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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- Nuns, tarts, trouble and strife: medieval women (1)Course start date: Tue 26 Sep 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Vanessa KingWe will look beyond the myth of the meek fair maiden and see what life was really like for women in the middle ages. From the cradle to the grave, rich and poor.
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 - What do mathematicians do? An introduction to the philosophy of mathsCourse start date: Thu 28 Sep 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Oliver JosiahThis course offers the opportunity to explore fascinating questions concerning the nature of mathematical knowledge by providing an introduction to four major 19th and 20th century philosophies of mathematics.
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 - Get together and readCourse start date: Thu 28 Sep 2023 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Claire AllenEnjoy talking with other people about the things you have read? Want to share great stories, poems and drama? Come along and join the conversation. The group is led by a shared reading practitioner trained by The Reader Organisation.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £50.00 - US history for beginnersCourse start date: Tue 3 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Dafydd TownleyThis online course offers a brief examination of, and introduction to, the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of the United States, 1608 - 2001.
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 - Global maritime trade from 1500 to the presentCourse start date: Wed 4 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Maisa EdwardsWant to explore the creation and shaping of major trade routes in the North and South Atlantic, the Indian and Pacific Oceans? Join us to consider their history, economics and defence systems.
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 £79.00 Concession £64.00 - Politics and trustCourse start date: Mon 16 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Francesca GranelliTrust is regarded as a good thing – but, at the same time, seems to be in short supply. What is the true situation in Britain in the light of George Floyd, Covid, Brexit and several cabinet changes in a very short period of time?
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 £58.00 - War and peaceCourse start date: Thu 19 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Francesca GranelliThe course is an exploration of war and peace, examining the ideas that underpin our understanding and approach to these notions. It seeks to understand these issues to explore contemporary conflict around the world.
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 £58.00 - Thinking through philosophy: a guideCourse start date: Mon 23 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Christopher HornerWhat is morality and what is it based on? Is the mind a ghost in the machine?
What can I really know? This is a beginner’s introduction to how philosophy tackles questions like these and many others. - This is not fake newsCourse start date: Tue 24 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Tasha Ashman-BanksWant to connect to the news stories you didn’t realise you didn’t know as well as covering elements of the stories you may have not yet heard? Join Natasha to explore different headlines and news stories!
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 £79.00 Concession £64.00 - European empires in AfricaCourse start date: Sat 28 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: James StannardAn introduction to the major themes of imperial history in the past 200 years of African history. It offers a way to contextualise many of the trends and challenges in the continent today and invites students to see Africa in a new light.
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 £79.00 Concession £64.00 - Picture book writing
Course start date: Sun 29 Oct 2023 (and 7 other dates)Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Andrew WealeWould you like to write a picture book text for young children? This course is designed for children's writers and for illustrators wishing to write their own stories, develop their ideas and technique.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £70.00 - The Soviet Union and the Second World WarCourse start date: Mon 30 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Nick MorganThis course focuses on the Soviet experience of the Second World War, dating from the diplomacy of the late 1930s to the defeat of Germany and Japan in 1945.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information. - Iranian cinemaCourse start date: Tue 31 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jean-Baptiste de VaulxIn the 1990s, films by Abbas Kiarostami, Jafar Panahi, Mohsen and Samira Makhmalbaf announced Iranian cinema on the global stage as one of the most exciting national cinemas around. But even now, the history and culture behind these films, as well as the many other masterpieces of Iranian cinema, remain too little-known. This course shall give an overview of the wider story of Iranian cinema.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £64.00 - Brexit: causes and impactsCourse start date: Tue 31 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Angelos SeposBrexit was an unprecedented event in the history of the EU. Why did it happen and what has been its impact on Britain and Europe?
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 £79.00 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 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £64.00
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