Cambridge

Course Description: The course takes a chronological approach covering the years 1066-1945. The focus is on the development of agricultural techniques, the effect on people’s lives and the way in which the landscape has been changed as a result of human activity. The course uses a variety of material – family written sources, oral history, popular song and documentary film. This enables study of the human aspect, particularly the lot of the agricultural labourer.

Course Description: 'The fall of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 was widely seen as a hugely significant event. But how was it to be interpreted? As the birth of freedom in France or as an act of mob violence? The Revolution that followed carried out necessary reforms but was then consumed by violence, as the king was executed and the revolutionaries turned on each other. When General Bonaparte seized power in a coup in 1799, the Revolution was over but its legacy continued. The world could never be the same.’

Course Description: Visual Magic in the Musicals; Colour; The Art of the Movie Poster; Hollywood and The Hays Code, 1934-1968; In The Wake of Easy Rider: Universal Pictures and the Ned Tanen Unit.

Course Description: Witches have one definite power – the ability to fascinate and inspire. Since at least classical times, writers have voiced their fears, ridicule, awe of, and sometimes admiration for this particular, generally female, outsider. They have built up conflicting, ambiguous, usually highly memorable portraits of figures who range from semi-goddesses to the poorest, most despised outcasts, through sorceresses, herbalists, heretics, beautiful young women and aged crones, from real figures of history to wild flights of imagination. What is their appeal? What do their presentations, and their fates, tell us about the society and writers who present them? Prepare to mount your broomsticks (or keep your feet firmly on the ground) and discover the witches of literature! We will be looking at the portrayal of witches in western literature from Classical Greece to the 20th century, using excerpts from the texts of plays, novels and poetry. No prior reading is necessary.

Course Description: This course explores various aspects of the Grand Tour: its origins in religious pilgrimage; its importance as an artistic and cultural phenomenon during the 18th century; its particular association with English aristocracy and the development of the ‘grand style’ in English art.  We will focus upon the significance of Italian culture to the Englishman abroad and the impact of his patronage upon artistic development in both Italy and England.  The four artists I propose are: El Greco 1541-1614, Artemesia Gentileschi 1597-1651, Samuel Palmer 1805-81 Edward Hopper 1882-1967

Course Description: Following Julian’s first course on Japan he now presents a deeper dive into Japanese culture, further exploring themes from folklore to history, from cinema to spirituality, and returning to familiar faces of the ongoing recovery from the 2011 Great east Japan tsunami and radiation disaster. The course reintroduces themes of hope, national storytelling and resilience. In Autumn 2024, following a family tragedy, Julian made a 300 km hike along the North East coast of Japan, re-connecting and linking to fresh inspiring tales of community rebuilding... and a good few ghost stories encountered along the way! These talks will deepen themes from the first series, but be totally accessible to any new audience members…

Course Description: Join an experienced university lecturer with first-hand familiarity of Ukraine for an accessible and inspiring introduction to a country that has captured the world’s attention since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Many have wondered: What fuels Ukrainians’ remarkable courage and resilience? This course helps you discover the answer. Together, we’ll explore Ukraine’s story through its most meaningful landmarks and historic sites. You’ll learn about the legendary Cossacks and their role in establishing Ukrainian identity, visit iconic locations connected to the Crimean War, and see how preserving Ukraine’s cultural heritage – in  Literature, Music and  Folk Art -  has become a powerful act of defiance and pride. We will also look closely at how modern narratives about Ukraine have been distorted by Putin’s propaganda —clarifying the historical record and helping you understand the true background of today’s conflict.