Something for me: something completely different
Arts and Humanities
The History of English in Ten Minutes [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]
(Introductory, 15 mins)
Voiced by Clive Anderson, this entertaining romp through ‘The History of English’ squeezes 1600 years of history into 10 one-minute bites, uncovering the sources of English words and phrases from Shakespeare and the King James Bible to America and the Internet. Bursting with fascinating facts, the series looks at how English grew from a small tongue into a major global language before reflecting on the future of English in the 21st century.
(Introductory, 12 hrs)
Have you always wanted to write, but never quite had the courage to start? This unit will give you an insight into how authors create their characters and the settings for their work. You will also be able to look at the different genres for fiction.
(Introductory, 8 hrs)
This unit gives you an idea of what it is like to study philosophy, introducing you to the teaching methods employed by The Open University in teaching philosophy. If you are considering studying philosophy, we recommend you start here. Although the unit is mainly for people who are new to philosophy, you may find it helpful even if you already have some experience of the subject.
(Introductory, 20 hrs)
This unit will give you an opportunity to think about some of the key concepts and methods of the discipline of Religious Studies. You will meet examples of different forms of religious practice and belief, mostly from Britain and India.
The African diaspora: an archaeological perspective
(Introductory, 4 hrs)
The African diaspora, in its broadest terms, is the dispersal of people of African descent from Africa to other parts of the world – particularly Europe, America and Southwest Asia. The process has been occurring over much of the past 2,000 years in various ways, with different cultures and societies involved. Through much of this time, slavery has been the driving force behind the diaspora.
This unit explores why this area of research has been traditionally under-represented and highlights the ways in which archaeology can contribute to this fast-growing field of study.