London Imagined
Course Information
| Course Code: | CE1638 |
| Start date(s): | Thursday 28 January 2010 |
| Class Time: | 6.30-8.30pm |
| Number of Classes: | 9 weekly classes |
| Course Fee: | £200 |
Overview
The course will explore London through its subjective appearance in narrative, experience and memory. It is aimed equally at lifelong residents and at people arrived in London more recently who would like to investigate the city through imagination and memory. Case studies will be selected from a diverse range of material, including novels, cinema, popular music, picture postcards and souvenirs. Students will be encouraged to share initiatives of their own, and a greater part of the sessions will be given over to their contributions as the course progresses. Students will keep journals to record their personal exploration of selected themes, and one fieldtrip will reach out into the city.
Eligibility
No prior knowledge required.
What will I learn?
- to describe the ways in which a fictional narrative evokes the city of London
- to analyse the contribution of cultural artefacts such as novels, films and music to the recognised identity of the city
Recommended Reading
Ackroyd, P. (2000) London: the Biography (London: Vintage)
Adams, Anna (ed.) (2003) London in Poetry and Prose (London: Enitharmon)
Ali, Monica (2003) Brick Lane (London: Black Swan Books)
Dickens, C. (1999 edition) Little Dorrit (London: Penguin Classics)
Gilbert, Pamela K (ed.) (2002) Imagined Londons. (Albany NY: State University of New York Press)
Waters, S. (2000) Affinity (London: Virago)
Tutor Information
Paul Colbeck has a MA from the University of the Arts, London and a Postgraduate teaching qualification. He also teaches at Central St Martins College and at City Lit. Having originally trained in stage design he has worked in a wide variety of artistic fields and now pursues personal projects inspired by cities and early modes of photography and film.
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