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Category: "20th Century America"

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Gatsby's "West Egg" and the "Slender Riotous Island" in the 1920s

Natalie Naylor, Uniondale
F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby created the literary image of Long Island, but what was the historical reality of Long Island life in the 1920s?

America's Nine First Ladies From New York State

Elizabeth Kahn Kaplan, St. James
One saved Lafayette’s wife from the guillotine. Another was the "Rose of Long Island." Learn about these and seven other fascinating women from New York State who became First Ladies.

Westward Oy! Pioneer Jews in America

Kenneth Libo, New York
In this lecture, Jewish cowboys, sheep ranchers, and cattle punchers take their rightful place in history alongside other Americans of pioneering spirit.

American-Jewish Music & African-American Music: Shared Visions and Dreams

Robert L. Cohen, Fresh Meadows
Consider cross-fertilization and mutual inspiration between American-Jewish and African-American music: We listen in on the ongoing musical conversation between blacks and Jews.

Klezmer Music: From Old World to New World to Our World

Robert L. Cohen, Fresh Meadows
A musical journey through American and worldwide klezmer music - from the traditional style and repertoire to eclectic contemporary fusions with diverse American and world musical styles.

"Oh What a Charming City": New York City in Folk and Popular Song

Robert L. Cohen, Fresh Meadows
Take a musical guided tour in song of life and love in New York City, from the 18th century to today.

Political Unification Efforts in Latin America

Salvador Rivera, Cobleskill
Since 1825, every generation in Latin America has witnessed an effort to integrate the continent. Learn about the diplomats, idealists, technocrats, and politicians who have led these movements over the decades, and how they have both failed and succeeded.

Italian Americans and the Media: Cinema, Video, Television

Anthony Julian Tamburri, New York
How have popular media portrayed Italians? This lecture discusses the positive and negative images of Italian-American culture in cinema, television, and videos.

Longing and Belonging: The Idea of Home in Asian American Literature

Luis H. Francia, New York
Asian-American writers often explore the tension of being both an American and an outsider. Learn more about how contemporary authors including Maxine Hong Kingston, Chang Rae Lee, and Jumpa Lahiri re-imagine notions of home, tradition, sexuality, history, and memory in their stories and novels, to forge a unique place for Asian-Americans in American culture.

The Balfour Declaration: The Central U.S. Role in Israeli-Palestinian Relations

Joseph Rappaport, New York
The United States has played a role in the Middle East conflict going back at least as far as 1917. Learn more about the modern history of Israeli-Palestinian relations, America's involvement in key milestones along the way, and the current challenges facing Israelis and Palestinians.

The Police and the Constitution

James L. Coll, Seaford
This informative lecture with a unique perspective highlights how Founding-era ideals apply to the evolving powers and limitations of the police in modern society.

The Beat Writers

Larry Rapant, Voorheesville
The Beat Writers: druggies or prophets? Poets or con artists? Mystics or purveyors of smut?

The History of UFO Sightings in America

John Horner, Woodstock
How our society has understood UFOs has changed significantly in the past century and generally reflected current social, technological and political factors of the time.

The Roswell UFO Incident and the Cold War

John Horner, Woodstock
Did a flying saucer crash in New Mexico in 1947? America was not only worried about men from Mars, but also the communist Soviet Union.

Mural Art as History: A "Look" at 20th Century Women as Catalysts for Change in When Women Pursue Justice

Janet Braun-Reinitz, Brooklyn
The mural, When Women Pursue Justice, functions as both a primary and secondary source for exploring the achievements and contributions of American women as catalysts for change in the 20th century.

The Great Earthquake of 1908: America Comes to Italy’s Rescue

Salvatore J. LaGumina, Garden City
America's generous response to the Messina earthquake of 1908 is considered one of the nation's greatest humanitarian efforts. How does it compare with our responses to other, more recent natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina?

The Italian-American Dilemma During World War II

Salvatore J. LaGumina, Garden City
Six million people of Italian heritage, many still Italian citizens, were living the United States when it declared war against Italy in 1941. How did they deal with society's doubts about their patriotism? Was their fundamental loyalty to the United States, or to Italy?

History of Music in Buffalo

Raya Lee, Williamsville
From the first music store to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the city’s musical heritage at its best is highlighted.

Erie Canal: Glitz & Glory

Raya Lee, Williamsville
With fireworks and fury, music and mayhem, the Erie Canal transformed villages into cities and New York into the Empire State.

Buffalo's Grand Celebration: The 1901 Pan-American Exposition

Raya Lee, Williamsville
Buffalo hosted the Pan-American Exposition from May to November of 1901. The fair showed off the cutting edge of progress and technology -- as well as music, art, gondola tours, and a wild midway. But the fair would be remembered more for an American political tragedy than for its display of American pride.

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