Friday lates: Sex and the city, art in 1920s Berlin
In the wake of war, many people in Weimar Republic Berlin revelled in what Sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld called the 'varieties of love'.This course explores the art of the era: the modern beauties of 1920s Berlin and how they rebelled against the ugliness of oppression.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
Weimar Berlin was an exciting place of social change, particularly in terms of sexuality. Old laws governing sexual expression and women’s rights were dissolved by a new, more progressive government and Berlin was the centre of it all. Artists responded by documenting new forms of sexual expression, from the ‘New Woman’ to openness of gay and lesbian club life.
This course looks at how art and photography represented modern gender and sexual expressions, alongside the work of sociologist and LBGTQ+ rights activist Magnus Hirschfeld, founder of the Institute of Sexology. We will introduce a variety of images, but emphasis will be placed on the art of Jeanne Mammen and Otto Dix.
Content guidance: laws designed to persecute LGBTQ+ people in late 19th and early 20th century Germany will be discussed - they will be discussed to provide context for the groundbreaking work of Magnus Hirschfeld and the varieties of gender expression in the Weimar Republic. Dr Hirschfeld was a Trans-rights activist.
What will we cover?
• An introduction to the work of Magnus Hirschfeld, founder of the Institute of Sexology • Context of increased sexual freedom in 1920s Berlin • An introduction to the work of Jeanne Mammen and Otto Dix, specifically Queerness, concepts of beauty and the Neue Frau (New Woman)
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Explain why sexual attitudes were more freely expressed in the art and photography of 1920s Berlin • Recall key aspects of Magnus Hirschfeld’s work and his influence on art at the time • Describe the unique subject matter of artists Jeanne Mammen and Otto Dix.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels and requires no previous experience or study of the subject.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. This course takes place on Zoom. Please be familiar with or be willing to learn how to operate elements of Zoom, specifically camera, microphone and chat functions. For more on how our online learning works, pleaseclick here.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught online with slide presentations and group discussions.Please note: this is a live lecture course and will not be recorded for playback for reasons of copyright, digital infrastructure and data protection.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Search 'Lunchtime Lectures' or 'Friday Lates' for more of our short, taster art history courses.
Sarah is an art historian, educator, curator and writer based in London. Before her current position as art history tutor coordinator and programme lead at City Lit Sarah was a curator in the Department of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum. For six years, she was the lead educator for the Bridget Riley Art Foundation and has also worked at Wellcome Collection exploring the connections of art, medicine and human experience. Sarah has been an art history lecturer since 2003. Her first MA was in art history, her second MA was in cultural studies and her BA (first) was in art history. Sarah's expertise is in late 19th/early 20th century French art, but is also a generalist, teaching on a variety of topics and prefers to place artworks and objects in their wider social and cultural contexts, from the European Renaissance to the contemporary, emphasising new narratives and approaches to Western Art History.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/friday-lates-sex-and-the-city-art-in-1920s-berlin3046342Friday lates: Sex and the city, art in 1920s Berlinhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/f/r/friday-lates-sex-and-the-city-art-in-1920s-berlin-vb310-1200.jpg2929GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Online courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Art, ideas & theory/Courses/vm/Pride at City Lit228511361177173118831345512285117711361653<p>In the wake of war, many people in Weimar Republic Berlin revelled in what Sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld called the 'varieties of love'.This course explores the art of the era: the modern beauties of 1920s Berlin and how they rebelled against the ugliness of oppression.</p>003046306Friday lates: Sex and the city, art in 1920s Berlin2929https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/f/r/friday-lates-sex-and-the-city-art-in-1920s-berlin-vb310-1200_1.jpgInStockEveningFriOnlineAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekday2026-09-25T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allSep 2026Culture, history & humanitiesVB3102929Friday lates: Sex and the city, art in 1920s Berlin231929Sarah Jaffrayfriday-lates-sex-and-the-city-art-in-1920s-berlin/vb310-2627<p>In the wake of war, many people in Weimar Republic Berlin revelled in what Sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld called the 'varieties of love'.This course explores the art of the era: the modern beauties of 1920s Berlin and how they rebelled against the ugliness of oppression.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-25 00:00:00<p>Weimar Berlin was an exciting place of social change, particularly in terms of sexuality. Old laws governing sexual expression and women’s rights were dissolved by a new, more progressive government and Berlin was the centre of it all. Artists responded by documenting new forms of sexual expression, from the ‘New Woman’ to openness of gay and lesbian club life.<br><br>This course looks at how art and photography represented modern gender and sexual expressions, alongside the work of sociologist and LBGTQ+ rights activist Magnus Hirschfeld, founder of the Institute of Sexology. We will introduce a variety of images, but emphasis will be placed on the art of Jeanne Mammen and Otto Dix.</p><p><strong>Content guidance</strong>: laws designed to persecute LGBTQ+ people in late 19th and early 20th century Germany will be discussed - they will be discussed to provide context for the groundbreaking work of Magnus Hirschfeld and the varieties of gender expression in the Weimar Republic. Dr Hirschfeld was a Trans-rights activist.</p><p>In the wake of war, many people in Weimar Republic Berlin revelled in what Sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld called the 'varieties of love'.This course explores the art of the era: the modern beauties of 1920s Berlin and how they rebelled against the ugliness of oppression.</p><p>• An introduction to the work of Magnus Hirschfeld, founder of the Institute of Sexology<br>• Context of increased sexual freedom in 1920s Berlin<br>• An introduction to the work of Jeanne Mammen and Otto Dix, specifically Queerness, concepts of beauty and the Neue Frau (New Woman)</p><p>• Explain why sexual attitudes were more freely expressed in the art and photography of 1920s Berlin<br>• Recall key aspects of Magnus Hirschfeld’s work and his influence on art at the time<br>• Describe the unique subject matter of artists Jeanne Mammen and Otto Dix.</p><p>This course is suitable for all levels and requires no previous experience or study of the subject.</p><p><br>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. This course takes place on Zoom. Please be familiar with or be willing to learn how to operate elements of Zoom, specifically camera, microphone and chat functions. For more on how our online learning works, please<a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/11273523970845-What-is-your-City-Lit-student-IT-account" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a>.</p><p>You will be taught online with slide presentations and group discussions.<strong>Please note</strong>: this is a live lecture course and will not be recorded for playback for reasons of copyright, digital infrastructure and data protection.</p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.</p><p>Search 'Lunchtime Lectures' or 'Friday Lates' for more of our short, taster art history courses.</p>Art historyArt, ideas & theoryvirtual232919VB310NONEFri25/09/2618:00 - 20:0018:0020:001 session1One-off onlyEveningWeekdayOnlineOnlineSarah JaffrayBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-09-25T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Culture, history & humanities2929Friday lates: Sex and the city, art in 1920s Berlinfriday-lates-sex-and-the-city-art-in-1920s-berlin/vb310-2627<p>In the wake of war, many people in Weimar Republic Berlin revelled in what Sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld called the 'varieties of love'.This course explores the art of the era: the modern beauties of 1920s Berlin and how they rebelled against the ugliness of oppression.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-25 00:00:00<p>Weimar Berlin was an exciting place of social change, particularly in terms of sexuality. Old laws governing sexual expression and women’s rights were dissolved by a new, more progressive government and Berlin was the centre of it all. Artists responded by documenting new forms of sexual expression, from the ‘New Woman’ to openness of gay and lesbian club life.<br><br>This course looks at how art and photography represented modern gender and sexual expressions, alongside the work of sociologist and LBGTQ+ rights activist Magnus Hirschfeld, founder of the Institute of Sexology. We will introduce a variety of images, but emphasis will be placed on the art of Jeanne Mammen and Otto Dix.</p><p><strong>Content guidance</strong>: laws designed to persecute LGBTQ+ people in late 19th and early 20th century Germany will be discussed - they will be discussed to provide context for the groundbreaking work of Magnus Hirschfeld and the varieties of gender expression in the Weimar Republic. Dr Hirschfeld was a Trans-rights activist.</p><p>In the wake of war, many people in Weimar Republic Berlin revelled in what Sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld called the 'varieties of love'.This course explores the art of the era: the modern beauties of 1920s Berlin and how they rebelled against the ugliness of oppression.</p><p>• An introduction to the work of Magnus Hirschfeld, founder of the Institute of Sexology<br>• Context of increased sexual freedom in 1920s Berlin<br>• An introduction to the work of Jeanne Mammen and Otto Dix, specifically Queerness, concepts of beauty and the Neue Frau (New Woman)</p><p>• Explain why sexual attitudes were more freely expressed in the art and photography of 1920s Berlin<br>• Recall key aspects of Magnus Hirschfeld’s work and his influence on art at the time<br>• Describe the unique subject matter of artists Jeanne Mammen and Otto Dix.</p><p>This course is suitable for all levels and requires no previous experience or study of the subject.</p><p><br>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. This course takes place on Zoom. Please be familiar with or be willing to learn how to operate elements of Zoom, specifically camera, microphone and chat functions. For more on how our online learning works, please<a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/11273523970845-What-is-your-City-Lit-student-IT-account" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a>.</p><p>You will be taught online with slide presentations and group discussions.<strong>Please note</strong>: this is a live lecture course and will not be recorded for playback for reasons of copyright, digital infrastructure and data protection.</p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.</p><p>Search 'Lunchtime Lectures' or 'Friday Lates' for more of our short, taster art history courses.</p>Art historyArt, ideas & theoryconfigurable
18831136Art, ideas & theoryhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/art-history/art-ideas-theory1/2/285/1177/1136/18831/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Art, ideas & theory
