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.
- Classics DayCourse start date: Sat 1 Jul 2023
Location on this date: The British Museum
City Lit and the British Museum present the annual Classics Day, offering a day of lectures celebrating luxury and beauty in the ancient world. This year’s inspiration is the major exhibition "Luxury and power: Persia to Greece at the British Museum". Anyone with a love of the classics is welcome. No previous knowledge required.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £45.00 Concession £45.00 - The compulsion to repeat in cinema: From Groundhog Day to MementoCourse start date: Sat 1 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Paul SuttonThere are a surprising number of films that make use of repetition as a motif or as a structuring device for their narratives. Two particularly celebrated examples are Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis 1993 US) and Memento (Christopher Nolan 2000 UK/US). This course will explore this phenomenon, by referencing psychoanalytic film theory and the idea of the repetition compulsion, but also through the detailed analysis of both of these films.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Focus on: 20th-century fashion
Course start date: Sat 1 Jul 2023Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rachel SandersExplore the ever-changing statement of identity that was twentieth-century fashion through the study of key designers and significant social and political events that shaped the clothes we wore.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Writing black out poetry Course start date: Sat 1 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah WestcottSometimes a poem is shaped by stripping words away. This fun day workshop explores the emerging form of black out poetry. Learn how to find hidden poems in texts such as newspaper articles, advertisements and letters.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - Disease, death and mummies in Ancient Egypt Course start date: Sat 1 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rosalind JanssenLiving and dying with disease; being buried and mummified in Ancient Egypt. What are the latest discoveries and theories? Who is carrying out this work, and what are the ethical considerations? Human remains will be explored in a museum setting.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Dressing up in Ancient EgyptCourse start date: Sat 8 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rosalind JanssenWhat can surviving textiles tell us about the minutiae of daily life in Ancient Egypt? We will consider how the Egyptians wove such fine linen, what other fabrics were available, how they pleated their party dresses, and how often and they washed their underwear. A local museum visit brings all to life.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00 - Philosophy of artCourse start date: Sat 8 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Christopher HornerWhy do we value art? For the pleasure it gives us, the emotion it expresses, its truthfulness, its form? In this introduction to the philosophy of art we will consider various approaches to these questions and others.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Beyond Commedia dell'Arte: two masterpieces by Carlo GoldoniCourse start date: Sat 8 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Francesco BucciolCommedia dell’Arte originated in Italy in the 16th century, establishing a lasting legacy on many playwrights. Carlo Goldoni, a sharp observer of Venetian society, took this tradition and moved it forward, paving the way for Italian theatre. Discover more about Goldoni's characters, themes and how he staged the plays. We will also read from two of Carlo Goldoni’s most famous works: Servant of Two Masters and The Mistress of the Inn.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - How to write a thrillerCourse start date: Sat 15 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sophie McKenzieLearn the art of writing a thriller novel, from concept and character to the twists and turns of story pacing.
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 £35.00 - Writing poetry: experiments in chance and choice Course start date: Sat 15 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Mariah WhelanExplore interesting, off-beat and diverse approaches to generating verse on this one-day course. Try out cut-ups, found lines, experiments in meter and rhyme, and much more.
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 £35.00 - Autobiography into fiction: a taster Course start date: Sat 3 Jun 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vicky GrutLearn how to turn real-life experiences into gripping fiction in this fun short course for fiction writing beginners and experienced writers. Develop your writing skills and explore techniques for transforming personal stories into strong narratives.Full fee £69.00 - Writing about food: getting started Course start date: Sat 15 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Laura SilvermanWhether you’re keen to review dishes, interview chefs or write about sustainable eating, now is your chance. This introductory course will cover the basics of writing about food.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - Beat writer’s block Course start date: Sat 22 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Kate SmurthwaiteA one day course for anyone who has started a project and lost their way, run out of momentum or found themselves staring at a blank page and wondering where the fun of writing went.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - A taste of philosophy Course start date: Sat 22 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John GoffHave you ever wondered what philosophy is? What do philosophers talk about? Can they tell you the meaning of life or is it just jargon and navel gazing? Come along and find out.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Writing haiku poetry
Course start date: Sat 29 Jul 2023Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Pearl MayLearn how to write haikus that resonate, move and entertain on this fun day workshop.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
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