Tuesdays

9:30 - 11:00 am

Online

5/25, 6/1, 6/8, 6/15, 6/22 & 6/29

Six Sessions 

This course is offered online via the easy-to-use Zoom program.

The poet Percy Bysshe Shelley called poets “the unacknowledged legislators of the world.” Aaron Sorkin, who has given us "The West Wing," "A Few Good Men," "The Social Network," "The Newsroom," "Molly’s Game," and "The Trial of the Chicago Seven," among others, is one such poet, expressing himself through stage and screen. Sorkin’s writing touches on many of the great issues of our time. We will explore the craft of Aaron Sorkin, and then address Sorkin on religion, on race, on gender, and on law and public policy.

Although no background is necessary, it will be helpful if attendees are generally familiar with "The West Wing" and at least one or two of the other Sorkin works mentioned in the description.

Instructor Doug Mishkin is a lawyer and a songwriter.  As a lawyer, he is Of Counsel to Heisler Feldman & McCormick, P.C. representing people of low income in housing and employment matters.  Previously he practiced law for 36 years in Washington, D.C.  As a songwriter, his albums include “Climbing That Ladder” and “Woody’s Children,” the title song of which appears in video at www.woodyschildren.com. He has performed with Peter Yarrow, Tom Chapin, Christine Lavin and others.  He does these things to fill time between watching Aaron Sorkin movies and television shows.  His previous courses for OLLI include "The Scopes Monkey Trial: Then and Now" (2019) and "The Songs of Woody's Children: Pete Seeger and Beyond" (2020)."

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