WEA courses

This intriguing course delves into the history of epidemics, focusing on the cultural, social, and scientific responses to diseases spread through coughing and sneezing. From the bubonic plague to the flu pandemics and COVID-19, students will explore how societies have understood and managed infectious diseases over time. Through historical case studies, primary sources, and discussions, participants will gain insight into the development of public health measures, the impact of epidemics on societies, and the lessons learned from past outbreaks.

Explore the rich history of the River Thames and other London waterways with our comprehensive course. Learn about the historical, cultural, and economic significance of these iconic waterways. Ideal for history enthusiasts and those interested in London's heritage.

What does it take to keep the audience on the edge of their seat for the classic film thriller experience? What happens when crime is thrown into the mix? We explore five examples now regarded as classics of this genre and question – do they all have far more than ‘just’ generic entertainment value? For a brief period in the 1980s, it appeared as though the crime thriller expressed something about what was perhaps a changing, or changed Britain – we examine two of these films, The Long Good Friday and Mona Lisa. Classics such as Brighton Rock provide an interesting and historical British cinematic parallel to the gangster and noir films of 30s and 40s U.S. Whereas, Get Carter, a film now regarded as an icon of national cinema was initially conceived as a trashy ‘pot-boiler’ for the U.S drive-in market, leaving some to argue it could be viewed as more of a ‘revenge Western’ set in North East England? Whilst Danny Boyle’s Shallow Grave seemingly reinvigorates the genre into something arguably more sophisticated and/or accessible in the 1990s? What common techniques do these films employ and what do they say thematically about reoccurring anxieties and tensions of the societies which produced and consumed them? Can filmmakers still learn from these or have some now dated in their power to keep us on the edge of the seat? Mona Lisa (1986), The Long Good Friday (1980), Get Carter (1971), Brighton Rock (1948), Shallow Grave (1994).

From the Academy Awards (nicknamed - ‘The Oscars’) to Cannes and the BAFTAs, sometimes it seems as though one film often dominates major categories, in 2024 this was Oppenheimer, but what were the judges really looking for, are box office figures really enough to stand the test of time with audiences? We compare this to films such as Gone With the Wind, a film still well known and highly regarded but now increasing questioned for its representation of slavery and questionable moments of morality. Do we need to remember and appreciate what this film won its awards for in the first place? Smaller scale, more micro-budget film productions such as Bait as perhaps just as important for their creative innovation and social commentary on a moment in time/history - yet it takes a different kind of award to recognise this – are awards more important for getting emerging talent recognised way from the box office. How important are awards for ‘International’ cinema such as The Power of the Dog, The Boy and the Heron and Perfect Days – what does this term really mean? Do award winning films say as much if not more about the sociological, political, technological and/or pop-cultural moments in time they were made as much as anything else? From the big hits to a near miss or two, we have fun, discuss and come to understand and appreciate the themes, approaches and creative decisions behind each of these films, broaden our knowledge of the subject area and cinema in general. The Holdovers (2023), Oppenheimer (2023), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), Perfect Days (2023), The Conversation (1974), Gone with the Wind (1939), The Power of the Dog (2021) Bait (2019), The Boy and the Heron (2023) Oliver! (1968).

Welcome to the world of creativity! This beginners' course in arts and crafts is designed to introduce you to various artistic techniques and mediums, providing you with a solid foundation to explore your creativity. Whether you're a complete novice or someone looking to refresh their skills, this course will guide you through the fundamentals of different art forms, encouraging you to express yourself through hands-on projects.

Bring your imagination to life! This stop motion animation course guides you through the exciting world of creating animated stories frame by frame. Learn practical techniques, explore storytelling elements, and discover the magic of bringing characters and objects to life on screen. We will explore a variety of content including the principles of stop motion animation, from storyboarding to character creation. We will explore how to nbring the ideas to life and look into the post-production magic too. **This interactive course features engaging video demonstrations, step-by-step tutorials, and creative prompts to spark your imagination. Whether you're a hobbyist or aiming for a career in animation, this course is your launchpad to explore the world of stop motion animation!

A look at the history of three important capital cities in Europe in the 19th century. In Paris, we’ll look at the aftermath of the Revolution of 1789, beginning with Napoleon's influence, and see how the restoration of the monarchy failed to eradicate discontent, leading to more revolutions and rebellions in the city in the 19th century. We’ll also examine Haussmann’s massive town-planning project that made Paris what it is today, the lives of some of the notorious Courtesans, and works by great artists who documented the events and scenes of the time. Moving to Vienna, we’ll see how the monarchy there was much more stable but that its reliance on tradition and conservative values seemed in conflict with modernising influences. We’ll see how Vienna began the 19th century as arguably the most important European capital, where the peace conference for the whole of Europe was held following the Napoleonic wars, but also how it found its position increasingly under threat from Berlin, which sought to replace it as capital of the German nation. Both cities saw revolutions in 1848 which brought them together in common cause, as their political leaderships tried to placate the people by bringing in more liberal constitutions, only to backtrack and return to more traditional forms of government. We’ll also look at the development of the Ringstrasse, influenced in part by Haussmann’s redesign of Paris, and the massive migration to the city as a result of large-scale industrialisation

Why was Britain's genetic make-up radically changed between 500 and 800 AD/CE? Were the newcomers environmental refugees, pagan plunderes, invaders or missionaries? Who were these new arrivals and what were they doing over here? This course will use recent information on sites, finds and their interpretation to shed new light on Anglo-Saxon Age archaeology in Britain. How and why the migrations took place will be illustrated using new (since 1980) excavation evidence, metal detecting finds, scientific analysis and aeriel remote sensing data.

The course will examine the origins of Fascism and National Socialism against the backdrop of post war turmoil in Italy and Germany. We will see how the emergence of Stalin as supreme leader in the USSR led to a radicalisation of the economy and political terror. We will consider the effects of the economic crisis in the democratic countries, USA, Britain and France. Finally, we will consider how the radicalisation of economies and politics impacted on international relations culminating in the outbreak of a second European war in 1939.

If you have contact with deaf people in your day-to-day life, you may want to take a British Sign Language course. Knowing how to sign can make your communication more inclusive for everyone you interact with. This BSL course is suitable for you if you need to communicate with deaf people in a voluntary or community role, or simply through social interactions. This course is aimed at complete beginners. You will start from scratch to learn foundational BSL skills.