Liberal Studies

1. Liberal Studies Autumn 2009

2. The Liberal Studies Course • Three parts • Speaker meetings • Trips • Taught courses

3. Taught Courses • 3 ‘stretches’ • Different subject each time • 7 sessions

4. Influences On Popular Culture In The 1960s • The 1960s were without doubt the defining decade for popular culture in the twentieth century. The first half of the century had been dominated by the two world wars and the fifties were a period of recovery. By the time the sixties began, rock and roll had been invented and young working and middle class people were living a relatively economically comfortable existence. The Cold war was entering a very tense and potentially world-ending phase and young people were thinking that they had better do what they had to as quickly as possible. This led to major developments in fashion, music, film and literature. The aim of this course is to look at the developments in these areas and also to examine the political changes that took place in this decade by focusing on the major icons of the time. • JFH

5. British Cinema Since 1940 • The course looks at seven films made in Britain since 1940 and aims to give pupils an overview of different styles and eras of British film-making. Films covered range from the classic 1940s “weepy”, Brief Encounter, through to The Dam Busters, the 1955 Ealing comedy The Lady-Killers and then encompasses modern film-making including the surreal dark comedy Drowning by Numbers (1987) and the bleak vision of modern Britain in All or Nothing (2003). • ADB

6. Contemporary World Cinema • This course looks at a number of contemporary films from different countries around the world. All films are shown in the original language with English subtitles. If you prefer movies with non-stop action and thumping-loud soundtracks then these films will probably not be for you; however, if you relish a chance to watch and discuss films that are thoughtfully made, assume a certain degree of intelligence on the part of the audience, and provide a window into different cultures, then you should give this course a go. Films come from a range of countries that include Brazil, France, the Czech Republic, Russia and Iran, and embrace a number of different genres including documentaries, thrillers and dramas. • ADB

7. Critical Thinking – Crash Course • Aimed specifically at Oxbridge, Law and Medical candidates, this course serves as a primer for the various logical and reasoning tests likely to be encountered during the application process. It will not lead to the full AS qualification as in previous years but any student interested in sitting the exam under their own steam would be well advised to give this some consideration. Numbers are strictly limited – no time wasters. • JPF

8. Creative Writing • This workshop course provides an introduction to the writing process, and aims to develop an awareness of the skill inherent in creating high quality written work. Students develop their own writing, using a selection of 'interesting' tales as a basis for investigation of the short story form. The group will critically examine their own procedures in workshop. There are two aims: to promote the short-story form and to write within it, building to the limited publication of the best work. • TCM

9. Digital Imagery • Exposure and colour can be corrected with a few clicks as most of you know, but Working with Digital Images will introduce you to the wider range of possibilities involved in manipulating digital images. • The course will introduce you to Photoshop CS3 and will cover restoration, tinting, sharpening and cloning (inserting missing pieces). You will explore photo manipulation techniques which will help you to create new and unique images or alternatively enable you to restore your old family photographs to the original glory. • Tutor: PZ

10. Introduction to Financial Markets • If you know your puts from your call options, can explain why a P/E multiple is important and advise on suitable capital issues, if you know when you are in the settlements department and when you are on a dealing floor and if you can tell the joke about fund managers and shopping trolleys and make it funny then this course is probably not for you. If you can’t but you are interested in a career in finance or simply keen to find out how someone can send US$64mn to the wrong place over a long weekend and still keep their job, sign on the dotted line. Pay nothing now - all fees based on future earnings. • JPF/AH

11. Introduction to Photography • In this short introduction to non-digital photography you go through from taking a photo, developing a film, to producing a black and white print. If you have access to a 35mm camera you can use that. Other materials and equipment will be supplied. Look at the display outside room P2 to get an idea of what we do. • EMG

12. Bridge for Beginners • A short introduction to Bridge, probably the best card game in the world. • EMG

13. Looking at Paintings • The course will consist of looking at paintings with a view to understanding what they are communicating. We will look at material from the 15th century to the 20th ... possibly even the 21st. Pupils will be invited to talk to the group about a painting they have selected from the 100+ I have catalogued or, indeed, anything they care to bring in as long as it is a painting. • Tutor: JACY

14. Lifeguard • A short course leading to a basic qualification (tbc)

15. Musical Appreciation – The Quest For Quality • This course is aimed at non-musicians and is certainly not for anyone doing Music A level. Where most studies of this nature focus (not unreasonably) on western ‘classical’ music, this course has wider ambitions and is in search of quality. So, rather than concentrating on a specific type, NAL will be looking for ‘good’ music and asking what it is that makes it ‘good’. In this quest for quality, no genre is safe: obviously classical music will feature but the course enjoys licence to roam freely – from jazz, reggae, ska, rock and to even pop – simply anywhere where ‘good’ music can be found. Absolutely no previous knowledge or interest is needed to participate in this course, just an open-minded attitude and open ears. • Tutor: NAL

16. Practical Film Making • The purpose of the course is to familiarise the students with the basics of film-making. The students will have the opportunity to operate a video camera and use digital editing hardware and software to enhance video clips. During the course we hope to be able to complete a short documentary film about the life of the college. The course will be taught on a number of Thursday afternoon sessions, but there might also be editing sessions scheduled elsewhere. • Taught by visiting tutor

17. Salsa • Lessons in salsa • Tutor: external

18. Screen Printing • On this course students will learn how to produce screen-prints using various drawing techniques and also produce artwork from photographs and computer generated imagery using Photoshop. You will explore the possibilities of printing your images onto a variety of surfaces such as paper, wood, metal, fabric and even ceramic objects such as plates and mugs. This process does not require any previous experience. • DH

19. Tai Chi • The course aims to give an introduction to this Chinese system of moving meditation and exercise. It is based on martial arts principles but is not a course in self defence – more an insight into conserving and using one’s energy. It will rely on “learning by doing” and cover basic relaxation exercises and an introduction to the Short Form-Yang style of Tai chi. This is a series of movements that promote health and agility. Students will hopefully complete the learning of this whole routine over the course of seven sessions and there is a possibility of further practice during the mornings, before school. • Tutor: PDA