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.
- National GalleryCourse start date: Thu 9 Jan 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Leslie PrimoDiscuss a differently themed group of paintings each week in front of the pictures. An opportunity to understand our national collection in greater depth.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £181.00 - Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £181.00
- Arts of the empire-builders: Timurids, Safavids and MughalsCourse start date: Thu 16 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Anita ChowdryPatronage under the Timurids, Safavids and Mughals marked a definitive period in the development of the arts and culture of the Islamic world. This course looks at the visual ‘brands’ that characterised these important empires. - Looking at paintingsCourse start date: Thu 16 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Julia MusgraveLook at masterpieces in major London galleries in this introduction to European painting. Explore different painting techniques and genres (landscape, portrait and history painting) for a basic understanding and increased enjoyment of Western art. - Women in art collections: a history of artists and sittersCourse start date: Fri 17 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Julie BarlowThis gallery-based course will focus upon the artistic output of women over the past 500 years, covering a range of British and European painters, sculptors, textile designers, photographers and ceramicists. The course will also explore woman as subject matter, the role of the model and our current awareness of the “male gaze”.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £181.00 - An introduction to the philosophy of mindCourse start date: Tue 21 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ariel KernbergThe saying 'No Brain, No Pain' is hardly controversial. But is having an experience or—indeed—entertaining a thought nothing else than neural activity? In this course we will look at this and some related philosophical questions. NB There will be no class on 02/02/25.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £168.00 - Philosophy reading group: Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit (Part 2)Course start date: Tue 21 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Christopher HornerHegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit is a key text in philosophy. Exciting and influential, it is also a dense and challenging read. This reading reading group aims to help you grasp its arguments and ideas.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £289.00 Senior fee £289.00 Concession £188.00 - A history of modern art in 50 worksCourse start date: Wed 30 Apr 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayExplore the history of modern art through objects and artworks in London galleries. Build a greater understanding of modern art, its experiments and the cultural rebellions that mark the period. - Philosophy and cultural theoryCourse start date: Fri 9 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Barrie SelwynWe will look the philosophical underpinnings of culture through the writings of key philosophers who engage critically with the self-images of the post enlightenment era. In particular we well look at the rise and fall of the self and the centrality of aesthetics in modern European philosophy. - Philosophy and the meaning of lifeCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Karl WhiteSome philosophers have insisted that philosophy should explain the meaning of our existence. What does it mean for us to be? And how then should we live? This course examines some seriously philosophical answers.
NB: No class on 26/05/24. - Japanese philosophyCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John GoffJapanese philosophy extends well beyond Zen, with several philosophical traditions including that of the modern Kyoto School. Developing distinct cultural, aesthetic and political concepts, Japanese philosophers offer a rich field of thought.
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