instititue of world cultures programs

Institute of World Culture
Theme for 2010

Pioneers of World Culture
Aim # 3 “To honour through appropriate observance the contributions of men and women of all ages to world culture”

The third aim of the Institute’s Declaration of Interdependence reminds us that world culture does not just emerge as a plant from the ground, however nourishing the soil. It takes the imagination and courage of human beings to create culture, whether by the articulation of principles, the expression of values or by engagement in action. From human intentions and deliberate actions, specific forms such as artistic compositions, ethical practices and constructive institutions are brought into view for the education and enjoyment of others. Through sharing a vision of possibilities for enlightened living a culture is created.

We learn culture from our perception and experience of what others have created, and we may be inspired to make our own contributions through experiment and a fresh definition of values. Since world culture is only embryonic at this time, those who are helping to create world culture invite us to learn more than the conventional modes taught through traditional socialization. We are invited to become pioneers in a fascinating enterprise of our era by imaginative thinking and empathetic vision expressed, for example, in the other aims of the Institute’s Declaration of Interdependence. A first step in this undertaking is to honor by study and use the contributions of those who have gone before and can be viewed as heroes. To this end, the Institute’s programs in 2010 will focus on several pioneers, past and present, from several continents and cultures. Please join us in this journey that combines biography, history, intellectual creativity, political engagement and enthusiasm for a future in which lives are lived with the support of a nourishing world culture.

Carolyn Dorrance, President
________________________________________
Program for 2010

“From generations of soldiers and government officials on my father’s side I inherited a belief that no life was more satisfactory than one of selfless service to your country – or humanity. This service required a sacrifice of all personal interests, but likewise the courage to stand up unflinchingly for your convictions. From scholars and clergymen on my mother’s side, I inherited a belief that, in the very radical sense of the Gospels, all men were equal as children of God, and should be met and treated by us as our masters in God.”
– Dag Hammarskjold, Secretary General of the United Nations, 1953-1961

Film and Forum
Can We Agree on Anything?
Film: In God's Name

Saturday, January 16, 2010
3:00 – 5:30 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara
Discussion Leader: Dr. Carolyn Dorrance

The diverse and powerful voices of 12 of the world’s most influential spiritual leaders offer provocative, compelling and enlightening perspectives on the sources and destructive impact of fanaticism, terrorism and war in a documentary, In God’s Name. Discussion following the film will focus on the possibilities of overcoming sectarian world views and building consensus on fundamental values and shared principles of world culture.
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Lecture and Discussion
Building Bridges: Gandhi’s Path to Tolerance

Saturday, January 30, 2010
3:00 – 6:00 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara
Discussion Leader: Gerry Kiffe

How did Gandhi demonstrate an imaginative and non-violent means of overcoming sectarian violence and of building communities with true toleration of diversity. In our time of uncompromising polarizations and animosity between religions, ideologies and partisan political positions, what can be learned from Gandhi’s principles and self-sacrificing practice? This meeting that commemorates the 62nd anniversary of Gandhi’s death by assassination includes both an introductory talk and discussion by participants,
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Theater Trip and Pre-Performance Discussion
Macbeth

Film and Discussion
Saturday, February 20, 2010
3:00 – 6:00 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara
Discussion Leader: Dr. Judy Saltzman

Theater Trip to PCPA Performance in Santa Maria
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Performance begins at 2:00 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara
Coordinator: Dr. Judy Saltzman

Join us two Saturdays for an in-depth study of Macbeth. On February 20 we will view a film version of Shakespeare's tragic tale of a noble, heroic man unwittingly attracted by the lower elemental forces of Nature. Urged on by his wife, who has also opened herself to the lower psyche, Macbeth engages in unthinkable acts of murder and treason. He lacks the understanding that his ambition and appetite for violence is insatiable. This play raises the question whether any of us in Macbeth's place, receiving a prophecy of a great future, might not do the same.

On the following Saturday, February 27, we see a live PCPA matinee performance in Santa Maria. For group ticket prices ($13.80 per ticket), contact Judy Saltzman for reservations: (805) 528-3008, jsaltzma@calpoly.edu. The theater is located in Santa Maria, CA, at 800 S. College Drive. Dr. Saltzman can help with carpool options.
Log on to the PCPA website for more information on the play: www.pcpa.org
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Forum
African Leadership: Vision and Challenges

Saturday, March 13, 2010
4:00 – 6:00 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, CA
Speakers: Patience Ncube, Milochka Tshibingu, Rose Mwangi

A panel of SBCC international students, Patience Ncube (Zimbabwe), Milochka Tshibingu (So. Africa), and Rose Mwangi (Kenya) discuss their visions of leadership and the challenges facing their countries to increase human rights and create a more democratic and just future for their citizens. The story of Nelson Mandela in South Africa highlights the challenges of moving away from apartheid. Hear the stories of Kenyan leaders, Wangari Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize recipient for her conservation work, and Martha Karua, member of Parliament and presidential candidate for the 2012 election. The far-reaching and cascading effects of illiteracy in Kenya will be discussed. Learn how the legacy of colonialism in Zimbabwe affects factors such as traditional and modern values, educational opportunities, stigma and rights related to poverty, HIV/AIDS, gender equity, and employment.
For more information: 805-963-6007.
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Excursion
LACMA Exhibit:
Renoir in the 20th Century
A Visit to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Friday, April 2, 2010
9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, CA
Coordinator: Carolyn Dorrance

Join members and friends of the Institute in a trip to LACMA (Los Angeles Museum of Art) to experience an “unprecedented look” at the paintings made by the French painter Renoir after his break with impressionism. This first comprehensive retrospective since 1985 of Renoir’s late works is said to document his movement into modernism and help the viewer bridge the perceptual divide between 19th and 20th century art.

Tickets are $22 and include complete access to the regular collections. Since tickets must be purchased for a specific time and group rates may apply, please check with Carolyn Dorrance (967-1055) about ticket availability. Carpooling space is limited. Los Angeles County Museum of Art: http://www.lacma.org/
Illustration: Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Terrace at Cagnes, 1905 (detail), oil on canvas, 18 x 21 7/8 in. (46 x 55 cm), Bridgestone Museum of Art, Ishibashi Foundation, Tokyo, photo © 2009 Bridgestone Museum of Art, Ishibashi Foundation.

Forum
"Glorious Beings" Creating World Culture

Saturday, April 3, 2010
4:00 – 6:00 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, CA
Speaker: Frank Kelly

"Look at one another. Listen to one another. Touch one another. Become aware of what glorious beings you are. You are far more involved in shaping the future than you have begun to realize."

Frank Kelly, long time journalist, speech writer and narrator of his oral history, Kissing Joy As It Flies, will share his vision of leadership in an emerging world culture. His presentation of insights gained from a lifetime of active citizenship will explain his idea of “glorious beings” who serve humanity through creative initiatives and a demonstrated dedication to public service.
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Seminar
Cultures in Transition

Saturday, April 17, 2010
2:00 – 5:00 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, CA
Presenter: Julie Campbell

Anthropologist Julie Campbell will share her research and experience with peoples living in traditional cultures in Asia and North America. The impact of cultural values and customs on family and community life will be explored with the aid of numerous photos of housing styles, rituals, dances and feasts. Questions about change – its sources and consequences - will be raised with reference to cultures in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Tibet, that of the Pacific Coast Natives in Canada and the aboriginals of Australia. Julie Campbell has traveled extensively, lived for over 20 years in Indonesia and written on her observations of these cultures and the pressures to change they currently are experiencing. This seminar offers a rare and rich opportunity to learn not only about the traditional values of this significant, albeit nearly invisible, sector of the human family, but also about the challenges they face in our era of globalization and modernization.
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Event
Songs for a Brave New World


Marc Cooper	Pico Iyer

Saturday, May 8, 2010
8:00 - 9:30 pm
Unity Church, 227 E. Arrellaga Street, Santa Barbara, CA
Parking is available off Valerio Street near the corner of Santa Barbara Street

Author Pico Iyer and journalist Marc Cooper will explore the latest developments in writing, living, thinking and digital life–touching on the new American leadership, the multicultural souls all around us and the new possibilities for the expression of a global culture. Pico Iyer is the author of several books and articles including The Global Soul and the recently published biography of the Dalai Lama, The Open Road. Marc Cooper is a radio commentator and contributor to numerous publications including The Nation. For information on purchasing tickets, see below. For more information on the events, email Carolyn@worldculture.org or call: 805-967-1055.

INFORMATION ON PURCHASING TICKETS:
Tickets are $15 general admission and $10 for seniors and students with current student ID.

PURCHASE TICKETS AT THE DOOR THE NIGHT OF EVENT:
Tickets will be available at the door the night of the events and can be purchased with cash or a check. No credit cards accepted the night of the event.
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Panel Discussion
What is Universal in Shakespeare?

Saturday, May 29, 2010
2:00 – 5:00 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, CA
Speakers: Nandini Iyer and Franchesca Cleyet

Do the plays and poems of William Shakespeare offer more than a foundation of thought for English language cultures? Are there themes and portrayals of human character and behavior that are universally relevant and timely tools for understanding contemporary life? Is Shakespeare a pioneer of world culture? Three students of Shakespeare will offer their insights, and seminar attendees are encouraged to bring their examples from the "Bard's" writings.
For more information: carolyn@worldculture.org.
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Film
Learning from the Light:
The Vision of Architect, I. M. Pei

Saturday, June 5, 2010
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, CA
Moderator: Kirk Gradin, Banyan Architects

Culture, Nature and Light: These elements provide the structure for the one-hour documentary film that explores the mind and heart of one of the world’s master architects, Chinese-American I.M. Pei, while chronicling his latest creation; the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar. Already in his 90’s, he embarked on another spectacular odyssey, maybe his toughest yet. “Islamic architecture has a desert origin, and therefore it has a certain modesty I don’t want to lose”, I.M. Pei says in the film. Produced by award winning directors Bo Landin and Sterling Van Wagenen the film visits Alhambra and Cordoba in Spain, and Cairo, to search for references to understand the essence of Pei’s architecture that will find its historical place in an Islamic world stretching from Cordoba to Samarkand. The new Museum of Islamic Art has already been dubbed “The Louvre of the Middle East” and after opening its doors to the public in November 2008 it has been baptized an architectural world wonder, exposing one of the world’s most magnificent collections of Islamic art. Film produced in association with Qatar Museums Authority. USA 200.

Seminar
Architects of World Culture:
Modernism or Traditionalism

Saturday, June 12, 2010
2:00 – 4:30 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, CA
Speaker: Kirk Gradin, Banyan Architects

This seminar will examine the life and work of the Chinese born, American architect, I. M. Pei who some have called the international, consummate master of "corporate Modernism." Among his many other awards, Pei was presented with the Pritzker Prize for architecture in 1983 and is best known for the controversial high-tech, glass pyramid entrance he placed in the middle of the Louvre courtyard. Pei's work will also be contrasted with that of the Egyptian architect, Hassan Fathy. The lesser known Fathy was a trilingual professor-architect-author who sought an authentic and sustainable traditionalism by reviving ancient mud-brick building techniques that he believed would serve the material and cultural needs for both the wealthy and the poorest of the poor within his native Egypt.
Click here for more information on I. M. Pei
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34th IWC Founding Day Program
A Sense of Wonder:
Honoring Rachel Carson

Saturday, July 3, 2010
7:30 – 9:00 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala St., Santa Barbara
Presenter: Sandhya Tillotson

The heroic personal and professional struggle of Rachel Carson, a pioneer of the contemporary environmental movement, is depicted in a documentary drama. Carson scientifically demonstrated the interdependence of all life and the harmful effects of human tools of environmental control such as the use of chemical pesticides. Her writings, including the best seller, Silent Spring, and fearless lectures provoked an intense policy debate that continues to the present day.
A short talk by Sandhya Tillotson will introduce the program at Concord House, 1407 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, home of the Institute of World Culture which is celebrating the 34th anniversary of its founding.
Click here for introductory essay on Rachel Carson
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IWC July 2010 Film Series
Film and Discussion
Four Saturdays in July
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala St., Santa Barbara
Host: Robert Moore
Scroll down to see all four films
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	*July 10, 2010* Louis Armstrong – Satchmo (1994) A well balanced documentary, written by Gary Giddens, full of performances that demonstrate why Satchmo was universally named the ambassador of love. The film is spiced with commentaries by his contemporaries concerning his genius and profoundly human character.
	*July 17, 2010* Music Within (2007) Director: Steven Sawalich A movie based on the life of Richard Pimentel, a man who fought for the civil rights of the disabled, a struggle which culminated in the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Music Within may be somewhat rough and irreverent at times, but it does highlight the perspectives of the disabled. Richard Pimentel (Ron Livingston, Office Space) comes back from the Vietnam War with a severe ringing in his ears that leaves him virtually deaf. Pimentel finds a new path in life when he starts a career finding jobs for his fellow vets -– and forms a deep friendship with a brilliant man whose body is severely affected by cerebral palsy. Rebecca De Mornay and Hector Elizondo (actors).
	*July 24, 2010* Eroica (2003) Director: Simon Cellen Jones The film depicts a moment in musical history, combining historical fact with biographical speculation, about Beethoven's initial performance of Eroica. Incorporating a blazing performance of the symphony on period instruments into a reconstruction of its first performance at the Lobkowitz Palace, it manages to make a lot of statements about art, music, biography and history, without ever being didactic.
	*July 31, 2010* Nicholas Roerich: Messenger of Beauty (1979) Artist, writer, educator, archaeologist, explorer, mystic, peacemaker and true pioneer of world culture, Roerich (1874-1947) left a rich legacy of paintings, drawings, 30 books on the mystic East, and countless articles and lectures. The Roerich Peace Pact, a remarkable treaty signed by President Roosevelt and 26 other heads of state, sought to protect and preserve the cultural treasures of humanity from the destructive forces of its civilizations.

Filmed Seminar
Storytelling from Ancient New Zealand

Saturday, August 21, 2010
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Concord House, 1401 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA
Presenter, Barry Brailsford

How indigenous peoples understand culture and world culture is the focus of this taped seminar, originally presented by renowned story teller Barry Brailsford during his 2006 visit to the Institute of World Culture. His message, his story, his song is that there are enough peacemakers to save the world, but we must learn to learn from traditional cultures.

Brief biographical information: Barry Brailsford says his love of the land, and the mystery of the past, is his birthright. Born in Mawhera, the ancient anchorage of the great navigator and stone worker Poutini, and nurtured by the wild coastlines and forested mountains of Westland, New Zealand he knew a childhood where the spirit soared. He graduated MA (Hons) from Canterbury University, was a member of the NZ Archaeology Association Council and a Principal Lecturer at the Christchurch College of Education. In 1990 he was awarded an MBE for his contribution to education and Maori scholarship. When asked about his ancestry, he smiles and says, 'In the Derbyshire part of the Doomsday book of 1086, in the fortieth entry, you will find 'Elfin of Brailsford'. I am a dancing leprechaun.' This historian and archaeologist was taken into the realms of the ancient and sacred knowledge.

This biography reveals the dedication, principles and persistent effort by two life-long practitioners of satyagraha, the principle of non-violent truth force made famous by Mahatma Gandhi. Author Laura Coppo traveled with and captured the direct accounts of S. Jagannathan and his wife Krishnammal Jagannathan, now ages 96 and 83 respectively, of their lives’ work, primarily in Tamil Nadu, India, to help the poor and “untouchables” gain economic self sufficiency and social justice. Inspired by a Gandhian vision of village democracy, the Jagannathans, who met Gandhi and worked with Vinoba Bhave, explain the struggle to make the needs and empowerment of the very poor part of the politics of the new Indian nation. Descriptions of local protests against corporate-dominated globalization give the book a very contemporary relevance and raise a number of questions that will be discussed at the Forum. The introduction to this oral history is given by noted activist, Vandana Shiva. The modestly priced book can be purchased on the Internet. [Orders to info@commoncouragepress.com] ISBN 1-56751-276-3.

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Book Review:
The Color of Freedom by Laura Coppo
Foreword by Vandana Shiva
Edited with an Introduction and Notes by David H. Albert $17.95

In the Face of a Soul-Destroying Globalization, A Revolutionary Triumph of the Human Spirit Internationally acclaimed Indian activists and visionaries S. Jagannathan and Krishnammal Jagannathan (India’s “Joan of Arc”, proclaims the Women’s World Summit Foundation) are the subjects of this stirring oral biography. Coming from markedly different backgrounds, these two Gandhian revolutionaries played important roles in the struggle for Indian Independence, the nonviolent land reforms of the 1950s and 1960s, the struggle against untouchability, and are now fiercely engaged in a battle against the environmental destruction wrought by multinational aquaculture interests, partially funded by the World Bank, on the coast of south India. The Color of Freedom captures the sweep of almost a century of Indian history, and the role of two extraordinary people as they personally engage a world hurling from the feudal past into an uncompromising modernity. A spellbinding read! (All proceeds from the sale of The Color of Freedom go to support environmental, community development, and child development projects in South India.)

Seminar and Musical Performance
Thirty-Six Facets of Glory:
The Unaccompanied Cello Suites of J.S. Bach

Saturday, September 11, 2010
2:00 – 5:00 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA
Presenters: Joseph Miller and Rachel Galvin

This seminar will feature live performance, recordings and discussion of the six cello suites of J. S. Bach. Long hidden in obscurity, and mistakenly considered mere technical studies, these suites were mostly ignored until resurrected in the 20th century by the genius of Spanish cellist, Pablo Casals. Likely composed during the period 1717–1723, when Bach served as Kapellmeister in Cöthen, these pieces – each with six movements – are masterworks of the solo repertoire. Special guest violist, Rachel Galvin, will play selections from the Suites.

Saturday, September 25, 2010
7:30 – 9:30 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA
Moderator: Joseph Miller

This new documentary (2010) by Michael Lawrence explores the power and genius of the music of J. S. Bach through interviews and intimate performances by world-class musicians. Luminaries include not only concert presences like John Bayless, Philip Glass, Joshua Bell, Richard Stoltzman, and The Emerson String Quartet, but also cross-over artists like Edgar Meyer, Bobby McFerrin, Bela Fleck and the Swingle Singers. The performances themselves are, for the most part, filmed in the living spaces of the musicians, with multiple creative camera positions that bring the viewer into personal presence. Accessible to classical lovers and newbies, this film is an immediate visceral immersion into the timeless reality of Bach's brilliance.
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Saturday, October 2, 2010
3:00 – 5:30 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA
Presenters: Jonathan Colbert and Carolyn Dorrance

In observance of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the work of two close friends of Gandhi, Abul Kalam Azad and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, the "frontier Gandhi" will be highlighted. Both men were Muslims who opposed the partition of British India. They worked tirelessly using Gandhian principles of non-violent protests to help bring about a peaceful and self-empowering transition to independence for India. Clips from the documentary film "Mahatma Gandhi: 20th Century Prophet" will be shown. Presenters are Carolyn Dorrance and Jonathan Colbert. For more information: http://www.worldculture.org
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Saturday, October 23, 2010
2:00 – 5:00 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA
Presenter: Father Benigno Beltran

To observe World Food Day (October 16th) and United Nations Day (October 24th), the Institute of World Culture will sponsor a dialogue on the U.N. Millennium Development Goals for reducing poverty by half by 2015. Father Benigno Beltran, a leading, anti-poverty activist in the Philippines, will report on the three-day summit of world leaders
recently held at United Nations headquarters. He will share his insignts on how the Millennium Development Goals can be best pursued. Other activists in social businesses and service projects will join in the discussion.
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For more information: http://www.un.org/en/mdg/summit2010/news.shtml

Saturday, November 13, 2010
4:00 – 5:30 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA
Presenter: Russ Lewin

In 2001, Dr. Craig Venter led the first science team to map the human genome using new tools and techniques. Since that time, Dr. Venter has extended his research to include the mapping the genome of the ocean – environmental genomics. Collecting microbe samples aboard his research vessel, the Sorcerer II, Dr. Venter is mapping the genomes of the microbes that live in the ocean and account for over ½ of the biomass on earth - compared with animals that account for only 1/1000th. He refers to our biodiversity as the planets greatest treasure. The oceans are almost completely unexplored.
In 2010, Dr. Venter and his team created a synthetic cell. This landmark achievement is being used to create useful microbes from scratch to make products like vaccines and biofuels. In response to these breakthroughs, President Obama has asked the White House bioethics commission to complete a study on the issues raised by synthetic biology.

We will seek to understand these new breakthroughs in science and their possible implications. Dr. Venter's work has opened a new door that has the potential to deepen our understanding of chemistry and physiology. Dr. Venter said, “This is a philosophical advance as much as a technical advance.”
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Saturday, November 20, 2010
2:00 – 5:00 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA
Presenter: Cliff Tillotson
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A modern day Spanish Socrates, Miguel de Unamuno throws us back upon ourselves to fearlessly struggle with the Big Questions of Life. Come plunge into the dynamic life, paradoxical mind, and powerful heart of this genuine and quixotic Spaniard called by his contemporaries, "The Awakener".

Saturday, December 4, 2010
2:00 – 5:00 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA
Presenter: Dr. Timothy Conway

Discover the traits, virtues and strengths of authentically enlightened leadership based on what has truly worked in the lives of so many heroes and heroines, past and present. See how inspired leaders bring people together in harmony and solidarity for real social progress. The dynamics of developing leadership qualities that support integrity in continued service to society will be presented drawing on sources ranging from ancient sacred texts to recent guides for successful secular leadership. The seminar is offered by Dr. Timothy Conway a well known author, educator and spiritual healer, who will utilize materials from his doctoral research and web sites: www.enlightened-spirituality.org <http://www.enlightened-spirituality.org/> and www.rare-leadership.org <http://www.rare-leadership.org/> Call 967-1055 for more information.

Saturday, December 18, 2010
7:00 – 9:30 pm
Concord House, 1407 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Join us in our annual celebration of seasonal and cultural birth and renewal.
Enjoy the music of a skilled musical trio, Songwave, led by veteran music teacher, Alison Anderson. The trio will perform several original songs and lead a sing-along of traditional holiday music. Dramatic readings from The Christmas Carol writtenby Charles Dickens will offer food for thought. Donations of food are welcome.

Please contact Carol Bemis at 963-3437 if you would like to contribute savories or sweets.

The reception is for Institute members and guests over 10 years of age.