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.
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- Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs: part 3
Course start date: Sun 10 Nov 2024 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Hugo CookContinue to discover hieroglyphs and their fascinating history. Suitable for those who have already completed the introductory class as well as part 2 of this course.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £84.00 - Ancient Greek drama Course start date: Tue 12 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Maria ContosHave a taste of exploring the ancient Athenian stage, and how they still speak to us about the challenges we face today.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00 - The beauty of the medieval manuscript Course start date: Wed 20 Nov 2024 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Emma Rose BarberIt is generally accepted that medieval illuminated manuscripts are very beautiful things. Something to do with all that gold-leaf maybe. While we cannot hold them in class, close-up digital reproduction will allow us to see if they really are as beautiful as we are told. Indeed, are none of them ugly? Join this course to find out.Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £77.00 - Jews in London from the 1650s to the 1950s: a closer lookCourse start date: Tue 7 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David RosenbergThis course will provide an exploration of 300 years of Jewish life, culture and history in London from the small scale resettlement in the 1650s through to the 1950s when the borough of Hackney was home to London’s largest and most diverse Jewish community.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £162.00 - Ancient Rome: art & architecture Course start date: Tue 7 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Richard PlantThe ancient Rome Empire has provided a model for artistic and particularly architectural production in nearly all the centuries since its fall. We will study the development of Roman architecture and explore works of art in the best-preserved media; sculpture, painting and mosaics. Two sessions take place at the British Museum.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - Ways into art history Course start date: Tue 7 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Emma Rose BarberAn introduction to studying art history, inviting you to get close to works of art and learn how to improve your visual and analytical skills.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Art and empire: in the early modern era Course start date: Wed 8 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Emma Rose BarberStudy the art of the Dutch Golden Age from 1600 to 1750 looking at the luxurious, tactile paintings of domestic life and landscape of this gloriously rich period in art. Consider the role that commerce, travel and trade played in how these paintings were made and through critical analysis of texts, try and evaluate the validity of the term ‘Golden Age’. - Art in 15th-century Siena Course start date: Wed 8 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Emma Rose BarberExplore the art, society and geography of 15th century Siena, the picturesque Tuscan republic. Expand your knowledge of the Italian Renaissance beyond the borders of Florence by studying one of its worthy artistic, political and intellectual rivals. - A history of colour in European art Course start date: Thu 9 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Andreas PetzoldColour is one of the most pervasive elements in art but one that is rarely the subject of art historical discussion. We explore the part colour played in artistic developments, technical skill and material, as well as colour theory.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - National Gallery Course 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 - Art in Britain 1950-2000 – 'This is Tomorrow' (part 2) Course start date: Fri 10 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Chantal CondronDiscover the work of selected British artists whose innovative practice shaped the development of modern art in Britain from the 1950s to 2000. Explore how and why the ideas and themes behind their work continue to be relevant to today’s audiences. - A brief history of printmaking Course start date: Fri 10 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayDiscover the complexity of printmaking through this introduction to its history. Explore the cultural contexts, social ideas and artistic methods that make printmaking distinct to other forms of art.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00 - Discover North London through walks Course start date: Sat 11 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Diane BursteinUncover the history of North London’s historic districts including Highbury, Friern Barnet and North Finchley, High Barnet, Tottenham, Muswell Hill, Wood Green, Golders Green and the Northern Heights, Hampstead Garden Suburb, Kentish Town, Camden Town and Belsize Park.
First meeting place: Saturday 13 January at 11am: Meet outside Highbury and Islington Tube Station (this could be altered if there are engineering works on the Victoria Line, please check before travelling).Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £162.00 - National Portrait Gallery Course start date: Mon 28 Oct 2024 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Leslie PrimoDiscover portraiture and the National Portrait Gallery’s collection. Different periods and styles are discussed each week in front of the portraits. Includes visits to the current temporary exhibitions.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00 - Philosophy and memoryCourse start date: Mon 13 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Anita KasabovaWhat is memory? How does memory impact our sense of self and time? Why does memory often go wrong? If our memory is unreliable, can it provide knowledge of our personal past? How is memory registered in the body? What is collective memory? This course explores memory through philosophical and psychological lenses.
NB: There is no class on 30/09/24.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00
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