Funny songs from yesteryear, the impact of cartooning, the history of islands, and why do we dream?
That's an eclectic mix of subject matter, and those topics and more are on another packed agenda this month at Wollongong's University of the 3rd Age (U3A).
The U3A talks are one of the highlights of the September program kicking off tomorrow (Thursday) morning at the Salvation Army building in Stewart Street in the city (see full program at the end of this story).
'Island Experiences' is Jan Liddiard's topic at 9.30am, a sequel to Martin Clunes' Islands of Australia, covering the history of islands – including shipwreck stories, the loneliness of lighthouse keepers and wartime experiences.
Jan said: "Islands in the Pacific under colonial administration before gaining independence provided challenging experiences for young cadets. The book A Pattern of Islands provides an often-humorous record of one young man's experience in an administrative role. The talk concludes with a visit to the remote Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia, 1400km east of Tahiti where the artist Paul Gaugin made his presence felt before dying there."
A talk for the dreamers
Next Monday, 8 September, in the early talk at 9.30am Colin Bateman will explore 'Dreams'.
"I always dreamed a lot as a child, did sleep talking and sleepwalking," Colin said. "At times my father rescued me from a sleepwalking journey outside and up the back yard. When I studied psychology at university in the late 1950s we did a lot of study of the brain, the importance of sleep and the functions of dreams. We studied Jung, Freud, Gestalt and many others.
"The emphasis of my U3A talk is fourfold: What are dreams? Why do we dream? Who dreams? When do we dream?
"I have recently returned from a trip through Arnhem Land, so 'The Dreaming' has fascinated me. I will include some of that, as well as some of the stories about Mimosa and the Five Islands Dreaming stories. I'll also include some of the theoretical explanations for understanding dreams."
The important role of cartooning
Next Monday's afternoon talk from Mick Trainer is titled 'Stop Laughing This is Serious'.
"This is a talk about the role of the printed cartoon in our culture," Mick said. "I will explore the origins of the cartoon from a tool used to develop rich art, to one which pokes fun at p[public figures and events, and of course those that just entertain, while subtly examining the human condition."
"We will explore the five types of printed media cartoons and the magazines that made them popular. We will sample the famous illustrators and artists who were part of our daily lives, especially Charles Shultz, of 'Peanuts' fame, and unmask those who continue today with their political/editorial drawings."
Quirky songs from the 1960s
Later in the month, on Thursday, 18 September, Steve Morris should have everyone's feet tapping and many an earworm activated when he discusses "The Novelty Songs of the 1960s".
"In the early sixties most of our popular music came to us by radio, and the songs were sung by handsome young dressed-up men and women all falling in and out of love," Steve said. "Breaking up was hard to do."
He said the counterculture was brewing "and the world was about to break out in protest. Then came the novelty song.
"With origins in music hall and the skiffle movement, we suddenly heard about dustmen, chewing gum of bedposts, and women with husbands all named Henery. English Australians had problems with their boomerang not returning and their kangaroos needed tying down," Steve said.
"The public seemed to love silly songs about silly things and spent their money on little discs that became top 10 hits."
These were the novelty songs, and in this talk, Steve will take the U3A group back to the fun times of the 60s, baby boomers and some of the quirkiest tunes from the UK, US and Australia, which our children would cringe at today.
Entry to the U3A talks is free and the September program is as follows:
- Thursday, 4 September
9.30am Island Experiences. - Jan Lidiard
11 am. The Gettysburg Address, the American Civil War - Martin Arrowsmith
- Monday, 8 September
9.30am "Dreams" - Colin Bateman
11am TBA - Mike Traynor
- Thursday, 11 September
9.30am Art and Music - Dave Kichen
11am The Redfern Address, Paul Kitchen - Barbara Cattunar
- Monday, 15 September
9.30am Simon de Beauvoir & Sex & Life - Colin Bateman
11am La Traviata - Allayne Foley
- Thursday, 18 September
9.30am Novelty Songs of the 60s - Steve Morris
11am Quit India Speeches, Mahatma Ghandi - Dawn Epton
