Topical Seminars is a monthly series of seminars based upon essays whose topics include philosophy, the arts and literature, science, politics, economics, communications, and much more. Participants are asked to read an essay chosen by the facilitation team and then submit a written response in advance of each session. The group then meets for a lively discussion on the posted piece and on the participants’ responses to it.

Essays are available for reading at our website a month in advance. Responses are due no later than the day before each meeting and are also posted on the website. For more information, contact David White, facilitation team member.

Recently there have been some notable rewrites of masterpieces: Percival Everett’s retelling of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, James, David West Read (Schitt’s Creek) and Max Martin’s reimagining of Romeo and Juliet, & Juliet; and Sandra Norman’s reworking of George Orwell’s 1984, Julia. What all these efforts have in common is a post-modern critique of the masterpieces, a de-centering and deconstruction of main characters – Huck Finn, Romeo, and Winston Smith are given a back seat to Jim, Juliet, and Julia. There are number of derivative works of music and drama as well. This month we will discuss whether these are “legitimate” artistic exercises or simply transgressive escapades?

Registration is requested.

Topics for 2025-26 are:

September 10 | Cryptocurrency
October 8 | Comedy
November 12 | The Power of an Idea  
December 10 | A Personal Response to the Concept of Wisdom
January 14 | Pursuit of Happiness and American Identity 
February 11 | The Great Political Realignment 
March 11 | Romanticism
April 8 | Community and Technocracy  
May 13 | Rewritten Masterpieces 
June 10 | Reflections on this year's Topical Seminars programs and thoughts for the future