True Tales from the Life of Alice Roosevelt Longworth and More Programs in March

Smithsonian Associates offers innovative, online and in-person programming that promotes learning, enrichment and creativity for people of all ages. Hundreds of seminars, studio arts classes and study tours are offered annually. To view the Smithsonian Associates digital program guide, visit smithsonianassociates.org.

 Tuesday, March 7

What Does It Mean To Live a Good Life? What better way to spend four March evenings than by pondering one of the central questions of the Western philosophical tradition: What does it mean to live a good life? Learn how some of the greatest philosophers of all time have approached this fundamental question, and how the question lives on today. The first session will be held online from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET $80-$90.

The Oscars: Washington City Paper film critic Noah Gittell is back for an evening that focuses on all things Oscar, from Academy Awards history and trivia to discussions of this year’s nominations and behind-the-scenes stories. He sorts through all of the story lines, rumors and gossip, so that when the telecast begins, you'll be the most knowledgeable guest at your Oscar party. This program will be held online from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET. $20-$25

Wednesday, March 8

Photographing Pets and People: Learn to create photo portraits of family, friends—and passers-by—and their pets. Draw on tips from photojournalism and street photography for shooting in various situations in this 2-session online studio arts course. The first session will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET. $90-$110.

Thursday, March 9

Masterworks by Renior at the Barnes: Drawing on the riches of one of the greatest post-impressionist and early modern art collections in the world and remarkable high-definition Deep Zoom technology, Barnes Foundation educator Penny Hansen guides a series of live virtual tours that closely examine the paintings and lives of artists who helped shape a truly revolutionary period in the history of art. The first session focuses on the gallery's collection of Henri Matisse artworks and will be held online from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET. Enrolled participants in the Smithsonian World Art History Certificate program earn 1/2 credit. $30-$35

American Women and the Fight for Equality: After what Susan B. Anthony called “the long, hard fight,” the Nineteenth Amendment enfranchising 26 million white and Black women, was added to the Constitution on August 26, 1920. Join author Elisabeth Griffith as she focuses on a diverse cast of characters, some notable, many unknown, as she highlights how the diversity of the women’s movement mirrors America. This program will be held online from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET. $20-$25

Monday, March 13

Feminist Fairy Tales: Who Needs a Prince?: You might have heard something like this: Fairy tales are so sexist. All these girls needing a prince to save them!" But the politics of gender in fairy tales are much more complicated. Folklorists Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman explore the roots of fairy-tale studies and illustrate how scholarly discussions of sex and gender have transformed the art of the fairy tale as we know it. This program will be held from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET. $20-$25

Tuesday, March 14

The Tale of Shuten Doji: The 14th-century Japanese legend The Tale of Shuten Doji was a popular subject in visual and performing arts during the Edo period. Art historian Yui Suzuki examines the illustrated tale in depth, focusing on both the conventional and cryptic meanings that the artworks convey. Enrolled participants in the Smithsonian World Art History Certificate program earn 1/2 credit. This program will be held online from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET. $20-$25

Edith Wilson: The First (Unelected) Woman President: While this nation has yet to elect its first woman president, just over a century ago Edith Bolling Galt Wilson effectively acted as one when her husband Woodrow Wilson was incapacitated. Rebecca Boggs Roberts, a leading historian on women’s suffrage and power, examines the complicated figure whose personal quest for influence reshaped the position of first lady into one of lasting political prominence. This program will be held online from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET. $20-$25

Wednesday, March 15

Lost Opportunities: The Troubled History of African American and Irish Relations: The histories of African Americans and Irish Americans have each been fraught with discrimination and hardship. Though both groups faced oppression and societal scorn as second-class citizens, they often found themselves at odds during the 19th century, with the competition for housing and jobs creating racial tensions. Historian Christopher Brooks discusses these parallel histories and how natural allies became historical rivals. This program will be held online from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET. $20-$25

Thursday, March 16

How the Internet Changed the Media: Brian Rose, professor emeritus at Fordham University, examines the many ways the internet has radically transformed the “old” media of newspapers, magazines, the recording industry, film, radio, and television. He traces how this digital revolution took place in such a short period of time, and what lies ahead in the continually changing era of “new” media. This program will be held online from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. ET. $20-$25

Wednesday, March 22

Magna Carta: A Blueprint for Democracy: Learn the fascinating story of how a failed 13th-century peace treaty between King John of England and his barons became a foundational cornerstone of citizens’ rights in this country with law professor, Thomas J. McSweeney. This program will be held online from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. ET. $25-$30

Thursday, March 23

True Tales from the Life of Alice Roosevelt Longworth: In a rollicking, richly illustrated presentation, popular speaker Paul Glenshaw—in conversation with historian Callan Shea—peels back the fascinating layers and history of an iconic photograph featuring a presidential wild child, an electric car and the first military airplane. This program will be held online from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET. $20-$25

“See You in Orbit?”: A History of Space Tourism: Though millions of dreamers have anticipated their chance to travel in space, fewer than 650 earthlings have viewed our planet from a spaceship. Alan Ladwig, former manager of NASA’s Space Flight Participant Program, examines the promise, expectations, principal personalities and milestones surrounding space tourism and reviews what has remained constant for decades: our motivation to float among the stars. This program will be held online from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET. $25-$30

Friday, March 24

La Grande Fête 2023: Get ready for a spectacular party with a French accent! The annual Francophonie Cultural Festival spotlights the music, art, literature, film, cuisine and customs of French-speaking countries and regions from across the globe. One of the celebration’s highlights, La Grande Fête is always magnifique, and this year’s bash is no exception. Don’t miss the chance to experience the best of the French-speaking world at La Maison Francaise, Embassy of France in Washington, D.C. The event will be held from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. $40

Tuesday, March 28

Barbra Streisand: She’s All That: She’s all-daring and all-voice, magnificent and maddening, improbable and irreplaceable. You’ll be saying “Hello, Gorgeous” when you join documentary filmmaker and writer Sara Lukinson, whose commentary and abundant sampling of clips set the stage for a fun night to spend with La Streisand. This program will be held online from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET. $25-$30

Wednesday, March 29

Black Holes 101: Though the concept of black holes can be traced back to the late 1700s, the quest to understand their nature and how they shape our universe continues. Kelly Beatty, senior editor at Sky & Telescope magazine, discusses how cosmologists still grapple with precisely what black holes are and how best to study them. This program will be held online from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET. $20-$25

Friday, March 31

From Towers to Palaces: An Architectural Tour of Medieval Florence: Florentine architecture in the 13th and 14th centuries was characterized by soaring towers, massive fortress-like palaces, breathtakingly beautiful basilicas and public buildings that set an important precedent for the future palace builders of wealthy patrician families. From her home in Tuscany, art historian Elaine Ruffolo traces how the built environment of medieval Florence clearly reflects the historical development of the city at the dawn of the Renaissance. Enrolled participants in the Smithsonian World Art History Certificate program earn 1/2 credit. This program will be held online from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. ET. $20-$25

To view the Smithsonian Associates digital program guide, visit smithsonianassociates.org.

Lauren Lyons | READ MORE

Lauren Lyons is a public affairs specialist at Smithsonian Associates.