In addition ...
In addition to the ElderAcademy courses, William also teaches at local universities. Here are two of his recent courses at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
University of Wisconsin - Madison, Program of Continuing Studies, Fall 2015
Monstrosity in the Middle Ages (class enrollment 32 students)
Monsters loomed large, literally and figuratively, in the medieval imagination. In this course, readings from natural history and philosophy are paired with texts such as Beowulf; Mandeville´s Travels; Old French tales about werewolves; and 15th-century German pamphlets about Dracula. An additional focus on “reading” medieval maps – many of them richly illustrated with beasts and monsters – helps us to locate the monstrous in spatial, theological, and aesthetic terms
This course featured four 90-minute illustrated lectures.
University of Wisconsin - Madison, Program of Continuing Studies, Spring 2015
Death and Dying in the Middle Ages (class enrollment 27 students)
This course examines the history and representation of mortality, funeral practice, mourning, remembrance, and the afterworld in medieval Europe. Representations of death and dying in the visual arts from 1000-1550 provide additional context. Topics include: the historical and medical context of the Black Death, death in religious orders, the "Art of Dying," the "Dance of Death," the invention of Purgatory, and visions of Hell.
This course featured five 90-minute illustrated lectures.