The deadline is approaching. We live under the shadow of a possible no-deal. A chaotic situation persists. The PM’s request to the queen to suspend the parliament for five weeks was ruled illegal by the Supreme Court. If the prorogation had succeeded, it could have risked the reputation for democracy that British citizens are most…
stories behind images
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Philosophy course in London
Philosophy Behind the Headlines This course will briefly introduce key ideas from the history of philosophy. We will discuss selected news stories, and consider what philosophical concepts and theories can contribute to our understanding of these stories. Do I need any particular skills or experience? No skills or experience needed This course is suitable for…
Film Studies course in London
Exploring film genres Lecturer: Dr Dan Williams This course will look at examples from different film genres including melodrama, crime and comedy. Students will be provided with key information about all the extracts shown, and an opportunity to discuss different responses to the films. What genres are suggested by the images below? The WEA course…
Lunchtime Choir Concert
A small female choir, Japonica Singers, will have a lunchtime concert on Wednesday the 18th of September at The Guild Church of St Dunstan-in-the-west, a historic Anglican Church in the City of London. The programme includes classical pieces and Japanese songs. It is free. Please come and enjoy with us!
Linsui’s Solo Show
Our contributor, Linsui, Japanese calligraphy artist, has opened her 10th solo show in Tokyo. The title theme for this exhibition is: “feel deeply and glow with happiness”. The calligraphy written here means ‘person’ or ‘people’. People hold hands, communicate through heart and share each other’s feeling. The show is on till 16th September 2019 at…
Heroines from Greek plays
This month we want to show images of Ancient Greek play, featuring tragic heroines. Electra by Sophocles The women of Athenian tragedy are often used to embody the idea of total, selfless devotion to the interests of the man of the family – father, husband or brother. Electra was the daughter of the great…
Couple in love from classical mythology
As February the 14th, St Valentine’s Day, approaches we would like to show a ‘couple in love’ from classical mythology. Psyche and Cupid Psyche was a princess who was so beautiful that she almost overshadowed Aphrodite (called by her Latin name, Venus). Her admirers worshiped her and made offerings to her instead of Aphrodite,…
Peace and Health
Happy New Year! We wish you peace and very good health in 2017! Dove and Peace The goddess Artemis, twin sister of Apollo, guards her virginity fiercely and perhaps on this account, is the protector of young girls up to the age of marriage and childbirth. At her shrine at Brauron on the east…
FilmEye: Central Station
Notes on cinema inspired by historical images by Dan Williams Time The above image may seem like a strange place to begin discussing Central Station,the Brazilian film of 1998, directed by Walter Salles, but in this series I am using images from the AAA collection to explore more widely ideas about cinema. As we know,…
God of Wine
Already the last month of 2016! Are you looking forward to celebration drinks on Christmas and the New Year? Here is God of Wine, Dionysus or Bacchus. Enjoy! Dionysus and grape vine It is always inadvisable to array any of the Greek gods, and Dionysus is perhaps one of the most dangerous of them all….
Homer’s epic Odyssey
While trees look beautiful with autumnal tint, it is nice to immerse yourself in reading books. How about Homer’s epic Odyssey? Homer The Iliad and the Odyssey, arguably among the world’s greatest epic poems, were composed about the mid-eighth century BC by Homer, but when we look for information about the poet, we only find a…
Learning new things from Ancient Greece
A new school year has started. We hope you enjoy learning and acquiring new knowledge. Here are a couple of Ancient Greek personalities who have inspired us through times. Pythagoras The great mathematician Pythagoras was born and brought up in Samos, but in 532 BC the island came under the control of a ruler whose…