The Art of Australia – Modern painting in the 20th century
How modern painting developed in Australia from the 1920s to the 1970s. This will include the wide range of painters of the post impressionist era known as the ‘Sydney Moderns’, the ‘Hiedi School and the painters of the post-war era.
More details ...The Origins of Us
How did we come to be here? According to current scientific understanding the Universe flared into existence 13 800 million years ago in an intense fireball. Within twenty minutes hydrogen nuclei had formed, and as the Universe cooled these were … More details …
Reading Paintings – The Dutch Golden Era
This day-school opens with a survey of the Dutch Golden Age in politics and art. We begin with the establishment of the Dutch Republic in 1588 and end with the Rampjaar (‘Terrible Year’) of 1672 when the French invaded and … More details …
Reading Three Post Modern Novels: Wide Sargasso Sea, Foe, Flaubert’s Parrot
Wide Sargasso Sea was written as a prequel to Charlotte Brontë’s 1847 novel, Jane Eyre; J. M. Coetzee reinvents Daniel Defoe’s 1719 Robinson Crusoe adventure story, and Julian Barnes novel is an attempt by a fictional biographer to write about the French … More details …
Bayeux Tapestry and Other Early Medieval Treasures
This six week course will focus on 6 early medieval objects including the Bayeux Tapestry and the Winchester Bible. Current knowledge of the making and history of each object will be discussed in detail. The Bayeux Tapestry is due to … More details …
The Elements of Music
The Elements of Music is an illuminating full-day lecture with Ben England that reveals how the art of music is grounded in the patterns of the natural and scientific world. Through vivid examples and engaging explanations, Ben explores how vibration, … More details …
The Art of Revolution
An overview of the art and the artists involved in creating art relating to revolutionary moments in history. We shall investigate how artists depicted revolutions and how these images resonate and influence. How do these images report true event and … More details …
Playful Printmaking
Try a variety of different printing processes to make weird and wonderful artworks! We can make stencils, draw onto and into foam blocks or simply press an inked object onto paper. Small printing rollers, sponges, brushes, cardboard and found objects … More details …
From Sun Worship to Saving the World
It is abundantly clear that in our insatiable search for growth, mankind is radically changing the world in which we live. We only have one planet (despite Elon Musk’s dreams of colonising Mars), and we are in danger of damaging … More details …
Napoleon Bonaparte: Hero and Saviour of the French Nation or Destroyer of French liberty ?
From revolutionary general to imperial icon, Napoleon Bonaparte reshaped Europe’s political landscape. This course will follow Napoleon through his military campaigns, seizure of power and imperial impact within France and across Europe. We will consider how Napoleon navigated revolutionary ideals, … More details …
Archaeology of the Natufian Culture – Leaving the Garden of Eden
The Natufian Culture marks perhaps one of the most extraordinary transformations of our ancient human culture. Dating to just after the last ice age (15,000 years ago) archaeological evidence shows that the culture enabled (perhaps) the first sedentary population prior … More details …
Central Asia – a melting pot or a divided region?
In this course we will explore the fascinating and enigmatic area sometimes referred to as the wild and opaque “black hole” in the heart of Asia. For millennia forming a cultural trading crossroads along the Silk Road, with unmatched prosperity … More details …
Virtuoso!
Journey through the dazzling world of the violin concerto in a day filled with glorious music – music that is brilliant, lyrical and deeply emotional. Our Virtuoso! day traces the violin’s story from Vivaldi’s fiery energy through the sweeping Romantic … More details …
Rebellion and disorder under the Tudors 1485 -1603
In this course we will explore the dramatic clashes which peppered Tudor England, including dynastic challenges and violent social, economic and religious rebellions. We will investigate the evolving relationship between the monarchy, nobility, and people of England, and how disorder … More details …
North (1975) Seamus Heaney
“North”, published in 1975 is divided into two parts. The first contains poems which are more symbolic in nature, taking themes such as the myth of Hercules and Antaeus, the bog bodies of Northern Europe, the Vikings and other historical … More details …