History & The Arts
Art and life in ancient Egypt
Around 1350 BC, the Egyptian grain accountant Nebamun commissioned the walls of his tomb-chapel to be painted with scenes depicting his afterlife, and the world in which he lived. Nebamun worked in the temple of Amun at Karnak during the reign of Amenhotep III (c. 1390-1352 BC). Amenhotep was one of the most important kings of the 18th Dynasty, one of the high points of Egyptian wealth, but his reign preceded a period of dramatic upheaval in Egyptian society. In 1820 eleven pieces were removed from the walls of the tomb-chapel, location now unknown, and were acquired by the British Museum, where they are now iconic masterpieces of the collection. This free course explores the history and meaning of these paintings.
History & The Arts
Exploring philosophy: faking nature
Commercial exploitation of nature, such as mining, fracking, or generating hydro-electric power, often damages the way the natural environment looks. What if the environment could be restored to exactly how it looked before? Would that mean that no damage had been done, that the natural environment was as valuable as it had been before the commercial exploitation? This free course, Exploring philosophy: ------ nature, examines ‘the restoration thesis’, and provides an insight into philosophical study at postgraduate level.
History & The Arts
Brighton Pavilion
In this free course, Brighton Pavilion, you will examine the Royal Pavilion at Brighton, and its relationship to nineteenth-century Romanticism and exoticism. You'll begin with a biographical discussion of the Prince of Wales, afterwards Prince Regent and eventually King George IV, to whose specifications the Pavilion was built. With the help of video and still images you will take a tour of the Pavilion, examining the exterior then a series of interior rooms as a visitor in the 1820s may have experienced them. Besides this you will look at contemporary aesthetic, cultural and political reactions to the building, its contents and its social milieu.
History & The Arts
Brighton Pavilion
In this free course, Brighton Pavilion, you will examine the Royal Pavilion at Brighton, and its relationship to nineteenth-century Romanticism and exoticism. You'll begin with a biographical discussion of the Prince of Wales, afterwards Prince Regent and eventually King George IV, to whose specifications the Pavilion was built. With the help of video and still images you will take a tour of the Pavilion, examining the exterior then a series of interior rooms as a visitor in the 1820s may have experienced them. Besides this you will look at contemporary aesthetic, cultural and political reactions to the building, its contents and its social milieu.
History & The Arts
Civilisations
Simon Schama, Mary Beard and David Olusoga explore the visual culture of societies around the globe.
Society, Politics & Law
Review: Building and Dwelling - Ethics for the City
In Building and Dwelling: Ethics for the City, Richard Sennett approaches the question of how we should live in the city. Drawing upon two aspects of the city, the ville and the cité, the book promotes the virtues of an ‘open city’ that accepts and works with complexity, ambiguity and uncertainty. While John Tomaney finds this a learned and literate book rich in provocative metaphors and examples, the implications of today’s political and economic context, including the issue of inequality, upon its ethics of the city are underexplored.
History & The Arts
Week 7 Civilisations: The debate
Emma Barker, a Senior Lecturer in Art History, will be reflecting on episode seven of Civilisations on Friday 13th April between 12pm - 2pm. Let us know your thoughts in this discussion hub...
History & The Arts
Week 8 Civilisations: The debate
Dr Leon Wainwright, a reader in Art History, will be discussing episode eight of Civilisations on Thursday 19th April at 10pm. Let us know your thoughts in this discussion hub...
History & The Arts
Week 9 Civilisations: The debate
Emeritus Professor and academic advisor on Civilisations, Gill Perry, will be discussing Civilisations on Thursday 26th April at 10pm. Let us know your thoughts in this discussion hub...
History & The Arts
How should Rwanda remember the genocide?
Up to a million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered during the genocide of 1994. A quarter of a century on, how does Rwanda memorialise that event?
History & The Arts
Is it ever morally acceptable to visit a mass murder site?
Why are ‘Jack the Ripper’ tours or visiting sites of genocide in Auschwitz or Cambodia deemed acceptable but the more recent ‘Yorkshire Ripper’ tours seen as immoral? Does time make a difference or does our view of morality run a little deeper?
History & The Arts
Understanding musical scores
This free course, Understanding musical scores, provides a general introduction to how to understand a musical score, and insights into what professional musicians do with the notation that these contain. You’ll learn how to connect the notation you see with the music you hear, from short familiar melodies to a full orchestral score.
