The Nuclear Bomb & The Land of Enchantment

Class held July 22-26, 2024 in Taos, NM. - Instructor: Ed Walkiewicz, Ph.D. - Were you intrigued by the film Oppenheimer? In this class, we’ll study the making of the first atomic bombs, spending a day in Los Alamos and reading essays and memoirs by Oppenheimer and others. We’ll also compare the mindset that led to the making of the nuclear bomb with other perspectives that have shaped New Mexico’s history and cultures, including “green,” Native American, and “counterculture” world views. Reading and discussion will be supplemented by daily excursions to relevant sites in the Taos area, including the Earthship community and the D. H. Lawrence Ranch. Ed Walkiewicz is a former Director of the Doel Reed Center as well as Professor Emeritus of English and Ann and Burns Hargis Professor Emeritus at Oklahoma State. He has authored or co-authored books, book chapters, and articles on twentieth-century literature, culture, and history. At Oklahoma State he won both major teaching awards, the Graduate Student Council Outstanding Teaching Award and the Regents Distinguished Teaching Award. Ed has taught eleven different continuing education courses for the Renesan Institute for Lifelong Learning in Santa Fe and four credit or “leisure learning” classes for the DRC.