Outreach: Santa Fe

Summer Classics 2008

 

Cultivate Intellectual Passion at St. John's College in Santa Fe

Discover great books during Summer Classics in Santa Fe, where we gather to foster intellectual enrichment through reading and dialogue.Cultivate your intellectual passion and gain a deeper understanding of who we are, where we have been, and how we change.

About Summer Classics

Summer Classics at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico is your chance to explore the perplexing, the rousing, and the numinous.  Every summer people from across the country, who vary widely in age, and academic and professional backgrounds, gather in small seminars on the Santa Fe campus to read and discuss classics of literature, science, history, philosophy, and opera.

A Summer Classics seminar is not a lecture, nor is it a “book club.”  At St. John’s, seminars are lively, in-depth, highly participatory conversations on the reading at hand.  Discussions begin with an opening question presented by a tutor, but can take on a myriad of directions.  Everyone contributes in some way to the conversation, bringing ideas to the table whether they have experience with the topic or not.  Listening is just as important as speaking, as connections among ideas make for interesting conversation.  No previous knowledge of the author, text, or subject is required; participants should refer only to works the group has studied together.  Our conversations are not debates.  Challenging others’ ideas or offering alternative thinking is encouraged as long as the goal is insight, not didacticism.

These week-long seminars take place in July, and are limited to 16 participants each.  Groups are led by two members of the St. John’s College faculty, or occasionally, guests from other institutions.

Tuition covers one seminar (either one morning or one afternoon topic) in a given week.  You may register for both one morning seminar and one afternoon seminar each week.  Participants are welcome to register for more than one week of seminars.

When not reading or in class, participants reserve time to explore the vibrancy of historic Santa Fe and attend cultural events such as the Spanish Market, the Eight Northern Indian Pueblo Arts and Crafts Show or musical performances such as Music on the Hilltm at St. John's College, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and the world-renowned Santa Fe Opera.