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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- Introduction to journalism
Course start date: Tue 18 Apr 2023Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Tristan McConnellOn this course students will explore the basic skills a freelance journalist needs to write and sell news and features to newspapers and magazines. From developing ideas and identifying outlets to interview skills and approaching editors.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00 - Reading for writers: the short story (a fortnightly course)Course start date: Tue 18 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Vicky GrutThe best way to write good short stories is to read a lot of good ones first. Dive into the best of short fiction, explore point-of-view, character and pacing, and begin to apply the lessons learnt to your own writing in this fortnightly course.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00 - Autobiographical writing: an introductionCourse start date: Mon 24 Jul 2023 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Julie GartonWhether writing for self-discovery, testimony or to tell your story, learn how to get started and what's involved in autobiographical writing. Explore various resources from diaries to dreams, memories and fantasy.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00 - Reading for writers: great plays (a fortnightly course)Course start date: Wed 19 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Brian MullinImitation is more than just a form of flattery - it's a tool to discover your own writing craft! Delve into a series of famous playscripts to understand their mechanics and their unique approaches. Then apply your insights to your own writing through in-class exercises.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00 - Writing a memoir (continuation)Course start date: Fri 13 Jan 2023 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street (other locations are available)
Tutors: Julie GartonSome moments in our lives are so powerful they beg to be shared with the world. This continuation course guides students in developing a memoir project that will resonate and inspire.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00 - Writing a memoir: an introductionCourse start date: Thu 12 Jan 2023 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street (other locations are available)
Tutors: Nick BarlaySome moments in our lives are so powerful they beg to be shared with the world. This six week course will help you plan and craft a memoir that will resonate and inspire.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00 - Journal inspiration: creative approaches to writing about your lifeCourse start date: Thu 20 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julie GartonThis inspiring, six-week workshop, led by an experienced journaler, encourages students to explore a range of techniques and prompts in order to find an approach to life writing that suits them.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00 - Autobiography into fictionCourse start date: Thu 23 Feb 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Nick BarlayThis 6-week course will help you develop techniques for transforming personal experience into fiction. You'll have the opportunity to improve your writing skills as well as your ability to give and use constructive criticism in a workshop environment.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00 - Art and critical theory: vision and gazeCourse start date: Tue 25 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Irina ChkhaidzeExplore the role of critical theory within the field of art history, and learn new ways of thinking about art by focusing on the topics of vision and gaze.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £90.00 - German art after the 1960s: from happenings to artificial sunshineCourse start date: Wed 26 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Irina ChkhaidzeExplore German art from the 1960s to present, from movements such as Conceptualism, Fluxus, Capitalist Realism and Neo-Expressionism to the most recent multi-media art.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £90.00 - Mary, William and Anne: the later Stuart DynastyCourse start date: Wed 26 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ellen CarpenterFollowing the deposal of their father James II & VII, Mary ruled jointly with her husband William from 1689-1694, after which she was succeeded first by William, and then her younger sister Anne from 1702-1714. Join us to explore the lives, intrigues, politics, religion and society of these later Stuart monarchs – what challenges did these monarchs face and how enduring were their legacies? To what extent did Mary and Anne see one another as rivals?
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £70.00 - Writing for magazinesCourse start date: Tue 16 May 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Susan GrossmanGet inspired to write on this practical course for freelance journalists and bloggers. Learn to carry out research, interview people, pitch and publish stories, and build your presence on social media.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00 - America in the 40s: culture and societyCourse start date: Tue 9 May 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Mark Malcomson, Mick McAloon, Dale Mineshima-Lowe, Trish Shaw, Patricia Sweeney, Ian TucknottThe bombing of Pearl Harbor brought Americans into WW2, while the European need for goods pulled the USA out of the Depression of the 30s, providing new opportunities for women, African Americans and other people of colour. Post-War America saw a new energy, of hope but also despair. This online intertextual course explores the political, social and cultural context of 1940s America through a study of the literature, history, music, film and art of the period. With different tutors for each specialism, the course provides a 'taster' in each subject as a gateway to further study in understanding this fascinating period in American culture and society.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £109.00 Concession £71.00 - Sweet Thames, run softly - a cultural explorationCourse start date: Wed 10 May 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Eleanor JacksonThe Thames runs like a silver thread through London’s history. It has been a muse & inspiration for centuries. This course examines its impact on our city, how it’s enriched & influenced our lives, both upstream & down.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £109.00 Concession £55.00 - Victorian WomenCourse start date: Mon 15 May 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ellen CarpenterMeek, willing, subservient – this is the traditional stereotype most often associated with women in the Victorian era. How did Victorian women really live, work and love and what were the social challenges that they faced?
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £70.00
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