Where Pop Culture Meets Lifelong Learning: Inside CHILL at IPH
What do Jesus, Barbie, and Wes Anderson have in common? They’re course subjects for this summer’s CHILL at IPH program!
“Nothing quite matches the endorphin zing one experiences with new learning,” says Twig Branch, one of the UNC Charlotte representatives behind CHILL at IPH. “The comfort of a happy community is irreplaceable. With CHILL, participants receive both the zing and the comfort.”
CHILL — or CHESS Initiative in Lifelong Learning — at IPH is a joint initiative between UNC Charlotte’s College of Humanities, Earth and Social Sciences (CHESS) and The Independent Picture House (IPH). This program brings 10 relaxed, discussion-based sessions designed for lifelong learners to Charlotte’s only nonprofit cinema, The Independent Picture House (IPH).
2026 is the second year of CHILL at IPH, with the initiative growing from six sessions last year to 10 this summer.
“CHILL is designed to make learning joyful and rewarding for everyone,” explains Branch. “With popular and accessible topics, students start with their own ideas, but over the duration of the course, they see the topic through another lens.”
And that’s the core of CHILL at IPH: to make learning enjoyable and to present a new perspective to the various subjects explored. Community members have the opportunity to learn more about the cultural impact of Barbie, or how Jesus has appeared in cinema over the decades (and how that’s changed), along with exploring the set decor and reasoning behind Wes Anderson’s beautifully crafted films. Other subjects include topics like the evolution of capitalism, writing of flash memoirs, and even a study of Pinocchio throughout the centuries.
All sessions, held from June through August, meet four times over a two-week period, and are each two hours long (from 10 a.m. to noon). With registration at $150 per session, participants enjoy a welcoming academic environment without the stress of grades or uncomfortable seats.
“CHILL is not just a reference to IPH’s air-conditioned comfort. A CHILL atmosphere pervades the whole experience, where learning is cool and making new friends can be breezy. CHILL is all about play, exploration, and meeting interesting people.”
Higher learning belongs to everyone, and CHILL at IPH aims to foster a welcoming space for curiosity and growth. So learn something new this summer, CHILL at IPH.
(Learn more about each course and instructor and register here.)