COURSES

Examine the economic integration within the European Union and the relationship between Great Britain and the EU within a global economic context.

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Throughout its history, London has been the political, cultural, trading, and financial capital of England. This course is an introductory survey of the history of London from its Roman origins to 1945, with emphasis on how royalty, trade, religion, and social conditions have shaped the pattern of the city's growth. It draws upon primary source materials, historical map, and guided walks. The course is divided equally between in-class lectures and discussions and specially created walks through city neighborhoods. Each student completes two projects based on personal exploration of London streets.

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This course studies those trends in twentieth century art collectively known as Modernism, examining how each challenged the artistic ideas of earlier centuries.  By directly encountering British, European, and American examples in London's magnificent galleries, students can come to an understanding of the diverse nature of Modernisma and the profundity of its influence.  An in-depth study of contemporary British, art patronage, and the rold of galleries in shaping public taste will be intregal to the course, illustrated by the award every autumn of the Turner Prize fo contemporary art.

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This course is an English literature course structured around Shakespeare plays in production at the time of the class. Five or six plays are selected and students study them as scripts, taking an actor's or director's approach rather than a scholar's. The primary consideration is the relationship of the play to the audience. This course covers the movements of characters on and off the stage, how an actor might present a character or interpret a speech, which aspects of the play a director might seek to emphasize, and so on. From this approach, an appreciation of Shakespeare's poetic skill, his use of imagery and metaphor, and the underlying themes of the play, arise naturally and easily. Students also consider what advantages the modern theater has over an Elizabethan playhouse and vice versa, and how Shakespeare leveraged the advantages and coped with the disadvantages. Students will see at least six British Shakespeare productions in London or in Stratford.

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This course is focused on the complex relationships between food and cuisine and society and culture and how they shape and influence each other. Drawing from the disciplines of food studies, cultural studies, anthropology and sociology, students will have the opportunity to engage with food as culture – in theory and in practice. Through this course, students will examine major contemporary issues around food, the history and forms of cuisine in the UK, and food as an important cultural phenomenon in all societies. Britain will be the main example, with London as a particular lens.

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EXCURSIONS
(see calendar for dates)

Theatre
All students will see Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre; Macbeth in Stratford; The Tempest; Hamlet at the Young Vic Theatre; and Mozart's famous opera The Marriage of Figaro at the Coliseum.

Bookings so far for 'The Play's the Thing' class include The Globe Mysteries and Marlowe's Dr Faustus, both at Shakespeare's Globe; The Kitchen; The Veil; The Last of the Duchess; One Man, Two Guvnors in the West End; How to be Happy (with pre-performance talk by Sam Walters); National Theatre Performance Platform with Connor McPherson (The Veil); and a National Theatre backstage tour!

Shakespeare students' events: Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre; Macbeth in Stratford; two different productions of The Tempest; Hamlet at the Young Vic Theatre; Lively Action Workshop at The Globe.


Galleries, museums and places of interest
The Modern Art class will visit The Courtauld Institute Gallery, Tate Modern, Imperial War Museum, The National Portrait Gallery, The Saatchi Gallery, Tate Britain, as well as Cork Street and its commercial art galleries.

The London Biography class will visit the Museum of London, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral, Docklands Museum, Apsley House, as well as taking many interesting city walks.

The EU class will take a trip to Parliament as well as an LSE visit.

'Penciled-in' visits for the Britain and Food class include: The People's Supermarket; The Imperial War Museum; a West End food walking tour; and a very English afternoon tea!

Other class visits to be confirmed


Field trips and other activites (all students)
Tower of London and Thames River Cruise
Three-day trip to Edinburgh, including visit to Edinburgh Castle and various galleries
Two-day trip to Stratford-upon-Avon, including visits to Shakespeare's 'Five Houses' and performance of Macbeth
Bath day trip (including entry to Roman Baths)
Oxford day trip
Hampton Court Palace visit
Thanksgiving celebration (afternoon classes will be affected)