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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- Contemporary cinema: the best films of the yearCourse start date: Mon 6 Jan 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John WischmeyerThis crucial course on contemporary cinema coincides with the sheer variety of films released immediately before BAFTA /Academy Awards season. Join a community of cinephiles to discuss and debate your favourite films of the past year and compile a list—The List of Best Films—added to and modified as new films are released each week. Students become critics in an ongoing class conversation, some even sharing their inner-geek in a guilt-free environment. As we meet on Mondays, some students extend the day by going to the special price Monday Matinees at several neighbourhood cinemas. Whether you call it homework or dedication, that’s entertainment!Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £149.00 - Archaeology of London
Course start date: Mon 13 Jan 2025Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jill HummerstoneExplore the archaeology and history of London through its cultural monuments, topography and material remains to more fully appreciate the rich archaeological evidence of the capital.
Tutor: Jill Hummerstone. Tutor :Jill Hummerstone. - Ways into creative writing Course start date: Wed 25 Sep 2024 (and 11 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rosie ChardWant to have a go at creative writing in a supportive environment? Join one of these introductory courses. Guided exercises will give you the tools to explore language creatively and find your own writing voice.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £120.00 - Europe in the 1930s: the rise of the dictators and the collapse of the international orderCourse start date: Tue 14 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sebastien ArdouinThe 1930s was Europe’s dark decade, as democracy gave way to dictatorship in many countries, tensions rose, the post-First World War order disintegrated, and the continent, subjected to Hitler’s policies and ambitions, drifted towards war.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - Rising powers: India, from Nehru to Modi Course start date: Tue 14 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sebastien ArdouinWithin a few decades, India has become a key global actor. What explains this rise and what does it mean for the “world’s largest democracy” and the world?Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - Ways into screenwriting Course start date: Wed 15 Jan 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Learn to write for the screen on this practical, introductory course. Writing exercises, presentations and screenings will teach you key skills, and you’ll begin to produce work and an outline for a full-length project.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £120.00 - Rising powers: China, from Mao to Xi Course start date: Wed 15 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sebastien ArdouinThe spectacular rise of China is one of the most significant developments of the last decades. What explains it and what does it mean for China itself and the world?
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 - The Great (European) Powers and the creation of the Middle East, 1914-1948 Course start date: Wed 15 Jan 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sebastien ArdouinHow and why did the countries of the Middle East emerge, and what were the consequences of that process? What was the role of Britain and France? What impact did the US and the USSR have on the region?Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - Arts of the empire-builders: Timurids, Safavids and Mughals Course 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. - Ways into poetry Course start date: Thu 26 Sep 2024 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Mariah WhelanRelatively new to writing poetry? This inspiring course offers an opportunity to experiment with language and a variety of poetic devices alongside fellow emerging poets. Discover the key elements of a poem in a friendly and interactive class.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £120.00 - The great philosophers Course start date: Mon 20 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Karl WhiteExplore the ideas of major philosophers from Plato to Sartre. How does Western philosophy differ from religion
and science? What problems have the great philosophers tried to solve?
. - Chinese philosophy Course start date: Mon 20 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John GoffAn introduction to the key ideas, schools and thinkers in Chinese philosophy from ancient to modern times with
an emphasis on the philosophical concepts that have been developed over this period. - Modern political philosophy: ideas and ideologies in the 21st century Course start date: Mon 20 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Christopher HornerWhat are the key philosophical ideas behind the issues and debates of today? This is an opportunity to explore in more depth the concepts and ideologies that are shaping the politics of the 21st century. - Reading hieroglyphs: module 2Course start date: Mon 20 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Hugo CookImprove your ability to read texts in hieroglyphs and gain (or continue to gain) a deeper understanding of ancient Egyptian literature and culture. Suitable for those who have completed part 3 of the hieroglyphs course but also for those who have attended the same course in previous years.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £136.00 - 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
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