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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- Lunchtime lecture: Los Angeles landscapes - the art of Ed RuschaCourse start date: Mon 19 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayDiscover the light and life of Los Angeles through the work of Ed Ruscha. We consider how Ruscha's works on Los Angeles provide us with ways to explore our relationship to nature, the natural and unnatural.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £8.00 Concession £7.00 - All that glitters: perceptions of ancient luxury in Neoclassical EuropeCourse start date: Mon 26 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayFrom flowing robes and diamond-encrusted cameos to political ceremony and archaeological plunder, discover the connection of classical luxury and political power in age of Napoleon.
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 £15.00 Concession £12.00 - The cult of Antinous
Course start date: Mon 26 Jun 2023Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sean GabbAntinous was Emperor Hadrian's lover. When he died, Hadrian was so saddened by his death that he had the boy declared a god. Come and discover more about this story and the cult that was created about Antinous.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Gold, gemstones and enamel: the fascinating story of Islamic jewelleryCourse start date: Mon 26 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Roberta MarinThis course will offer an overview on the most interesting pieces of jewellery produced by Islamic dynasties along the centuries.
This session accompanies the forthcoming Classics Day (RCD61) organised by City Lit in partnership with the British Museum and University College London. This year’s inspiration is the major British Museum exhibition “Luxury and power: Persia to Greece”.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Persian Luxury and Athenian DemocracyCourse start date: Mon 26 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Daniel UnruhDiscover the link between the riches coming from Persia and democracy in Athens.
This session accompanies the forthcoming Classics Day (RCD61) organised by City Lit in partnership with the British Museum and University College London. This year’s inspiration is the major British Museum exhibition “Luxury and power: Persia to Greece”.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Sex and the city: Jeanne Mammen & Otto Dix's 1920s Berlin Course start date: Mon 26 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayExplore the roles that both art and science played in the liberation of sexual expression in 1920s Berlin. This lecture looks subjects of Jeanne Mammen, Otto Dix and Magnus Hirshfeld and how their work reflects the potential of freedom in the face of fascism.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £7.00 - A day at the V&A: an introduction to the collectionsCourse start date: Mon 3 Jul 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Elizabeth EyresSpend a fascinating day at the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum exploring a range of galleries. We shall be looking at the decorative arts, paintings, sculpture and design from across the world and across the centuries in this remarkable museum.Full fee £49.00 - Art history taster Course start date: Mon 8 Jan 2024 (and 17 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayCurious about art history? Join us for this taster session where we explore different ways into visual art and its histories from the ancient to the contemporary.Full fee £10.00 - Lunchtime lecture: Hokusai’s natureCourse start date: Mon 10 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayExplore the life and work of Hokusai beyond the Great Wave. Get an insight into his artistic practice and what his artistic interpretations of nature can teach us about our relationship with the natural world.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £8.00 Concession £7.00 - Van Eyck and the Pre-RaphaelitesCourse start date: Mon 10 Jul 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Emma Rose BarberExplore the work of Van Eyck in relation to Holman Hunt and the Pre-Raphaelites more generally; consider how this 15th century painter influenced artists some 300 years later.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £19.00 - Picture book writing: a taster Course start date: Mon 4 Dec 2023 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Andrew WealeFind out more about writing a picture book text in this practical and interactive, short taster session.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 - Playwriting: a taster Course start date: Mon 4 Dec 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Grant CorrGive playwriting a try in this fun and supportive one-off taster session. Ideal if you want to unlock your imagination and express yourself, but need a bit of encouragement to get started.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 - Film studies taster Course start date: Mon 18 Sep 2023 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Paul SuttonLearn how to evaluate and discuss films while enjoying a working example of a City Lit film studies class.
We will view clips from a wide variety of films, exploring themes and technique in British cinema and modern American cinema. There will be a chance to review term one film courses at City Lit (September - December 2023).Full fee £10.00 - Memoir writing: a taster Course start date: Mon 4 Dec 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julie GartonDo you have a personal story to tell that will move, delight, stir and inform readers? This short course guides students in planning and crafting a memoir.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 - Creative writing: a taster
Course start date: Mon 4 Dec 2023 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Online
Give creative writing a try in this fun and supportive one-off taster session. Ideal if you want to unlock your imagination and express yourself, but need a bit of encouragement to get started.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00
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