Courses in London & Online

Explore late Byzantine culture through its Mediterranean outposts, from Mount Athos to Mistra and Monemvasia, where the Byzantine ethos persisted, adapted and flourished in art, architecture, philosophy and monastic life.

With the success of films like Oldboy and Parasite, South Korean cinema has become internationally known and acclaimed. But behind this success, a rich and diverse history encompassing decades of filmmaking is far less well-known. This course offers an introduction to the vibrant and dynamic cinema of Korea, tracing its evolution from the post-war years to its recent global prominence. It will chart different traditions and eras, from the so-called Golden Age of the mid-20th century, through the politically charged cinema of the 1980s and 1990s, to the emergence of the Korean New Wave and the internationally celebrated auteurs such as Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook and Lee Chang-dong. We will learn about how Korean cinema has continually reflected the country’s complex history, shifting ideologies, and rapid modernisation. We will explore how Korean filmmakers have responded to colonialism, authoritarianism, democratisation, globalisation and capitalism, and how cinema has served as a space for cultural expression, resistance, and innovation.

Thank the cinema gods, Mike Leigh is back with his first film in six years. Hard Truths (2024) is dark and very bleak—and that’s a compliment! Ken Loach retired twice before being driven to make I, Daniel Blake (2016), The Old Oak (2023) and Sorry We Missed You (2019). We’re missing you already, but beyond our Ken has emerged a new wave of realist filmmakers: Clio Barnard (The Arbor, 2010), Charlotte Wells (Aftersun, 2022), Sarah Gavron (Rocks, 2019) and Andrea Arnold (Bird, 2024). And put in a word for Lynne Ramsey’s new film Die, My Love (2024), only her 5th in a 25-year career. Ramsay may not have made many features since her indelible debut with Ratcatcher (1999)—but she has also never shot a dull image.