Explore Culture, History & Humanities Courses
Explore our extraordinary range of History, Culture and Writing courses and lectures. We offer both introductory and specialist in-depth courses to suit all levels of interest and experience, from ‘How to read a film’ and World literature, to Creative non-fiction writing courses and American history and Politics courses.
Our tutors are experts in their fields and experienced educators; many have published, teach in universities or share their expertise in the media. Tutors share their knowledge and passion through presentations, readings, interactive discussion and exercises, analysis, and other activities.
Many students return to take more courses, telling us they enjoy being part of our City Lit Learning community.
Our popular courses often sell out quickly, so we invite you to browse and book your place now.
- The meaning of light: symbolism and religious objects in world faithsCourse start date: Sun 3 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Marilyn GreeneJoin this museum tour to explore world religions and the objects associated with light, from different faiths and festivals. NB: This course will take place at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The meeting point is the V&A grand entrance. - Study day: Velázquez, painter to the KingCourse start date: Sun 3 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Mark Stuart-SmithInvestigate the work of the Spanish painter Diego Velázquez, including enigmatic paintings such as Las Meninas (1656), and learn about how his art relates to his political role as court painter to Philip IV. Includes visit to the National Gallery.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Study day: Impressionism – radical styleCourse start date: Sat 9 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rachel SandersExplore the Impressionist movement, focusing on Monet as its key example, considering such issues as stylistic progress, artistic influences, material developments, modern subject matter, and social context.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Lunchtime lecture: Raphael – too perfect for wordsCourse start date: Tue 12 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayExplore the work of Renaissance master Raphael through his highly polished artistic process. Get to know how the artist came to be known by his contemporaries as a person showered by the ‘infinite riches of heaven’.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £7.00 - Dante's Divine Comedy: an introductionCourse start date: Sat 16 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Francesco BucciolThe Divine Comedy is an imaginary journey through the three realms of the afterlife, a fascinating compendium of life in 14th century Italy. Dante's ability to depict humanity in all its aspects is timelss and has fascinated readers ever since. - Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
- Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00
- Masters of style: reading and writing HemingwayCourse start date: Sat 16 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Phyllis RichardsonErnest Hemingway was the master of minimalist short fiction. While writing drafts, he pared his writing down to what he felt was 'true'. This day workshop explores the literary interpretations of two of his seminal short stories and writing exercises that encourage you to experiment with Hemingway's style. - Study day: Surrealism - everything you’ve wanted to know, but were to afraid to askCourse start date: Sun 17 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Chantal CondronThe Surrealist movement marks its centenary in October 2024, marking the moment that the First Surrealist Manifesto was launched in Paris led by its chief protagonist, André Breton. Come and celebrate this art historical landmark in this special workshop dedicated to Surrealist art. Get closer to the roots of the movement, discover its leading and less well-known artists; have a go at automatic drawing; and engage with Surrealism’s central themes of the dream world, unconscious and desire.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Tuesday talks: Cook must fall! Portraits of Captain James Cook, new and oldCourse start date: Tue 19 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ben PollittExplore the portrayal of Captain James Cook from c. 1770 to the present day. Understand images of Cook provide us with a fascinating platform to think about the complicated relationships that have emerged out of British Empire and what used to be thought of as its imperial possessions.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £8.00 Concession £7.00 - Lunchtime lecture: Vincent van Gogh – London, Paris, and JapanCourse start date: Wed 20 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julia MusgraveFollow Vincent van Gogh from London to Paris in the late 19th century and discover the artistic influences and friendships that informed his art.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £7.00 - An introduction to Japanese anime: history, genres and authorsCourse start date: Sat 23 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cristina MassaccesiWhat is anime? What are the artistic and narrative features that make these films so instantly recognizable? This one-day film course will provide an overview of the history of Japanese animation cinema, its inextricable links with manga and its multi-faceted and varied productions that range from children’s films to genres such as cyberpunk and yaoi. During the course, we will watch and discuss clips from a variety of production companies and directors, such as Miyazaki Hayao, Mushi Pro and Kon Satoshi.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Study day: Cubism and its impact – from orphism to futurismCourse start date: Sat 23 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rachel SandersExplore the Cubism, focusing on Picasso as its key example, and the movements it influenced including Orphism, Futurism, and Vorticism, considering such issues as formal and material experimentation, and social context.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
- Film studies tasterCourse start date: Sat 30 Nov 2024 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Paul SuttonLearn how to evaluate and discuss films while enjoying a working example of a City Lit Film Studies class. In this class we will view and explore clips from a number of films, including popular remakes, enabling us to consider and compare themes and techniques from differing filmmaking countries. There will be a chance to review – in brief – film courses at City Lit (January - March 2025).Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00
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