Curious Minds & Author Talks

Join film critic and author Adam Nayman (Politics at the Movies) as he traces the evolution of the classic American movie musical from its origins up to the present, exploring the new popular music forms—rock, pop, disco, and more—that have flourished on the big screen.

In this series from Curious Minds favourite Barbara Isherwood (The Great Photographers, The Art of Picasso), we’ll trace the history of interior design from the ancient world to the present, assessing the fascinating, often dazzling, designs that have flourished along the way.

Explore the many ways Indigenous artists and their visual art traditions have shaped the cultural bedrock of our land in this timely and thought-provoking series led by Dr. Gerald McMaster, one of Canada's most distinguished scholars and curators of Indigenous art.

In this series from Curious Minds favourite Lisa Pasold (Rebel Paris, Inventing Modern Paris), we’ll take a thrilling journey through the history of these vibrant meeting places and discuss how the Parisian café became a glittering spectacle.

In this new series from Dr. Kenneth Bartlett (Venice: The City of Dreams, Rome: The Eternal City), we will explore the magical city of Florence and discuss how it gave birth to the Renaissance, inspired generations of artists, and sparked ideas that still reverberate today.

Become acquainted with some of history's great photographers in this eye-popping series from art educator Barbara Isherwood, host of the popular Curious Minds series The Art of Picasso and The Great Old Masters.

In this lively series from musicologist and Humber College lecturer Dr. Andrew Scott, we'll take a globe-trotting, genre-spanning survey of six concerts that altered the course of 20th century music.

Using rich archeological and archival materials, this series will explore how that cross-cultural exchange impacted artworks and cultures around the world from the 7th Century onwards–with effects that can still be felt today.

Take an exciting journey through the National Pavilions and “Midways” of six iconic World’s Fairs, and examine  the important roles they played as incubators for cultural trends and ideas, and the major social and political currents of their time.