As a precaution to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Adult Education Seminars Program’s Summer 2020 term will be moving online. Virtual seminars will meet via Zoom video conference and will use email and Google Drive folders to share resources and communicate with instructors and participants. For more information about the Newberry’s virtual seminars and these tools, including a Zoom tutorial, please see our Virtual Seminars FAQ page. If you have questions about online learning, please feel free to reach out to seminars@newberry.org.

For more information about the Newberry’s response to COVID-19 please visit www.newberry.org/covid19.

Seminar Description

The “double” is one of cinema’s most cherished and recycled tropes. Originally popularized in the fantastic literature of Edgar Allen Poe and E. T. A. Hoffman, the double soon migrated to the silver screen. Although initially appearing as a sight gag in slapstick films, the double’s gothic dimension has cemented it as an enduring mainstay of the horror and thriller genres. Drawing on traditional psychoanalytic readings of the double and texts from film theory, this seminar will attempt to account for the popularity of the double in cinema. Please note: This seminar will require participants to view several films. These will be available to watch, rent, or purchase on streaming platforms such as Amazon, iTunes, YouTube, or Google Play. The instructor will provide links to these films in advance.

Six sessions. Registration – $210

Harrison Sherrod manages a film production company by day and teaches seminars at the Newberry by night. He has led courses on everything from metaphysical detectives and con games to Star Wars and Marxism.

Materials List

Required:

• A selection of shorter materials distributed by the instructor.

First Reading:

• For the first session, please read The Double by Otto Rank (a digital file of this reading will be sent with the email confirming your registration) and watch The Student of Prague (directed by Stellen Rye) and Sherlock Jr. (directed by Buster Keaton).

Registration Information

Online registration opens at 9 am (CST) on Wednesday, June 3.

Please note: Due to COVID-19, the Adult Education Seminars staff is working remotely and will be unable to process registration over the phone. For more information about registration, including a guide to online registration, see our Registration Information page. Questions? Please contact seminars program staff via email at seminars@newberry.org.

We offer a 10% discount to members, seniors, and students.

This seminar is part of the Newberry’s Adult Education Seminars Program. Learn more about registering for a seminar, program policies, or teaching a seminar.