Explore History, Culture & Writing

The history of the cinema is a rich, rewarding and dynamic area of study. Cinema, because it is both an art form and an industrial product, can be studied from several different historical perspectives. These have included investigations into the history of technological development associated with cinema’s origins and its subsequent development, but historians have also explored its evolution into an art form. They have written about important individual figures or influential groups and have examined specific films in great detail. Historians have also examined the national, cultural, political and social contexts that might offer insight into the cinema at a given historical moment. They have examined the changing demographic and viewing habits of spectators and explored the mutability of cinemas themselves. With so much to consider and so many different approaches to take, the history of cinema continues to evolve. As such this advanced level film studies course will explore what it means to study film history, examine the various methodologies that one might take, while at the same time looking at relevant filmic and cinematic examples.

The term film noir has been used to describe visual style, themes and narratives in a range of American genres, particularly crime films of the 1940s and 1950s, but it has also been used to describe areas of British, French, and, as part of the giallo tradition, Italian cinema. Explore film noir through a range of critical concepts and historical periods, while assessing its enduring appeal.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

India's three indigenous religions - Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism - have given rise to one of the oldest artistic civilisations in the world. Learn more about the art and architecture of Ancient India in this part 1 of the course.

The role of ancient Israelite women has been at the forefront of discussions about gender and sexuality as the biblical stories have been formative in mapping out subsequent understanding of women’s sexuality. This course will explore gender roles and sexuality in ancient Israel through biblical stories and laws about women in ancient Israel. We will explore a range of texts from myths, to laws, love poetry and texts portraying graphic violence against women while asking questions about the implications of gender constructions for the status of women in ancient Israel.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

In 1789 ordinary French people successfully rebelled against the absolute monarchy and privileged nobility. Find out how the struggle over the social and political system which would replace the Ancien Regime would divide both France and Europe. Tutor: Zoe Quinn.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

In this course we will explore more than just the Cold War between the USA and USSR. We will explore the meaning of Cold Wars, where they were (and are) fought, how and by who.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

This course is all about learning how to collect and preserve people's stories as a way to understand history better. You'll learn the basics of setting up a project, conducting interviews, and making sure everything is done the right way.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Explore post-colonial Africa's political, economic, and social journey since independence. Gain insights into state building, governance, development, and identity, fostering a holistic understanding of Africa's historical evolution.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Join us to explore the fascinating histories of the lesser studied South Asian nation-states of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from decolonisation to the present.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

The twenty first century has placed a question mark over subjects that we thought were settled: politics, states, nations, and peoples. This course explores these themes to help understand what might happen next.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

So many works of arts refer, in one way or another, to Ovid's Metamorphoses. In this course, you'll become familiar with some of the most memorable stories in this masterpiece and begin to understand why its stories are - and have been - so universally fascinating and influential.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.