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.
- Understanding contemporary art: ideas and originsCourse start date: Mon 14 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Christopher CollierEver wondered what's going on in the mind of contemporary artists? This course explores the ideas and historical background behind some of today’s most intriguing works, from Conceptualism and Video to Body Art and Installation.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information. - Global arts of AfricaCourse start date: Tue 15 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Thomas BalfeThis course introduces major forms of African art in their regional and global contexts. It studies classical traditions of carving, metal casting, architecture and textile arts as well as twentieth-century and contemporary developments, including the work of photographers and conceptual artists.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £129.00 - Looking inside paintingsCourse start date: Wed 16 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Caroline RaeDiscover the secrets of the Old Masters and learn how they created their wonderful effects in this introductory course on painters and painting. We will consider the physical history and scientific examination of artworks in relation to aspects including forgeries, hidden paintings and conservation/ restoration.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £110.00 - Masters of cinema: Wes AndersonCourse start date: Thu 17 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Graham Rinaldi“I have a way of filming things and staging them and designing sets. There were times when I thought I should change my approach but in fact, this is what I like to do. It’s sort of like my handwriting as a movie director.” Explore the signature style and adventurous cinema of Wes Anderson from coming of age films through stop motion animation to comedy dramas.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £49.00 Concession £32.00 - Competitive cities in the global political economyCourse start date: Thu 17 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Caglar EzikogluExamine the dynamic relationships between cities, exploring their local uniqueness and global interconnectedness in the modern economies.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £119.00 - US Election Countdown: 3 weeks outCourse start date: Thu 17 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Mark MalcomsonAs we approach the most important US Election in modern times, we will explore what is happening nationally and also on a state-by-state basis. We will reference election history to give context to give and understanding of what is going on and hopefully give an idea of how things might evolve.
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 £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Friday lates: The Bauhaus in LondonCourse start date: Fri 18 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julie BarlowThe Staatliches Bauhaus opened its doors in Weimar, Germany in 1919. Fourteen years later it was shut down by the Nazis. Celebrate 100 years of Modernism in architecture and design and discover how Bauhaus style spread to London.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information. - Sexuality, Colonialism and Law: is there a dark side to gay rights?Course start date: Tue 22 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Joshua HeppleNearly seventy countries still criminalise gay sex. Why is this? This course will attend to this question by examining the links between sexuality, colonialism and postcolonial gay rights.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £129.00 - Ways into poetry: a gentle paceCourse start date: Tue 22 Oct 2024 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Eleanor PennyAre you brand new to writing poetry? Do you want to build your confidence in a supportive environment alongside other beginners in the craft? This gentle short-course guides students taking their first steps on the path to becoming a poet.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00 - Writing and rewriting fairytalesCourse start date: Tue 22 Oct 2024 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: KR MoorheadOnce upon a time there was a City Lit workshop all about writing fairytales. The quest: to inspire writers to pen stories of love, fear, forests, revenge, dragons, witches, kings, queens, frogs and magic.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Feminism in modern and contemporary artCourse start date: Thu 24 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Irina ChkhaidzeDiscover important modern and contemporary artists whose work can be broadly linked to the feminist project. We will discuss the political and social contexts in which the artworks were created.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £110.00 - Friday lates: Magical modernism – modern art and the occultCourse start date: Fri 25 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Christopher CollierDiscover Modern Art’s secret history: a mysterious melting-pot of mystic auras, magical colour theories, trances, alchemy and the spirit-physics of the 4th-dimension, hiding beneath the familiar stories of science, reason and industry.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information. - Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00
- Ways into creative writing: a gentle paceCourse start date: Tue 29 Oct 2024 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Claire CollisonAre you brand new to creative writing? Do you want to build your confidence in a supportive environment alongside other beginners? This gentle short-course guides students taking their first steps on the path to becoming a creative writer.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00 - Ways into creative writing: intensiveCourse start date: Wed 30 Oct 2024 (and 10 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Claire CollisonNot sure whether creative writing is for you? Give it a try on one of these fun and supportive short courses covering the basics of fiction and poetry. Increase your confidence and produce work through guided exercises and discussion.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00
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