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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- Strange tales and dark dreams: Fantasy, horror and surrealism in European cinemaCourse start date: Sat 29 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Jon WisbeyExplore a selection of films from the early days of European cinema, and later, that draw on a range of key genre traditions, but which have also acquired significant critical reputations, with their memorable visual qualities and unsettling narratives lending them an enduring place in both cinema and popular culture. Strange tales and dark dreams to fascinate, horrify and astound you.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Focus on: Hopper
Course start date: Sat 29 Apr 2023Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rachel SandersStudy Hopper’s key works, including 'Automat' and 'Nighthawks', within the context of biography, social and political events, and movements such as Regionalism, Social Realism and American Scene painting.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Writing myths: a tasterCourse start date: Sat 29 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Maria ContosWhether you want to write about mythical beasts in a modern-day setting or pen a traditional epic, this fun, interactive taster will equip you with the craft basics to write a myth that will move and inspire.
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 - The rise and fall of the Mughal EmpireCourse start date: Sat 29 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ellen CarpenterOn this introductory course we will follow the fortunes of the Mughal Emperors, rulers of Northern India from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries. What were their contributions to the religious, political and cultural life of northern India?Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Women in ancient RomeCourse start date: Sat 29 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: William SterlingWomen's position in the Ancient Roman world was important as they played important roles in the home, in business, in religion and even in politics.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Looking back: the Ottoman Empire, 1299-1922Course start date: Sat 6 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Martin JorgensenWant to know more about the history of the Ottoman Empire and its legacies in the modern Middle East? Join us on this course to get an introduction.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Masters of Cinema: Clint Eastwood - Directing the WestCourse start date: Sun 7 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Graham Rinaldi“The Western brought me a certain notoriety” – Clint Eastwood the last of the Western Film Directors. This course will look at Eastwood’s body of work set in the American Wild West from High Plains Drifter to Cry Macho. We will explore his themes, storytelling, influences and techniques in creating a truly American art form.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Writing a short filmCourse start date: Sun 7 May 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sharmila ChauhanWould you like to write a script for a short film? This short course offers an insight into the fundamentals of screenwriting through tutor input, writing exercises, group work and discussion.
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 - Tutankhamun’s fashionCourse start date: Sat 13 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rosalind JanssenRecent examinations of Tutankhamun’s underwear have revealed that the boy king was decidedly ‘pear-shaped’. What can his clothing tell us about the minutiae of daily life in Ancient Egypt? Afternoon visit to the Petrie Museum.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Women behind the camera: in Hollywood and beyondCourse start date: Sat 13 May 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ellen CheshireSince 1952, the British Film Institute through its magazine, Sight and Sound, has conducted a poll of film critics every decade to find out what are the Greatest Films of All Time. When the latest poll was published in December 2022 it sent #FilmTwitter into a tailspin. There seemed to be some surprise that a film few had seen and was directed by a woman had now taken that top spot. In this Study Day we will look at the women directors whose films feature on 2022 poll.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Writing comedy for TV in the online ageCourse start date: Sat 13 May 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Alan NixonWith the advent of streaming services, the opportunities to develop narrative comedy are multitude. Learn how to write narrative comedy for TV, how to identify your outlets, and how to modify your projects accordingly on this intensive short course.
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 - The MayaCourse start date: Sat 13 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Max CarocciLearn about one of the most magnificent, but misunderstood civilisations of the ancient world - the ancient Maya from the rainforests of Central America. We'll examine their history and culture.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Craft focus: voice in fictionCourse start date: Sat 13 May 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sophie McKenzieAll fiction must speak to us as readers. It must communicate atmosphere and plot, character and layers of meaning with a unique 'voice'. In this one-day course learn what 'voice' really means in fiction and how to develop this complex identity for your story.
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 - Dickens' LondonCourse start date: Sat 13 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Molly Rumbelow'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' Enjoy this introduction to Dickens' work and the London of his time. Morning lecture at City Lit followed by a walk in the area of the city connected to his work.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Developing your fairytaleCourse start date: Sat 13 May 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Nicole AcquahAlready devised a cunning plan for your own fairytale? This fun workshop coaches students on how to add an extra dash of magic into the cauldron while writing in the fairytale genre.
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
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