Explore Further

October 2005

A bimonthly e-newsletter for students in the College’s degree programs; participants in enrichment programs such as Great Conversations, Compleat Scholar, Split Rock Arts Program, or Curiosity Camp; and curious community members

Travel the world without leaving the Twin Cities

Travel adventure comes in more forms than you might imagine. You can hop on a plane to a place you’ve never been (think sunny Sydney, lovely Paris, mysterious Cairo, or exotic Rio de Janeiro), or you can opt for a virtual visit to these same locales.

Armchair travel can take you anywhere you want to go. It’s the act of experiencing a city or country through books or slide lectures or even the Internet. You learn about the culture, where to go, and what to see – and what to avoid.

According to Allan Kohl, instructor for the Compleat Scholar course, London: A History in Art and Literature, armchair travel is not just for people who want to live vicariously. Many people use books and courses as a way to learn more about a destination before they travel there in order to make the most of their experience.

“I think my favorite people are those who have already been to a location, are planning to return in the near future, and want to be more knowledgeable visitors,” said Kohl. “It seems to me that a lot of people have experienced these cities in spatial terms, or topographically, meaning they arrived at the airport, maybe took a bus tour or something like that. I try to go back in time to show how each city grew out of a specific combination of geographic and historic conditions, and how it has evolved over time as a unique cultural environment.”

In addition to his course focused on London, Kohl has taught courses on Venice, Rome, Florence, and Paris. He incorporates slides from a variety of sources, including his own photography so that he can offer a personal frame of reference about what’s in the slide and what’s just outside the frame. He also adds music, as appropriate, along with readings of prose and poetry that add depth to the experience.

“In particular, I want to give them an understanding of how the visual arts – including architecture, sculpture, and painting – help to give each city its unique character. That way, a notable building or a work of art can provide insight into the experiences and aspirations of a city and its people, rather than just being one more photo op through the windows of the big purple bus.”

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