In this course, you'll sample some of the greatest literary expressions the world has known and experience storytelling in its many forms, including poetry, drama, and narrative.

Professor Spurgin, of Lawrence University, traces the novel from its beginnings in the 18th century, when Samuel Richardson penned Pamela, to its culmination in the work of the 20th century Modernists, including Lawrence, Joyce, and Woolf. He also relates plots and characters of particular novels to larger movements in English history. By placing more than two centuries of great English novelists in the context of British history, Professor Spurgin...

In 32 lectures, 45 minutes each, Prof. Greenberg discusses 31 of the world's greatest orchestral woks.

University of Michigan professor Eric S. Rabkin discusses the fantastic in its most important modern variety, science fiction, as part of the entire course on fantasy literature.

A documentary that goes beneath the surface of some of the favorite films, seeking to better understand the way society views love, relationships, and romance. Romantic comedies are hugely successful and deeply loved by many but often have avoided critical analysis. Helped by a diverse chorus of writers, actors, and filmmakers, and with original songs by her band Summer Camp, director Elizabeth Sankey embarks on a journey of investigation and self-discovery....

The Art of Reading is about the wonderful feeling of engaging with a novel or short story on all levels and learning how artful readers think about and approach the works they read. Whether you're someone who loves curling up with a good book, a writer who is looking for insights into how to get inside your readers' minds, or a student who wants to contribute to class discussions, there's something for you to find in this course. 24-lecture course...

Documentary exploring the history of jazz from its beginnings through the 1990's, including the stories of many of its creators and performers. Includes archival video, still photographs, historical performances, and newly recorded interviews and musical performances.

Emerging from the primordial soup of glamour, gutter sleaze, and feverish creativity that was New Yorks 1960s underground culture, the Velvet Underground redefined music with its at once raw and exalted blend of experimentation and art-damaged rock and roll. In his kaleidoscopic documentary The Velvet Underground, Todd Haynes vividly evokes the band's incandescent world: the creative origins of the twin visionaries Lou Reed and John Cale, Andy Warhol's...

Between 1961-1973, musicians in the Village banded together to sing about the radical social upheaval of the time, sparking everlasting political, social, and cultural changes. For the first time, the greatest singer-songwriters, authors, and performers from Greenwich Village reflect on how they collectively became the voice of a generation. Through poignant interviews, rare archival footage, and new live performances, they tell a story about community,...

DVD-R. A definitive exploration of singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen as seen through the prism of his internationally renowned hymn, "Hallelujah." Approved for production by Leonard Cohen just before his 80th birthday in 2014, the film accesses a wealth of never-before-seen archival materials from the Cohen Trust including Cohen's notebooks, journals and photographs, performance footage, and extremely rare audio recordings and interviews.