Explore History, Culture & Writing
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 enduring fascination of Medea: adapting Euripides for the modern stageCourse start date: Fri 30 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jenny StevensEuripides’ Medea has fascinated audiences for centuries, its tragic action confronting spectators with scenarios almost too terrible to contemplate. Successive generations have adapted the play for their own times, ensuring its place in theatrical repertoires and the cultural consciousness. This course considers how 20th and 21st century adaptations of the tragedy have responded to its most compelling and disturbing act: Medea’s killing of her own children.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Same sex, different minds: Anthropological insights into homosexuality and genderCourse start date: Fri 30 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Max CarocciThe session looks at minority sexualities and genders from different times and places. It offers an anthropological interpretation of gender diversity and various types of homosexuality by examining the different typologies of sexual relations through the lens of cultural variation.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Art history taster
Course start date: Fri 7 Jul 2023 (and 17 other dates)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayEver wondered what art history is but don’t want to commit to a whole course? This taster explores some of the ways art historians come to their interpretion art. Build your confidence in looking at art by learning what art and art history really are.Full fee £10.00 - Micropoetry: small poems, big ideas
Course start date: Fri 14 Jul 2023 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jennifer WongExplore the emerging art form of micropoetry in this fun but informative day workshop. Compose your own poetry and learn how to make every word on the page count.Full fee £69.00 - A taste of global historyCourse start date: Fri 22 Sep 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Martin JorgensenWhat is global history? How is it different from other ways of understanding history? Through an exploration of fossil fuels' impact on global history (and future), you will get a taste of what it means to study global history.Full fee £10.00 - A taste of politicsCourse start date: Fri 29 Sep 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Martin JorgensenBorders, conflicts, citizenship, elections, activism and global politics. We see these topics on the news every day. Some seem connected, others less so. Join our politics taster to get perspective and an overview of our politics courses.Full fee £10.00 - From one Empire to the otherCourse start date: Fri 12 Jan 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Martin JorgensenJoin us for an introduction on to how to make sense of the British and American ways of seeking global dominance and the ways in which people have resisted as we see the (re-)emergence of China, India and Russia in global politics and economics.Full fee £19.00
Can't see a course you want?
Add this category to your waiting list to set up alerts and we will update you when new courses are released online.
Add me to waiting list