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.
- Philosophy and cultural theoryCourse start date: Fri 9 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Barrie SelwynMerleau Ponty’s concept of embodied subjectivity continues to shape our views in cultural theory and theories of knowledge in general. We will explore his ideas and their applications as well as the general context from which they emerge. - Philosophy and the meaning of lifeCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Karl WhiteSome philosophers have insisted that philosophy should explain the meaning of our existence. What does it mean for us to be? And how then should we live? This course examines some seriously philosophical answers.
- German Idealism from Kant to Hegel: the beginnings of continental philosophy
Course start date: Mon 12 May 2025Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Christopher HornerGerman philosophers created the most ambitious and imaginative systems of thought of modern times against the backdrop of revolution and war. This creative and speculative beginning to modern continental philosophy is an exciting intellectual adventure. - Craft focus: grammar, syntax, and style for creative writers Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: William BradyGreat poetry and prose begin when the writer puts the right words in the right places. Learn how and why the rules and conventions of language matter in this course, which combines creative writing with opportunities to learn/revise essential points of grammar and useful literary concepts. Suitable for beginning writers looking to build confidence, and those with more experience who would like to practise these essential skills.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £105.00 - Japanese philosophyCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John GoffJapanese philosophy extends well beyond Zen, with several philosophical traditions including that of the modern Kyoto School. Developing distinct cultural, aesthetic and political concepts, Japanese philosophers offer a rich field of thought. - Philosophy and the selfCourse start date: Tue 13 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ariel KernbergWho am I? Is there such a thing as “my true self”? These and related questions will be looked at from various philosophical perspectives.
NB There will be no class on 26/05/26.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £168.00 - In the footsteps of London's rebelsCourse start date: Tue 9 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David RosenbergExplore London's places of protest and discover the stories of radicals, agitators and campaigners who fought for social justice, equal rights and better lives for all from the 1830s to the 1930s.
The first session will be in the classroom at Keeley Street followed by 11 guided walks.Full fee £319.00 Senior fee £255.00 Concession £207.00 - The Great (European) Powers and the Ottoman Empire: the Eastern Question, 1768-1914Course start date: Tue 9 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sebastien ArdouinThe decline of the Ottoman Empire shaped the relations with and between the Great Powers, giving birth to new
countries and spheres of influence, the legacy of which is still felt to this day.Full fee £309.00 Senior fee £247.00 Concession £201.00 - Rising powers: China, from Mao to XiCourse start date: Tue 9 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
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?Full fee £309.00 Senior fee £247.00 Concession £201.00 - Remodelling Europe after the First World War: the fate of the vanquishedCourse start date: Wed 10 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sebastien ArdouinThe defeat of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria in 1918 had profound territorial, political and economic consequences on the future of these countries, some of which are still felt today.Full fee £309.00 Senior fee £247.00 Concession £201.00 - Europe in the 1920s: between democracy and authoritarianismCourse start date: Thu 11 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sebastien ArdouinThroughout the 1920s, Europe struggled with political and economic (re)construction and stabilisation. If some progress was made in part of the continent, wartime promises of a better and democratic Europe were shattered by the Great Depression.Full fee £309.00 Senior fee £309.00 Concession £201.00 - Phenomenology: an introductionCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John GoffPhenomenology, one of the most influential approaches in contemporary philosophy, asks: how do we constitute experienced reality? Following Husserl and Heidegger, phenomenologists try to understand what it means, if anything, to be in the world. - Ways into screenwriting Course start date: Wed 7 May 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
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.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £120.00 - The Smashing Saxons: 600-1066Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vanessa KingWhy did Offa build his dyke? Were the Vikings just ‘long-haired tourists who occasionally roughed up the natives’? Was Alfred really that great? These questions and more will be answered as we study the rise and fall of pre-Conquest England. - Ways into poetryCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
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.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £125.00
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