S C I E N C E Earth: Revolutionary Ideas about Our Planet’s Past, Present, and Future How does Earth work? We haven’t always known. Decades of research have radically shifted our thinking on the planet’s origins, its place in the solar system, and its possible future. With Stanford’s Michael McWilliams leading the way, students will learn to better understand how Earth’s physical, biological, and chemical systems work to create and sustain this habitable place. We’ll put this knowledge into focused discussions about modern thinking on climate change, mass extinctions, and biological evolution on a geological timescale. (See page 39) F I L M S T U D I E S The Cult Film in America: You Won’t Believe Your Eyes! In cinema, the cult film ranks among the most enigmatic and misunderstood. But what, exactly, is a cult film? And what cosmic forces align behind certain works with small, feverish followings that lead to permanent enshrinement? With longtime film instructor Elliot Lavine as our host, this course will analyze 60 years’ worth of cult film oddities, from A-list productions to the esoteric fringe. A generationally diverse lineup will include Tod Browning’s Freaks, Hal Ashby’s Harold and Maude, David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, and many more motion picture curiosities. (See page 24) L I T E R A T U R E Jane Austen at Her Height: Emma, Persuasion, and Sanditon Jane Austen’s later novels showcase her most memorable contributions to literature. Stanford’s Rebecca Richardson will lead students in this exploration of the author’s last two novels (Emma, Persuasion) and the frag- ment of a third (Sanditon, left unfinished at her death), which reflect Austen’s “mature” later style. Students will trace the trajectory of her life and career, viewing them in their larger cultural context. While Austen is known for her lens on English country life, her writing also gestures to a wider world in a way that resonates today. (See page 30) SUMMER 2023 Featured Courses James Andrews, Jane Austen, watercolor, 1869, private collection, based on the portrait of Jane Austen by Cassandra Austen, circa 1810, National Portrait Gallery, London. Accessed from Wikimedia Commons. 3 (Continued on next page)