline Symphony Orchestra, The Brookline Chamber Orchestra,
and most recently the Paul Madora Chorale.
- Introduction
- Program
- Schedule
- Registration Information
- Registration Form - for secure online registration
- Financial Aid Application
- Logical Structure of Objectivism
Application
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