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.
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- Histories and memories of empireCourse start date: Wed 31 May 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Martin JorgensenWe live in a world that still defined by different forms of imperial subjugation, but the former colonies and metropoles remember the colonial and imperial past very differently. Join us for an introduction to how the different communities and populations around the world remember and live with their imperial pasts.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £45.00 - Magic in the ancient worldCourse start date: Wed 31 May 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ann JeffersHow do you define magic and divination? Why has the Western world traditionally viewed magic as opposed to religion and science? These and other issues will be discussed in this thought-provoking course.
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 £63.00 Concession £51.00 - Reading Images: Exploring Film studiesCourse start date: Wed 31 May 2023 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cristina MassaccesiThis comprehensive introductory course provides an overview of the main historical, technical and theoretical aspects of filmmaking and film analysis. In its exploration of aspects of film theory as it relates to film aesthetics and film history, the course develops certain ideas with rigour and depth.Full fee £99.00 - The Iliad reading group (in translation)Course start date: Wed 7 Jun 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Justin MurrayCome and explore Homer's great epic tale in translation.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £99.00 - Writing villanelles
Course start date: Wed 7 Jun 2023 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ellen CranitchDo not go gentle into that good night; write villanelles that rage, rage against the dying light. Learn about the form popularised by Dylan Thomas, in order to manipulate it in new, subversive ways.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £89.00 - Dickens' London Course start date: Wed 12 Jul 2023 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Molly Rumbelow'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' Enjoy this introduction to Dickens' work and the London of his time. Morning lecture at City Lit followed by a walk in the area of the city connected to his work.Full fee £59.00 - Erdogan’s TurkeyCourse start date: Wed 14 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Angelos SeposFollowing the Feb 2023 earthquakes, Turkey’s worst humanitarian disaster, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing the greatest test of his 20 year-old rule. Will he survive it?
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £89.00 - Art and critical theory: rethinking 'nature'Course start date: Wed 28 Jun 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Irina ChkhaidzeExplore the role of critical theory within the field of art history, and learn new ways of thinking about art by focusing on how recent authors have been rethinking our understanding of nature.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £99.00 - Ways into creative writing: an introduction Course start date: Tue 18 Apr 2023 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Tasha KavanaghNot sure whether creative writing is for you? Give it a try on one of these fun and supportive short courses covering the basics of fiction and poetry. Increase your confidence and produce work through guided exercises and discussion.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £129.00 - The Odyssey reading group (in translation) Course start date: Wed 31 Jan 2024 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Justin MurrayHomer’s epic tale of Odysseus’ journey home after the Trojan War may now be over 2,500 years old but it still has much to tell us about the Ancient Greek world that is still relevant today. Explore this great work in translation.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £119.00 - Ways into creative writing: intensiveCourse start date: Wed 20 Sep 2023 (and 11 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah LeipcigerNot sure whether creative writing is for you? Give it a try on one of these fun and supportive short courses covering the basics of fiction and poetry. Increase your confidence and produce work through guided exercises and discussion.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £139.00 - Hitchcock's British filmsCourse start date: Wed 20 Sep 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Jon WisbeyAlfred Hitchcock established his reputation early on in his British career, particularly with a series of thrillers that showcased his distinctive style. This course explores his British films and the factors that helped to shape his filmmaking and, subsequently, his reputation as a major film artist, while also considering his position in, and relationship to British cinema of the 1920s and 1930s.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £64.00 - Ways into advanced film studies: film aesthetics
Course start date: Wed 1 Nov 2023Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Paul SuttonHave you wondered why a film might have moved you so powerfully or why it looked so stunningly beautiful? Have you wanted to know quite how a film was able to communicate its story to you so effectively? If so, then this advanced level film studies course is for you. It aims to explore in depth the language of cinema, the way in which film connects with its spectators at the level of film form, in other words, film aesthetics. Writers and critics have long asked similar questions, as have filmmakers themselves, and we will follow some of the most celebrated in their quest for answers. We will look briefly at how films are made and at the importance of cinematography, editing, mise en scène and sound, before exploring in depth film’s aesthetic qualities. We will think about the importance of history for the development of film form and we will analyse clips and sequences from individual films so as to better approach and understand film aesthetics.Full fee £99.00 - Hitchcock's American filmsCourse start date: Wed 1 Nov 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Jon WisbeyHitchcock's American period saw his most spectacular work, a body of films that cemented his reputation not only as the 'master of suspense' but as a major filmmaker, one whose work includes some of cinema's most popular and critically admired films. This course explores Hitchcock's Hollywood career, the films, their production and their reception, while also assessing his critical reputation.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £64.00 - Black Latin AmericaCourse start date: Wed 1 Nov 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Anna GrimaldiThis course introduces and critically examines the concept of a Black or African Latin America through the region’s history, philosophy, activism, politics, diaspora, memory and culture.
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 £69.00 Concession £45.00
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