Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) of CSUCI will offer a series of university-level mini-courses for all ages this winter in Thousand Oaks. "Taste of OLLI: An Intellectual Buffet" will supplement full-course offerings provided by OLLI at locations in Camarillo, Ventura and Simi Valley.The first lecture entitled, "Does Popular Film Influence Society, or Vice Versa?" is scheduled for Saturday, January 12, from 10 a.m. to noon at the CSUCI Extended Education Center, 501 Marin St. (near the Oaks Mall). Lecturer Martin Kaplan, Ph.D., specializes in social psychology and interpersonal influence. He taught at Northern Illinois University and now directs the OLLI-CSUCI program. This mini-class explores the development of movies and how they historically tend to both reflect and influence prevailing social norms. If you have wondered about the role that movies play in our lives, this mini-class will address your questions.Cost is $10.00 per lecture, or $65 for the entire series if paid in advance. It is strongly advised that participants pay for single lectures in advance due to limited seating. Day of class registration will be accepted, space permitting, when accompanied by check payment. For more information or to pre-enroll with a credit card, call (805) 437-2748 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. before January 10 thOther lectures in the Thousand Oaks series include: January 19: Charles Ives: An American Original. With Paris and Vienna the first centers of modernist music, it remains truly amazing that a major modernist composer should have emerged in the United States as early as 1900. Learn the life and music of our first important nationalist composer. January 26: Diversity in Law. The Supreme Court finds a compelling interest to foster "diversity" in public schools. What are the constitutional origins of "diversity", and how does it relate to "freedom" and "equality"? We examine the First Amendment, the Bill of Rights and the English Bill of Rights to understand the meaning of diversity. February 2: The Odyssean Tradition: From Homer's Odysseus to James Joyce's Leopold Bloom, and Points Between. Odysseus has fascinated not only readers but authors through the ages. We focus on Homer's Odyssey and Joyce's Ulysses for those who've read one, both, or neither, but want the trip. February 9: Language Differences in Males and Females. Do males and females, in fact, express themselves differently? We take a cross-cultural and cross-linguistic approach to answer this question. February 16: A Survey of Bluegrass Music. We explore this indigenous American music genre, covering important performers (e.g., Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs and David Grisman), the music's origins in the British Isles and Appalachia, key stylistic elements and standard instrumentation. February 23: American Heroism and the Celebrity Curse: Heroic Actions and Values in the New Media Age. An overview of the concept of heroism in American culture since 1945. Special focus will be given to the rise of TV and other new mass media and the emergence of a cult of celebrity that has become a virtual curse on American society. March 1: Black Sea Flood: The recent popular book "Noah's Flood" by Ryan and Pittman focused the public imagination on the filling of the Black Sea basin and its impact on human populations in the region. We explore the evidence for and against this famous controversy.In addition to the "Taste of OLLI" mini-courses, OLLI regularly offers full, 8 week classes at CSUCI, Ventura, and Simi Valley. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute brings the excitement and stimulation of college learning to area seniors (50 or better!) who wish to extend their learning experiences in a university atmosphere. At OLLI, university-quality short courses are offered by university faculty as well as qualified members of the senior community without the distraction of grading, preparing for a career, or meeting degree requirements. No more testing, just learning for pure stimulation and enjoyment! For more information, visit www.csuci.edu/exed/osher.htm or call 805-437-2748.