Mark Carnes & Jennifer Worth

On Campus

Dates & Times: To be determined

Cost: $750

Reacting to the Past: Greenwich Village, 1913: Suffrage, Labor, and the New Woman

Developed at Barnard College by Professor Mark Carnes, Reacting to the Past is a groundbreaking role-playing pedagogy that brings history to life through immersive, debate-driven games. Lifelong learning participants—alongside current Barnard students—step into the shoes of key historical figures during moments of intense intellectual and social transformation.

In this course, you’ll enter the vibrant world of Greenwich Village at the dawn of the 20th century—a crossroads of radical politics, artistic experimentation, and cultural change. Taking on the roles of Greenwich Village residents gathering at the iconic Polly’s restaurant, you’ll engage in spirited debates on pressing issues of the era: women’s suffrage, labor rights, marriage, and community life.

Will suffragists rally support for the vote? Will striking workers win the public’s favor? Through historical role-play and collaborative discussion, you’ll experience how the urgent debates of 1913 still resonate today. You'll 

Greenwich Village, 1913 is an immersive role-playing game that invites students to engage deeply with the complex social movements shaping early 20th-century America. Through historical simulation, students explore the ideological diversity and internal tensions within the suffrage and labor movements, while also encountering the intellectual and artistic ferment of the bohemian community. The game challenges participants to argue passionately for their assigned roles' visions of social change, navigate competing priorities, and adapt to the political and cultural realities of the time. In doing so, students gain a nuanced understanding of competing suffrage strategies, labor ideologies, and the role of art and personal liberation in reshaping American society.

Registration information is here.

Kathleen Madden '92

On Site: NYC Art Galleries

5 sessions: Thursdays,
10 AM -12 PM 

Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30 & Nov. 6

Conversations in Contemporary Art

New York City is home to one of the most vibrant and influential contemporary art scenes in the world. This course offers students rare access to the inner workings of the art world through intimate and public conversations with established and emerging artists, curators, critics, gallery owners, and auction specialists. Students will explore the production, selection, exhibition, and sale of contemporary art, visiting studios, galleries, museums, and collections across the city. Along the way, they will develop a working knowledge of key art-world terminology, learn to ask critical questions about the art of today, and engage in sustained discussion and reflection on the role of contemporary art in cultural and urban life.
Anywhere, Always: Barnard Online

Registration information is here.