Smithsonian Chamber Music Society audiences are privy to the unparalleled experience of being able to hear two magnificent quartets of instruments—one made by Antonio Stradivari, the other by his teacher Nicoló Amati—in this popular four-concert series on Saturdays. This concert features music composed by Haydn, Bethoven, and Dvorák.
The year 2025 marks the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which met in 325 in the presence of Constantine, the first Christian Roman emperor. The gathering of some 250 bishops was a momentous event and is remembered as the first ecumenical council, which composed the original Nicene Creed still used in modified form today. However, what really happened at the council remains controversial. Historian David Gwynn explores Nicaea’s disputed legacy for both Christianity and the Roman empire.
Viktor Frankl (1905–1997) was a philosopher, practicing therapist, and author of 39 books, including A Psychologist’s Experiences in the Concentration Camp, chronicling his imprisonment during World War II. He created the theory and exercise of logotherapy, a school of psychotherapy that described a search for life’s meaning and purpose as a central human dynamic. Historian and author Dennis B. Klein reviews Frankl’s work, exploring how meaning-making can respond to what he called “inner emptiness.”
Millions of American GIs served in the European Theater of Operations during the Second World War, fighting their way through Italy, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands before pushing into Germany itself. Most were not professional soldiers, but ordinary young men drafted and sent overseas to confront one of the most formidable armies in history. Historian Christopher Hamner explores the experience of these ground troops—nicknamed “dogfaces”—from their stateside training and transatlantic journey to the brutal and bewildering realities of combat on the European continent.
The ability to derive meaning from what is seen is an essential skill in a culture saturated with images. Once this visual language is understood, reading images, particularly art, is simpler and more gratifying. Using works from the history of art as well as images from popular culture, art historian Nancy G. Heller focuses on how art communicates, how to analyze and interpret it, and what it reveals about the society that produced it. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)
Journey back to the time when aluminum trees shimmered in living rooms, Shiny Brite ornaments sparkled on branches, and cartoon holiday specials became beloved TV traditions. Through period photographs, vintage advertisements, and colorful catalogs, cultural historian Leslie Goddard brings to life the spirit of Christmas in the United States from the late 1940s through the 1960s. Goddard explores how the holiday evolved during an era marked by postwar prosperity and cultural optimism for many.
Few art forms capture the spirit of design and function quite like Scandinavian glass, celebrated worldwide for its elegant simplicity and innovative craftsmanship. From classic pieces like Alvar Aalto’s flowing Savoy vase to the bold experimentation of mid-century designers, Scandinavian glass transformed the art world and redefined everyday objects as works of art. Art historian Jennie Hirsh traces the evolution of this distinctive Danish, Swedish, and Finnish glassmaking from the 19th century to the present, with a special focus on the groundbreaking developments of the 20th century. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
When it comes to sex and love, ancient peoples tell us a lot about topics including what was forbidden; opportunities for premarital and extramarital sex; their ways of lovemaking; and how members of the same and the opposite gender expressed love for one another. Drawing from a multitude of cultures, professor emeritus of classics Robert Garland discusses what we know and don’t know about sex and love in the ancient world.
