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.
- City Lit gift vouchers - the perfect gift
Looking for that perfect present? Treat someone to the gift of learning with a course at City Lit. Available from £10, our gift vouchers can be used to book a place on any of our courses, from London walks and food tasting to museum visits, poetry and much more. Simply purchase your voucher and the recipient can choose from thousands of courses, at a time which suits them.Full fee £10.00 - Buddhist philosophy Course start date: Mon 16 Sep 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John Goff'Impermanence is the root of human suffering.' Over hundreds of years a highly developed philosophy grew from this simple idea. However, one does not need to adopt a religious outlook to benefit from Buddhist philosophy. - Ways into screenwriting Course start date: Wed 18 Sep 2024 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Nico MensingaLearn 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.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £120.00 - Ways into poetry Course start date: Mon 16 Sep 2024 (and 6 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Cecilia KnappRelatively 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.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £120.00 - Introduction to political philosophy Course start date: Mon 16 Sep 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Christopher HornerWhat are the ends and means of politics? Interweaving modern history and politics with key philosophical texts, study and debate the ideas, ideologies and concepts underpinning our thinking about the organisation of society. - Ways into creative writing Course start date: Thu 19 Sep 2024 (and 14 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Claire CollisonWant 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 - Art history and cinema Course start date: Tue 17 Sep 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Gillian McIverSince cinema's earliest days, literature has provided movies with stories. But there is another way of looking at film: through its relationship with painting, the oldest of the art forms.
We’ll look at paintings by Friedrich, Titian, Hopper, Bacon, Delaroche and many more. We’ll view Red Desert, Pan’s Labyrinth, Easy Rider – looking at realism, surrealism and more.
As you can see, all of these are quite different! Let’s see how movies connect us to art history.
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 - Women in art 1400-1800 Course start date: Tue 17 Sep 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Elizabeth EyresThere were a significant number of highly talented female artists active during the 15th to 18th centuries, so why is their work not more famous? This course investigates and redresses this gender inequality. - What is art history? Course start date: Tue 17 Sep 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayJoin us for this interactive lecture where we explore different ways into thinking about art and its histories from illuminated Islamic manuscripts to Japanese prints, Italian textiles, French paintings and ancient earthworks. This event is part of Art History Festival 2024 organised by the Association for Art History.Full fee £0.00 - Introduction to moral philosophy Course start date: Tue 17 Sep 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ariel KernbergWhat’s the right thing to do? But what does ‘right’ actually mean? And what reason do I have to do it? Join us as we grapple with these fundamental questions. NB: No class on Tues 29th October. - Japan at the pictures Course start date: Tue 17 Sep 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Jean-Baptiste de VaulxThis course will introduce you to the cinema of Japan, one of the world’s most important national cinemas. It will introduce you to films by major Japanese directors, such as Kurosawa, Ozu, Mizoguchi and Kitano. It will also explore the aesthetics of these films, situating them within their broader historical, cultural, critical and industrial contexts. It will also look at the functioning of genre and the peculiarities of the star system within Japanese filmmaking.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00 - US Election Countdown: 2 months outCourse start date: Tue 17 Sep 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Mark MalcomsonAs we approach the most important US Election in modern times, we will explore what is happening nationally and also on a state-by-state basis. We will reference election history to give context to give and understanding of what is going on and hopefully give an idea of how things might evolve.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Creative non-fiction Course start date: Tue 17 Sep 2024 (and 10 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Paul LaffanExplore practical and imaginative approaches to creative non fiction, including travel writing, life writing and the essay. Analyse published work, produce your own pieces, and benefit from detailed feedback.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £125.00 - Philosophy reading group: Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit (Part 1) Course start date: Tue 17 Sep 2024
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 - Global encounters: the Silk Roads
Course start date: Tue 17 Sep 2024Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Vanessa KingTravel nearly 2000 years of history along the Silk Roads across Eurasia and China and explore the cross-cultural impact generated through the expansion of trade.
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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