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.
- 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 - The ghost story on the television and the big screenCourse start date: Sat 23 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Jon WisbeyExplore and enjoy the ghost story through big screen classics such as The Uninvited (1944), The Innocents (1961) and The Haunting (1963), and small screen dramas such as The Stone Tape (1972) and the BBC's Ghost Story for Christmas tradition - for example, The Signalman (1976). We will also consider the genre's key themes and storytelling styles along with its relationship with horror generally.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - 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 - The Amaravati stupa: an ancient, colonial and contemporary historyCourse start date: Sat 23 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Arjmand AzizExamine the history, architecture, aesthetics and religious significance of the Amaravati stupa. Admire parts of it during the visit at the British Museum.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £97.00 - 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 - Emily Dickinson – ‘Open me carefully’Course start date: Sat 30 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Laurie SmithWe explore how the myth of Emily Dickinson’s solitary life was shaped by others. The course investigates the reality behind the myth through letters and poems written to and shared with her great friend and confidante, Susan Gilbert, over many years. We also look at how and why her first editor, Mabel Loomis Todd, set about excluding Susan from the record, establishing Emily as a recluse, writing for herself alone.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Autobiography into fiction: getting startedCourse start date: Sat 30 Nov 2024 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Nick BarlayLearn how to turn real-life experiences into gripping fiction in this fun short course for fiction writing beginners and experienced writers. Develop your writing skills and explore techniques for transforming personal stories into strong narratives.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - 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 - Queen of Egyptology: Amelia EdwardsCourse start date: Sat 30 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rosalind JanssenFamed Victorian novelist and travel writer, skilled artist, intrepid and renowned Egyptologist. No wonder that London born Amelia Blanford Edwards (1831-1892) was dubbed the ‘Queen of Egyptology’ by her American fans. Our concentration is on her legacy to London, and we end our day by visiting one of her enduring foundations in the capital: UCL’s Petrie Museum.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Study day: Rothko, Pollock and Abstract ExpressionismCourse start date: Sat 30 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rachel SandersExplore the Abstract Expressionist movement, focusing on Pollock and Rothko as its key examples, considering
issues such as the movement’s social and political context, artistic influences, and stylistic progress.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Study day: Michelangelo – poet, philosopher, artistCourse start date: Sun 1 Dec 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayExplore Michelangelo's art through the perspective of his philosophical beliefs. Using the artist’s context, his poetry and letters, this course delves into the cultural concepts behind the subjects and symbols in some of the artist's key works.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
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