On Saturday, I returned, as I do every summer, to the amazing Chautauqua Institution on the banks of Lake Chautauqua in western New York.
Here’s a one minute promotional video:
And here is a video of my friend, Chautauqua Institution archivist, Jon Schmitz:
Yesterday, Bella and I arrived back at the Chautauqua Institution where we will spend most of the summer.
Chautauqua is one of the world’s greatest educational institutions with programs for people of all ages and interests.
My big project this summer will be finishing the manuscript for my book on memory improvement. So expect a few posts on writing.
Last night political satirist Mark Russell came out of retirement to perform at Chautauqua. On his website, he describes Chautauqua as “one of my favorite venues. ”
At 80 years old, Russell shows impressive cognitive skills. It seems possible that the special demands of being a topical comedian promotes the type of cognitive engagement that helps maintain mental skills across the life span. Russell not only has to keep up with current affairs (he even told several jokes about Jay-Z and Beyonce traveling to Cuba) but has to rearrange the material for humorous effect. In addition, humor requires the cognitive skill that psychologists call “theory of mind.”
When Zelda Fitzgerald wrote “I still believe that one can learn to play the piano by mail and that mud will give you a perfect complexion,” she was contemplating the effects of advertising, but I think she captured something of the spirit of the Chautauqua Institution, a faith in the possibility of self improvement.
The Chautauqua Institution was founded in 1874, among its goals was to provide education to adults. It became the center of a vast social movement that embraced both self improvement and social betterment. Traveling chautauquas brought arts and education to Americans longing for something greater. Its book club the CLSC is the oldest continuously running book club in America.
Every summer Chautauqua holds its nine week season, each week organized around a topic. Every weekday morning there is a lecture on that topic made by a prominent expert. In addition, there are adult education classes, a movie theater, an opera, a theater program, and extensive activities for children.
Chautauqua also has the feel of one those great Amercian utopian projects. During the nine moth season the population of the institution swells to urban levels, yet it remains a very livable space where walking and cycling are the main modes of transportation.
I don’t know if you really can learn to play the piano by correspondence, but I am in favor of adults taking up challenging learning projects. Chautauqua is a place to keep cognitively engaged. If you have never been to Chautauqua you owe it to yourself to visit this amazing place.
peakmemory
