day and evening courses in reading and west berkshire

Workers’ Educational Association Registered Charity No: 1112775

Day and Evening Courses in Reading and West

Berkshire �

Spring/Summer 2010

Archaeology/ History Art History/ Music

Astronomy/ Geology/ Meteorology Biology/ Gardening

Creative Writing/ Drama/ Film Finance/ Law

Literature/ Poetry Philosophy/ Religion

Photography Psychology

WELCOME TO THE WEA READING COURSE PROGRAMME FOR SPRING AND SUMMER 2010

About the WEA

The Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) is Britain’s major voluntary adult education organisation and aims to interest people in their own continuing education as a means to personal development and fulfilment. Classes are informal and open to all. It has no political or religious ties and is committed to equality of opportunity and inclusive learning.

Opinions of recent students

Excellent - this is the first time I have attended a course such as this…

Our tutor is very enthusiastic about the subject and is well prepared. I have found the presentations easy to follow with a good pace...

The course is very motivating… Welcome to the WEA Reading course brochure for the Spring and Summer of 2010. We’ve been delighted by the strong support for courses we’ve offered for Autumn 2009, and it has been good to see old friends in our new classrooms. John Beale and the team which researches our courses have been encouraged to offer an even wider choice of courses for the spring, and a full summer programme. As well as our main centres at the Hamilton Centre in Reading and at Reading School, WEA Southern Region will be offering several courses in Theale (listed separately here). As well as new courses from our current tutors, we are pleased to welcome a number of new names, including the Chairs of the Thames Valley Ancient Egypt Society and the Berkshire Archaeological Society, and Swami Ambikananda from the Reading Hindu Temple. This signals our desire to contribute collaboratively to the diverse learning community in Reading. We again thank Reading New Directions for their work on behalf of adult education in this area, including their co-operation with and support of our new volunteer-led enterprise, and we encourage you to look at the wide range of more practical courses in New Directions’ own programme. We hope you will find plenty in this new brochure to enjoy and to stretch your mind and develop your imagination. I look forward to meeting you in the spring and summer.

Paul Kingston Chair

WEA Reading, 27 Derby Road, Caversham, Reading RG4 5HE

Telephone: 0118 946 4137 Email: [email protected]

Spring Daytime Courses in Reading

Investing for Beginners 5Mon from 11 Jan

Masterpieces of Netherlandish Art 5Mon from 11 Jan

Musical Flattery 5Mon from 11 Jan

Truth, Beauty and Art: An Introduction to Aesthetics 5Tue from 12 Jan

What Weather We're Having! 6Tue from 12 Jan

British Cinema in World War II 6Tue from 12 Jan

Living in Iron Age Berkshire 6Tue from 12 Jan

The Best of the Bookers: Exploring Prize-Winning Fiction 6Wed from 13 Jan

Germany: from Princes to Emperor 7Wed from 24 Feb

Listening to Music: From Cylinder to CD 7Wed from 13 Jan

Anger and After: the Changing Face of British Theatre 7Thu from 14 Jan

From Canterbury to York: English Cathedral Architecture 7Thu from 14 Jan

Elizabeth I: A Glorious Reign 7Thu from 14 Jan

Know Your Rights and Responsibilities 8Fri from 15 Jan

The Art of the Aztec and Mayan Civilisations 8Fri from 15 Jan

Spring Evening Courses in Reading

Contemporary Women’s Poetry 8Mon from 11 Jan

Convicts to Commonwealth: Australia 1788-1901 8Mon from 11 Jan

The Six Orthodox Philosophies of Hinduism 9Mon from 11 Jan

Planting for All Seasons 9Mon from 1 Mar

Astronomy: Observing the Night Sky 9Tue from 12 Jan

Geology for All: An Introduction to Rocks, Minerals and the Formation of our Earth

9Tue from 12 Jan

Photographing People 1023 & 27 Feb

Meaning in Use: Wittgenstein and the Philosophy of Language 10Thu from 14 Jan

The Art of the Italian Renaissance Courts 10Thu from 14 Jan

Spring Study Days in Reading

Interwar Council Housing in Reading 1919-1939 10Sat 23 Jan

The English Garden: A History 11Sat 23 Jan

Art Capitals of Spain: Madrid and Barcelona 11Sat 30 Jan

Antiques and Collectables 11Sat 6 Feb

Psychology of a Healthy Personality 11Sat 20 Feb

Music Versus Words: How Operas are Made 12Sat 6 Mar

Fra Angelico: Dominican Artist 12Sat 13 Mar

The Society of Friends: Seeking and Finding 12Sat 13 Mar

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Dirt, Disease and the Dangers of Everyday Life in Victorian Reading

12Sat 20 Mar

Summer Daytime Courses in Reading

Five Great Modern Art Exhibitions 13Mon from 26 Apr

The Biology of Human Ageing 13Mon from 10 May

Notable Victorians 13Mon from 26 Apr

What Makes an Opera Composer? 13Mon from 26 Apr

Climate Change: from Early Times to the Present Day 14Tue from 27 Apr

Is it all Relative? An Introduction to Ethics and Moral Philosophy 14Tue from 27 Apr

Self and The Universe in Indian Art 14Tue from 27 Apr

Venetian Art of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries: Looking East and Looking North

14Tue from 27 Apr

Contemporary Women’s Fiction: Why is it so Special? 15Wed from 28 Apr

Soho: An Exploration 15Wed from 28 Apr

Music in Time: Aspects of Musical Social History 15Wed from 28 Apr

Contemporary European Literature: Novels from the North 15Thu from 29 Apr

How London Architects Lead the World 16Thu from 13 May

How Britain became a Democracy 1780-2010 16Thu from 29 Apr

The Pre-Raphaelites 16Fri from 30 Apr

Summer Evening Courses in Reading

Comedy: How to be Funny 16Mon from 26 Apr

Shakespeare’s Plantagenets 17Mon from 26 Apr

An Introduction to Ancient Egypt 17Tue from 27 Apr

Earthquakes and Volcanoes: Causes and Effects 17Tue from 27 Apr

Astronomy: Exploring our Amazing Galaxy 17Thu from 10 Jun

Photographing Nature 186 & 15 May

Summer Study Days in Reading

The Detective in Fiction 18Sat 24 Apr

Siena: Art of an Italian Republic 18Sat 1 May

Reliving the Falklands Conflicts 18Sat 8 May

Life in Georgian England 19Sat 15 May

Art and Cars: A Cultural History of Motoring 19Sat 22 May

Istanbul: A Cultural Tour 19Sat 12 Jun

Midsummer Magic 19Sat 19 Jun

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PageSpring Daytime Courses in Theale

Looking at Paintings 20Mon from 11 Jan

Behaving Badly: The History of Sex, Madness and Drunkenness in Nineteenth Century Britain

20Tue from 19 Jan

Summer Daytime Courses in Theale

Hollywood in the 1920s and 1930s 20Tue from 13 Apr

Venetian Palaces and Palladian Villas 20Wed from 21 Apr

Seven Great European Painters 21Thu from 15 Apr

Summer Study Days in Theale

From England to New England: the Great Migration 1620-1640 21Sat 24 Apr

Strawberry Hill: Horace Walpole’s “Little Gothic Castle” 21Sat 8 May

The Art of the Painted Portrait 21Sat 29 May

How to Book Reading Branch Courses, based in Reading

How to Book West Berkshire Branch Courses, based in Theale

Please see the details on the inside back cover of this brochure.NB: There will be no classes during the half-term holidays for Reading schools.

Please book through Southern Region WEA. Call 0800 328 1060 or visit www.southern.wea.org.uk.Please note that residents in West Berkshire aged 60 or over may claim a 30% reduction on Theale-based courses.NB: There will be no classes during the half-term holidays for West Berkshire schools.

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READING BRANCH

Daytime CoursesSpring Term 2010

Investing for Beginners C3728092

Tutor: Ian Head MON AM

Place: New Directions, Hamilton Centre, 135 Bulmershe Road, Reading, RG1 5SG

Date: 10 meetings on Monday mornings, starting 11 January 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:00 Fee: £75.00

A course for those wishing to understand more about how investments work. Students will learn where to get information, how to choose an advisor, or DIY. We will learn how to build and run a portfolio, how to assess risk and minimise charges, as well as looking at the different types of packaged products such as Unit Trusts and Exchange Traded Funds. This is not a highly technical course, and is best suited to those with little or no knowledge about stock market investments. At the end of the course students should have a better understanding of how to run a portfolio, or at least to know whether their current advisor is doing a good job!

Masterpieces of Netherlandish Art C3728008

Tutor: Dalila Castelijn MON PM

Place: New Directions, North Reading Centre, School Lane, Reading, RG4 8HX

Date: 10 meetings on Monday afternoons, starting 11 January 2010

Time: 13:30 - 15:30 Fee: £75.00

Van Eyck, van der Weyden, Memling and Bosch are some of the innovative artists whose work, made for the Burgundian court, wealthy merchants and the church, will be explored in terms of meaning and purpose, style and technique.

Musical Flattery C3728009

Tutor: Chris Skidmore MON PM


Date: 10 meetings on Monday afternoons, starting 11 January 2010

Time: 13:30 - 15:30 Fee: £75.00

This course is an exercise in listening to and enjoying music while learning some aspects of musical theory. It focuses on the ways in which composers borrow sounds and musical ideas from nature and from each other. It also includes consideration of musical imitation, basically the repetition of ideas within a musical piece.

Truth, Beauty and Art: An Introduction to Aesthetics C3728010

Tutor: Anna Bergqvist TUE AM


Date: 10 meetings on Tuesday mornings, starting 12 January 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:00 Fee: £75.00

This course deals with the philosophical questions that arise from the contemplation of artworks. Questions such as: What is art? What makes art valuable? Is it just a matter of taste? Also, what sort of authority does an artist have about the interpretation of a piece of art? Can we view it in our own light, or should we take into account ‘what the artist meant’?

Spring Term 2010 5 Reading

What Weather We're Having! C3728011

Tutor: Gordon Tripp TUE AM


Date: 10 meetings on Tuesday mornings, starting 12 January 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:00 Fee: £75.00

We look at our amazing weather, study weather patterns, cloud formations and storms; draw up weather charts and do some DIY forecasting.

British Cinema in World War II C3728012

Tutor: Ian Banks TUE PM


Date: 10 meetings on Tuesday afternoons, starting 12 January 2010

Time: 13:30 - 15:30 Fee: £75.00

How does a nation represent itself during times of war? By looking at a range of films from the period, including 'Pimpernel Smith', (L Howard, 1941), 'Went the Day Well?' (A Cavalcanti, 1942) and 'In Which We Serve' (D Lean & N Coward, 1942) we will see how Britain defined itself during some of the darkest days of the conflict.

Living in Iron Age Berkshire C3728013

Tutor: Andrew Hutt and Paul Goodenough TUE PM



Time: 13:30 - 15:30 Fee: £45.00

Based on recent research undertaken by the Berkshire Archaeological Society, the course will reveal that the Iron Age was a period of significant technical, social and political development in the area. It will consist of five classroom sessions with presentations and discussions, and a visit to the Iron Age hill fort at Caesar's Camp, Bracknell.� Andrew Hutt is Chairman of the Berkshire Archaeological Society. For further information about the activities of the Berkshire Archaeological Society visit the website: www.berksarch.co.uk

The Best of the Bookers: Exploring Prize-Winning Fiction C3728014

Tutor: Stephen Andrews WED AM


Date: 10 meetings on Wednesday mornings, starting 13 January 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:00 Fee: £75.00

On the 40th anniversary of the Booker Prize the course will explore some of the winning novels from the illustrious roll of prize-winners. We will start with five, one from each decade plus a bonus! Works will include the following key novels: ‘In a Free State’ by V.S. Naipaul (1971), ‘Oscar & Lucinda’ by Peter Carey (1988), ‘The Ghost Road’ by Pat Barker (1995), ‘Vernon God Little’ by D.B.C. Pierre (2003). The bonus will be ‘Midnight’s Children’ by Salman Rushdie (1981).


Germany: from Princes to Emperor C3728015

Tutor: Roger Facer WED AM


Date: 5 meetings on Wednesday mornings, starting 24 February 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:00 Fee: £38.00

In the nineteenth century Germany developed from a collection of princely states to become the most powerful nation in Europe. We will examine how this was achieved and why the German Empire took the form it did.

Listening to Music: From Cylinder to CD C3728016

Tutor: Anthony Short WED PM


Date: 10 meetings on Wednesday afternoons, starting 13 January 2010

Time: 13:30 - 15:30 Fee: £75.00

How has the act of recording changed the way artists actually interpret the notes? Beginning with Brahms in 1889, the history of classical recording is an inspiring voyage of musical discovery. This course will demonstrate that artists' performing styles have changed at least as much as the medium of recorded sound itself.

Anger and After: the Changing Face of British Theatre C3728017

Tutor: Daphne Payne THU AM


Date: 10 meetings on Thursday mornings, starting 14 January 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:00 Fee: £75.00

In this course we will review the ways in which British theatre (and audiences) have changed since the end of the Second World War to mirror shifting social and political conditions, and reflecting new moral attitudes. Plays by John Osborne, Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, David Hare and Tom Stoppard will provide the evidence.

From Canterbury to York: English Cathedral Architecture C3728018

Tutor: Keith Hasted THU AM


Date: 10 meetings on Thursday mornings, starting 14 January 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:00 Fee: £75.00

In this course we will examine the glories of English cathedral architecture, from all periods and styles, and within the setting of the cities that grew up around them. A guided visit is included.

Elizabeth I: A Glorious Reign C3728020

Tutor: Sheila Ephraim THU PM


Date: 10 meetings on Thursday afternoons, starting 14 January 2010

Time: 13:30 - 15:30 Fee: £75.00

She was seen as ‘Gloriana’, the queen of courtly love, yet Elizabeth I reigned in an era that was full of political intrigue and adventuring. In exploring the events of these fascinating times we will encounter along the way the Earl of Essex, Mary Queen of Scots, the Spanish Armada, Hawkins and Drake.


Know Your Rights and Responsibilities C3728022

Tutor: Geoff Ashworth FRI AM


Date: 10 meetings on Friday mornings, starting 15 January 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:00 Fee: £75.00

This wide ranging course will equip you with the key facts to help you negotiate your way through the complexities of everyday life, from consumer rights to neighbourhood issues including negligence, nuisance and trespass. Contact details for helpful organizations will be given.

The Art of the Aztec and Mayan Civilisations C3728021

Tutor: Sara Gonzalez FRI AM


Date: 10 meetings on Friday mornings, starting 15 January 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:00 Fee: £75.00

This course will explore the sophisticated cultural production of the Aztec and Mayan civilizations, which has influenced modern art and design. Art often took its form from religion and belief; topics covered will include human sacrifice and the representation of the underworld.

Evening CoursesSpring Term 2010

Contemporary Women’s Poetry C3728007

Tutor: Kate Noakes ALT MON EVE

Place: Reading School, Erleigh Road, Reading, RG1 5LW

Date: 5 meetings on alternate Monday evenings, starting 11 January 2010

Time: 19:30 - 21:30 Fee: £38.00

This course will combine close reading of selected poems by some of our best poets currently writing, including Carol Ann Duffy, Gillian Clarke, Alice Oswald and Ruth Padel amongst others, with an opportunity each week to write your own poetry, or prose, prompted by or in response to the poems being studied.

Convicts to Commonwealth: Australia 1788-1901 C3728023

Tutor: Judy Still MON EVE


Date: 10 meetings on Monday evenings, starting 11 January 2010

Time: 19:30 - 21:30 Fee: £75.00

This wide ranging course will trace the history of the indigenous peoples of Australia, the events in Britain that led to establishing colonies ‘down under’ and how these colonies developed into an independent nation.


The Six Orthodox Philosophies of Hinduism C3728024

Tutor: Swami Ambikananda MON EVE


Date: 10 meetings on Monday evenings, starting 11 January 2010

Time: 19:30 - 21:30 Fee: £75.00

Six highly sophisticated philosophies developed within Hinduism, called 'darshanas' (a view or perspective), codified in aphorisms called 'sutras' (threads). They form part of the social and psychological fabric of Hinduism. A Hindu monastic invites you, through stories and discussion, to view them from the inside out.

Planting for All Seasons C3728025

Tutor: Carolyn Foster MON EVE


Date: 5 meetings on Monday evenings, starting 1 March 2010

Time: 19:30 - 21:30 Fee: £38.00

Learn how to enhance your garden using combinations of plants with various seasonal attributes, taking into account their size, shape, texture, foliage, flower colour and preferred situation.

Astronomy: Observing the Night Sky C3728026

Tutor: Guy Hurst TUE EVE


Date: 10 meetings on Tuesday evenings, starting 12 January 2010

Time: 19:30 - 21:30 Fee: £75.00

We will see how the night sky is ever-changing as new stars, comets and meteors burst into view and consider how amateur astronomers respond to the unexpected. Practical observing will be included when weather allows.

Geology for All: An Introduction to Rocks, Minerals and the Formation of our Earth

C3728027

Tutor: Sudeshna Basu TUE EVE


Date: 10 meetings on Tuesday evenings, starting 12 January 2010

Time: 19:30 - 21:30 Fee: £75.00

Based on the wonderful rock collection at University College London, we will examine the various types and composition of rocks, seeking to understand how our earth has formed and evolved.


Photographing People C3728066

Tutor: David Chaplin TUE EVE + SAT W/SHOP


Date: Meeting on Tue, 23 Feb 2010; Workshop on 27 Feb 10:00 - 16:00

Time: 19:30 - 21:30 Fee: £44.00

We all take snapshots of friends and family, but obtaining good results is not always easy. This course, a combination of classroom session and a workshop, will help you upgrade your skills to obtain the best results possible, whether you are seeking portraits or action shots. It is designed for those new to digital photography and more advanced amateurs and for both digital compact and digital SLR cameras.

Meaning in Use: Wittgenstein and the Philosophy of Language C3728028

Tutor: Anna Bergqvist THU EVE


Date: 10 meetings on Thursday evenings, starting 14 January 2010

Time: 19:30 - 21:30 Fee: £75.00

Widely regarded as the greatest philosopher of the twentieth century, Ludwig Wittgenstein developed two radically distinct philosophies during his lifetime. The course examines his radical critique of empiricism, and of his own earlier thought within the context of his treatment of language, mind and skepticism in the 'Philosophical Investigations'. A central place is given to Wittgenstein’s treatment of language as essentially a social phenomenon, and the idea that it is activity, rather than passive reflection, that is fundamental in the individual's relation to the world.

The Art of the Italian Renaissance Courts C3728029

Tutor: Diana Matthews THU EVE


Date: 10 meetings on Thursday evenings, starting 14 January 2010

Time: 19:30 - 21:30 Fee: £75.00

The princes of the city states of Renaissance Italy commissioned some of the most sublime art ever created. We will examine their masterpieces and discuss why they invested so heavily in works of art. The great courts will include those of Renaissance Milan, Mantua and Urbino, and we shall examine works by Leonardo, Mantegna, Raphael and Piero della Francesca.

Study DaysSpring Term 2010

Interwar Council Housing in Reading 1919-1939 C3728030

Tutor: Margaret Simons SAT STUDY DAY

Place: New Directions, South Reading Centre, Northumberland Av, Reading, RG2 8DH

Date: Saturday 23 January 2010

Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £36.00

Have you ever wondered why the Council started building houses? 2010 marks the 90th anniversary of the completion of the first Reading Council house on the Shinfield Road. In this course we will assess the impact of inter-war initiatives to provide social housing across Reading.


The English Garden: A History C3728031

Tutor: Cherrill Sands SAT STUDY DAY



Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £36.00

The English garden is renowned across the world, yet there is considerable diversity in style through the ages. This course will assess the work of some of the greatest creators of English gardens and landscape designs, from examples of formal design at Westbury Court and Hampton Court Privy Garden, to the great landscape gardens of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries by Capability Brown and Humphry Repton, to Victorian examples by Joseph Paxton, Arts and Crafts designs by Lutyens and Jekyll, and finally to the twentieth century with the work of Geoffrey Jellicoe.

Art Capitals of Spain: Madrid and Barcelona C3728032

Tutor: Wendy Bird SAT STUDY DAY



Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £36.00

Here is an exploration of the art and architecture of two of Spain’s most exciting cities, Madrid and Barcelona. Major art works as well as lesser known parts of the cities will be revealed, to equip students to plan their own visits.

Antiques and Collectables C3728033

Tutor: Peter Edwards SAT STUDY DAY


Date: Saturday 6 February 2010

Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £36.00

Learn about aspects of style and materials from the eighteenth century to art deco. Discover what is valuable and what is not and perhaps get an opinion on an object you bring to the day school.

Psychology of a Healthy Personality C3728034

Tutor: Magdalena Olmos 3 SAT STUDY DAYS


Date: 3 Meetings on Saturdays: 6 February, 20 February, 6 March 2010

Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £75.00

This course is for everyone interested in developing knowledge about well-being and a healthy personality. It includes informal mini-lectures, discussions and exercises, and introduces relaxation and meditation; the course will aid self development and personal growth.


Music Versus Words: How Operas are Made C3728035

Tutor: Paula Kennedy SAT STUDY DAY


Date: Saturday 6 March 2010

Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £36.00

Getting an opera down on paper and then performed has usually relied on a marriage of minds between composer and librettist, but this hasn't always been easy. Our day school looks at the words-versus-music battles that went into many operas, and how these sparks of creative conflict produced some outstanding masterpieces.

Fra Angelico: Dominican Artist C3728036

Tutor: Diana Matthews SAT STUDY DAY



Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £36.00

Fra Giovanni da Fiesole (c.1400-1455) was a Dominican friar who created some of the most beautiful works of the early Italian Renaissance. Here we will trace his artistic development from illuminator to sublime artist, with a particular focus on his renowned frescoes in the Vatican and in San Marco, Florence.

The Society of Friends: Seeking and Finding C3728037

Tutor: Chris Skidmore SAT STUDY DAY



Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £36.00

Quakers are little known but have made striking contributions to the development of Britain since 1650. In Reading itself leading Quaker families, the Huntleys and the Palmers of Huntley & Palmers Biscuits, fostered a successful business that functioned ethically and cared for its employees, as did other Quaker industrial families of the same period like the Cadburys, Frys and Rowntrees. We shall look at the spiritual basis and history of Quakerism to identify what lies behind this paradox of quiet progress.

Dirt, Disease and the Dangers of Everyday Life in Victorian Reading C3728038

Tutor: Margaret Simons and Kerry Renshaw SAT STUDY DAY



Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £36.00

As we study the evolution of a medium-sized town which is still, to a surprisingly large degree, Victorian, we will see that worries about crime on the streets of Reading are nothing new!


Daytime CoursesSummer Term 2010

Five Great Modern Art Exhibitions C3728039

Tutor: Sandra Smith MON AM


Date: 5 meetings on Monday mornings, starting 26 April 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:30 Fee: £47.00

How did Impressionism get its name? How did modern art make it to America? We will assess the impact of five hugely important art exhibitions from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, all of which had a critical role to play in the development of modern art. These include the very first Impressionist Exhibition in Paris in 1874, the Post-Impressionist Exhibition in London of 1910, and the New York Armory Show of 1913.

The Biology of Human Ageing C3728040

Tutor: Chris Skidmore MON AM


Date: 7 meetings on Monday mornings, starting 10 May 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:30 Fee: £66.00

Is ageing just the process of the human machine gradually breaking down like an old car or are we programmed to age? This course looks into this fascinating and, for our ageing population, important question and introduces the science behind the various theories that account for human ageing.

Notable Victorians C3728041

Tutor: Margaret Simons MON PM

Place: New Directions, North Reading Centre, School Lane, Reading, RG4 8HX

Date: 5 meetings on Monday afternoons, starting 26 April 2010

Time: 13:30 - 16:00 Fee: £47.00

Come and explore key aspects of Victorian history through the life and work of the lesser known movers and shakers of the time. Who was William Farr and what is the link between Arthur Hill Hassall, The Lancet and an Act of Parliament in 1860? We assess individuals who made significant contributions to the Victorian age, but who so far have not necessarily captured the full attention of historians.

What Makes an Opera Composer? C3728042

Tutor: Paula Kennedy MON PM


Date: 7 meetings on Monday afternoons, starting 26 April 2010

Time: 13:30 - 16:00 Fee: £66.00

Why have so many composers been inspired to produce so many masterpieces in what one detractor called "an exotic and irrational entertainment"? What was it that drew composers as different as Monteverdi, Handel, Mozart, Rossini, Berlioz, Verdi, Wagner, Strauss, Janacek and Britten to opera, and why does opera continue to attract composers today?

Summer Term 2010 13 Reading

Climate Change: from Early Times to the Present Day C3728043

Tutor: Gordon Tripp TUE AM


Date: 6 meetings on Tuesday mornings, starting 27 April 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:30 Fee: £56.00

In this course we will examine how climatic conditions around the world have impacted both positively and negatively on societies in the past, how they affect the way we live today and how our lives may accommodate change in the future.

Is it all Relative? An Introduction to Ethics and Moral Philosophy C3728044

Tutor: Anna Bergqvist TUE AM



Time: 10:00 - 12:30 Fee: £66.00

What does it mean to say that something is right or wrong? Is morality subjective? Can we identify moral progress? What sort of person should one be? These are just some of the questions that we will explore in this course as we think philosophically about morality.

Self and The Universe in Indian Art C3728045

Tutor: Swami Ambikananda TUE PM


Date: 7 meetings on Tuesday afternoons, starting 27 April 2010

Time: 13:30 - 16:00 Fee: £66.00

In mysterious texts and dazzling art, the Natha sect portrayed their view that the human body has an equivalence with the universe. The 'Nathapatha' (The Way of the Naths) expounded a system of Yoga discipline that would create a 'siddha' - a perfected being, for whom the physical laws of the cosmos are no longer a restraint. We will look at Natha texts through the lens of paintings that exquisitely bring to life a sacred and secret philosophy.

Venetian Art of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries: Looking East and Looking

North C3728046

Tutor: Dalila Castelijn TUE PM


Date: 7 meetings on Tuesday afternoons, starting 27 April 2010

Time: 13:30 - 16:00 Fee: £66.00

This course will review the profound impact of Venice’s trading and cultural relationships with the Eastern World and Northern Europe, resulting in fascinating art and architecture that derive from the Gothic, Islamic and Byzantine traditions, and yet are uniquely Venetian.


Contemporary Women’s Fiction: Why is it so Special? C3728047

Tutor: Stephen Andrews WED AM


Date: 7 meetings on Wednesday mornings, starting 28 April 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:30 Fee: £66.00

This course will look at some contemporary fiction, written by women, in English, and try to find why it is that women’s fiction is so exciting, and so vital to today’s world. The course will focus on three or four key women authors selected from the following: Anne Tyler, Alice Munro, Marilynn Robinson, Ali Smith, Zadie Smith, Jeanette Winterson, Muriel Spark and A. S. Byatt.

Soho: An Exploration C3728048

Tutor: Val Pretlove WED AM


Date: 7 meetings on Wednesday mornings, starting 28 April 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:30 Fee: £66.00

This lively and interesting area developed in a fairly haphazard way in the late seventeenth century. Squares are interspersed with tiny streets occupied by a great variety of cosmopolitan traders, manufacturers and entertainers. Street life and night life are all here. Four classroom sessions will be interspersed with three visits to enable us to explore the varieties of the area.

Music in Time: Aspects of Musical Social History C3728049

Tutor: Anthony Short WED PM


Date: 7 meetings on Wednesday afternoons, starting 28 April 2010

Time: 13:30 - 16:00 Fee: £66.00

Have you ever wondered about the purpose of music, or stopped to consider what music actually is? If you have (or even if you haven't), then this is the ideal course for you. You will be encouraged to reflect on your own responses to the social function of western music in an ever-changing society. Various topics may be discussed, many of which are still of vital importance in today's fragmented musical culture: the rise and decline of court patronage, the development of public concerts, the role of public subsidy for music, the role of the virtuoso and rising musical standards. No formal musical knowledge is required.

Contemporary European Literature: Novels from the North C3728050

Tutor: Penny Hunter THU AM


Date: 5 meetings on Thursday mornings, starting 29 April 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:30 Fee: £47.00

Reading novels in translation takes the reader into worlds that are both familiar and different; new landscapes of place and mind. Our guides on this discussion-based course are the Norwegian writers Per Petterson, 'In the Wake' and Dag Solstad, 'Shyness and Dignity'.


How London Architects Lead the World C3728051

Tutor: Keith Hasted THU AM


Date: 5 meetings on Thursday mornings, starting 13 May 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:30 Fee: £47.00

Norman Foster, Richard Rogers and many others have won architectural projects worldwide from their base in London. We will look internationally at their innovative and sometimes controversial buildings - from London itself to Beijing - to see why their architecture is so renowned.

How Britain became a Democracy 1780-2010 C3728052

Tutor: Annette Mayer THU PM


Date: 7 meetings on Thursday afternoons, starting 29 April 2010

Time: 13:30 - 16:00 Fee: £66.00

In eighteenth century Britain democracy was feared, aristocratic rule prevailed, and popular protest was suppressed. But unlike Europe, Britain avoided revolution and upheaval. This course will consider how and why Britain evolved a very distinctive form of representative democracy.

The Pre-Raphaelites C3728053

Tutor: Nick Kennedy FRI AM


Date: 7 meetings on Friday mornings, starting 30 April 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:30 Fee: £66.00

Echoing the stylistic attributes of earlier artistic masters, but evolving their own distinctive paintings and poetry, the Pre-Raphaelites have an enduring appeal. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was founded by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti in 1848. We will examine the artists of the movement and their best works, placing them into context and evaluating their impact on later art.

Evening CoursesSummer Term 2010

Comedy: How to be Funny C3728054

Tutor: Gill Smith MON EVE


Date: 7 meetings on Monday evenings, starting 26 April 2010

Time: 19:00 - 21:30 Fee: £66.00

Most people want to be funny - but some make it look effortless. Learn to write funny lines, make gags that get laughs, and have fun with your sense of humour.


Shakespeare’s Plantagenets C3728055

Tutor: Daphne Payne MON EVE


Date: 7 meetings on Monday evenings, starting 26 April 2010

Time: 19:00 - 21:30 Fee: £66.00

Here we will take a fresh look at Shakespeare’s History plays to see how they reflect on the times in which they were written and examine their relevance for today’s world. The political turmoils of the Wars of the Roses between the Houses of York and Lancaster, and the convolutions of the reigns of Richard II and Richard III, so dramatically encapsulated by Shakespeare, will form the battleground for our discussions.

An Introduction to Ancient Egypt C3728056

Tutor: John Billman TUE EVE


Date: 7 meetings on Tuesday evenings, starting 27 April 2010

Time: 19:00 - 21:30 Fee: £66.00

Ancient Egyptian civilization endured for over 2000 years. This course will trace the emergence of dynastic Egypt, look at the development of the iconic Giza pyramids and who built them, journey through the cultural peak of the Middle Kingdom as well as the Egypt of empire in the New Kingdom. In a series of well illustrated classes we will explore the history, religion, daily life, monumental architecture and writings of the ancient Egyptians to discover why their civilization was so successful. � John Billman is Chairman of the Thames Valley Ancient Egypt Society (TVAES). For further information about TVAES activities visit the website: www.tvaes.org.uk

Earthquakes and Volcanoes: Causes and Effects C3728057

Tutor: Sudeshna Basu TUE EVE


Date: 7 meetings on Tuesday evenings, starting 27 April 2010

Time: 19:00 - 21:30 Fee: £66.00

In this course we seek to understand why earthquakes and volcanoes happen, identifying the events that trigger them and assessing how damage might be minimized. Case studies from the past will provide graphic evidence.

Astronomy: Exploring our Amazing Galaxy C3728058

Tutor: Guy Hurst THU EVE


Date: 5 meetings on Thursday evenings, starting 10 June 2010

Time: 19:00 - 21:30 Fee: £47.00

We survey the amazing spiral star system, the Milky Way Galaxy, in which we live and the incredible variety of objects from stars and exo-planets increasingly being found in orbit around them, to star clusters, nebulae and even more exotic systems. The course will hopefully allow learners to book time on a remote robotic telescope to take pictures of these.


Photographing Nature C3728067

Tutor: David Chaplin THU EVE + SAT W/SHOP


Date: Meeting on Thu, 6 May 2010; Nature Reserve on 15 May 10:00 - 16:00

Time: 19:30 - 21:30 Fee: £44.00

Taking good photographs of landscapes, plants and animals is not always easy. This course will provide you with the special skills needed, beginning with a classroom session and then going on location to seek your own high quality photographs. We shall visit a Nature Reserve, easily reachable by car, for which there may be a small additional admittance fee. The course is designed for those new to digital photography and more advanced amateurs and for both digital compact and digital SLR cameras.

Study DaysSummer Term 2010

The Detective in Fiction C3728059

Tutor: Peter Leyland SAT STUDY DAY


Date: Saturday 24 April 2010

Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £36.00

We will assess the authors, their creations and the history of the genre, including all the great names like Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and Raymond Chandler. We will also compare screen versions of the famous sleuths, looking at their modern counterparts, and providing an opportunity to discuss your favourites.

Siena: Art of an Italian Republic C3728060

Tutor: Diana Matthews SAT STUDY DAY


Date: Saturday 1 May 2010

Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £36.00

Known as the ‘city of art’, Siena boasts a fascinating range of painting, sculpture and architecture, whose beauties we will examine in this day school covering Gothic and Renaissance masterworks. From the great frescoes of Simone Martini and the Lorenzetti brothers in the Palazzo Pubblico (Town Hall), to altarpieces and panel paintings by Duccio, to works by Donatello and Pinturicchio in Siena's magnificent cathedral, this will be a feast for the eyes.

Reliving the Falklands Conflicts C3728061

Tutor: Dr Margaret Escott and Major Richard Davis SAT STUDY DAY



Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £36.00

Here is an overview of the Falkland Islands, the gateway to the south Atlantic, and their place in history. The islands were the source of international friction for over three centuries, resulting in the 1982 war. As well as the history and politics we will hear a first-hand account from a participant in that conflict.


Life in Georgian England C3728062

Tutor: Adam Smith SAT STUDY DAY



Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £36.00

Here we examine life as experienced across the range of Georgian society, whether in town or country; what people ate, how they entertained themselves, where they lived and what their expectations were.

Art and Cars: A Cultural History of Motoring C3728063

Tutor: Sara Gonzalez SAT STUDY DAY



Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £36.00

Offering new angles on motoring history, the course will cover topics such as the role of women in the motoring movement, the relationship between artistic trends and car styling, and the perception of cars as machines of tomorrow.

Istanbul: A Cultural Tour C3728064

Tutor: Dalila Castelijn SAT STUDY DAY


Date: Saturday 12 June 2010

Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £36.00

In the year when Istanbul is European Capital of Culture we will explore many of its architectural and artistic treasures: the Hippodrome and Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace, reflecting the city’s history and its unique position between Europe and Asia.

Midsummer Magic C3728065

Tutor: Gwyn Parry-Jones SAT STUDY DAY


Date: Saturday 19 June 2010

Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £36.00

'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is one of Shakespeare's most enchanting and beautiful dramas, and has inspired much wonderful music. The most notable examples are Mendelssohn's incidental music, starting with the overture, which he began when he was just seventeen; and the opera by Benjamin Britten, which encompasses both the magical and the hilarious aspects of the play. Both CDs and DVDs will be used in this course.

Booking Advice

Text39:To book for Reading Branch Courses, based in Reading, please see the details on the inside back cover of this brochure.


WEST BERKSHIRE BRANCH

Daytime CoursesSpring Term 2010

Looking at Paintings C3727985

Tutor: Sandra Smith MON AM

Place: The Gateway, Adult Learning Centre, Church Street, Theale, RG7 5DA

Date: 10 meetings on Monday mornings, starting 11 January 2010

Time: 10:00 - 12:00 Fee: £90.00

Have you ever wondered why paintings look the way they do, who the artists are, what the subject matter is? This introductory course will explore these questions, using great works by the best artists, such as Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Turner and Picasso.

Behaving Badly: The History of Sex, Madness and Drunkenness in Nineteenth

Century Britain C3727973

Tutor: Kerry Renshaw TUE PM



Time: 13:30 - 15:30 Fee: £72.00

A thought provoking examination, showing how beneath the respectable veneer of Victorian life there was a seething urban society in which different social groups fought each other on the battlefields of "bad behaviour".

Daytime CoursesSummer Term 2010

Hollywood in the 1920s and 1930s C3727987

Tutor: Kerry Renshaw TUE AM



Time: 10:30 - 12:30 Fee: £54.00

Sex and scandals, studios and the star system – the glamorous image-making concealed a very sleazy world of double-dealing and exploitation, resulting in a puritanical backlash demanding censorship. Amidst it all, some great movies were made.

Venetian Palaces and Palladian Villas C3727988

Tutor: Glenis Kerr-Elliott WED AM


Date: 5 meetings on Wednesday mornings, from 21 April 2010 (No class on 05/05/10)

Time: 10:30 - 12:30 Fee: £45.00

In this course we will examine elegant Gothic palaces lining the canals of Venice, homes and warehouses for the merchants of the Venetian Empire, later contrasting their country homes in the Veneto in the Classical style of Palladio. We shall assess great buildings such as the Ca' d'Oro and Doge’s Palace in Venice, the Villa Rotonda at Vicenza and Villa Barbaro at Maser (UNESCO World Heritage Sites).

Summer Term 2010 20 Theale

Seven Great European Painters C3727986

Tutor: Dalila Castelijn THU PM


Date: 7 meetings on Thursday afternoons, starting 15 April 2010 (No Class 22/04/10)

Time: 14:00 - 16:00 Fee: £63.00

Giotto, Rembrandt and Picasso are among the seven great masters whose work will be explored. Their contribution to European art will be discussed through close examination of their paintings in terms of style and technique, subject matter and function. Reference will be made to the cultural context in which the artists worked.

Study DaysSummer Term 2010

From England to New England: the Great Migration 1620-1640 C3728070

Tutor: Sheila Ephraim and Sara McMahon SAT STUDY DAY


Date: Saturday 24 April 2010

Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £27.00

What motivated men and women to leave their homes and sail thousands of miles across the Atlantic to an unknown future? We will examine the conditions in Stuart England that led to these events and follow the trials and tribulations of the colonists as they attempted to build a new society in America.

Strawberry Hill: Horace Walpole’s “Little Gothic Castle” C3728069

Tutor: Glenis Kerr-Elliott SAT STUDY DAY



Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £27.00

‘Strawberry Hill Gothic’ has become an architectural term in its own right. Here we study this fascinating house on the Thames, due to re-open in summer 2010 after extensive restoration, accompanied by a related V&A exhibition on Walpole and his creation.

The Art of the Painted Portrait C3728072

Tutor: Dalila Castelijn SAT STUDY DAY



Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Fee: £27.00

This study day introduces the students to the art of European portraiture from classical antiquity to the twentieth century. Life-like Roman portraits will be considered alongside works by well known artists such as Titian, Holbein, Van Dyck, Rembrandt and Matisse. Each image will be explored in terms of style, content and function.

Booking Advice

Text39:To book for West Berkshire Courses, based in Theale, please see the details on page 4.

Summer Term 2010 21 Theale

��

How to Book for Reading Branch Spring & Summer Courses

Class numbers are limited so early enrolment is recommended. Courses which are under-subscribed may be cancelled & fees refunded.

To pre-enrol on a course & pay by credit card

• Call WEA Southern Region on freephone 0800 328 1060.

Please have the course title and ID number, plus your credit card details, to hand.

To book through the local Reading Branch & pay by cheque

• Complete the form below

• Make cheques payable to WEA Reading Branch. (a separate cheque for each course please)

• Send the completed form & cheque(s) to WEA Reading at the address below.

We will confirm your booking when the course becomes viable & send course outlines & directions to the venue by email.

If you prefer to receive this information by post please enclose a second class stamped addressed envelope (size A5 or 11x22cm).

To book on a WEA Reading course or for further information please contact: Carole Kingston

WEA Reading, 27 Derby Road, Caversham, Reading ��

Tel: 0118 946 4137 or email: [email protected]

BOOKING FORM

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Address

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Email

WEA learner number (if applicable)

Course Fee

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Please contact me by email by post by telephone

with information about upcoming courses & news (tick as applicable)

23

Financial Assistance/Learning Support Learners on a means tested benefit are entitled to a 50% fee reduction. You

will be required to bring evidence, which can be shown in confidence to the

tutor, before the first session of the class.

Visits Where tutors have pre-planned a visit as part of the course, this is indicated in the text. Visits may necessitate extra expenses for travel, entrance fees etc.

Refreshments Please bring your own food and drink, if required, for consumption during the midway break in each class.

If you have any additional needs, such as help with mobility & access, or with hearing, please contact WEA Reading, address overleaf.

Online information Visit the Southern WEA web site at http://southern.wea.org.uk and select the WEA Reading Branch.

Learning participation Courses delivered through the WEA Reading branch are non-accredited. Learners will be encouraged to participate fully in their learning and to undertake activities to support that aim, enabling themselves and their tutor to check progress.

Acknowledgments WEA Reading gratefully acknowledges the help provided by Reading New Directions and Reading School in providing classrooms and equipment.

WEA Reading is pleased to co-operate with other providers in the Reading area of opportunities for informal adult learning. A range of these organisations, together with a course listing, or links to their courses, are provided on the website http://reading-ace.org.uk , using the 2009/10 tab.

Help from the WEA Southern Region If you need help in choosing the right course, or wish to discuss learning support please contact 0800 328 1060. Calls are free. Or you may prefer to email: [email protected] The WEA has achieved the Matrix quality standard for information and advice services.

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Floor, 70 Clifton Street, London EC2A 4HB. Website: www.wea.org.uk Company limited by guarantee in England and Wales No: 2806910 Registered Charity no: 1112775

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