What are rituals and how are they different from routines? What purpose do rituals serve, for us and for people around the world? Would we recognize the rituals of another culture? Taught by Cultural Anthropologist, artist-Jan Downey, the focus is on cultural lifeways of humans with whom we share the world. And, along the way, you will be finding out more about yourself. The sessions in this series are designed [...]

Do you love your laptop, but sometimes feel that it doesn't love you back?  Well, we have a class that's going to change that!   We want you to have fun computing! We don't want you to experience any more frustration! In this workshop you will get tons of tech tips for documents, photos, cleaning up email, Zoom, cloud computing (What's that? You'll find out),  finding lost files, and more. Bring [...]

  This session will challenge your ideas about "family". Even if you have studied your family genealogy, this session is a fascinating look at how other cultures understand, think and talk about their relationships to others in their families.  Taught by Cultural Anthropologist, artist-Jan Downey, the focus is on cultural lifeways of humans with who we share the world. And, along the way, you will be finding out more about [...]

  The definition of "art" is far from standard in the world, but why is that?  How is art conceived by people in different societies, what is its function, and why do we sometimes disagree about what is art -- and what isn't. Join Jan Downey for a lively discussion on this subject, as the #4 class in her fascinating AnthroBites series on Anthropology. When you register, you will be [...]

  Very much a presence in many societies, shamans and healers are often dismissed as being a "new age" phenomenon. They have been, in many instances, elevated to a mystical and romantic status.  Learn about the important role shamans and healers have held within small-scale socities for most of human history. Join Jan Downey in the 5th of her sessions on Anthropology. There will be a lively discussion, and you [...]