Courses
Humanities Courses
Explore ideas that shape culture, society, and how we understand the world.
Humanities courses at WEA Sydney bring together philosophy, politics, society, literature, science, and culture to explore the ideas that shape human experience. With a mix of short talks, discussion-based classes, and in-depth courses, this category encourages curiosity, reflection, and critical thinking across a wide range of topics.
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The Odyssey: An enduring story, a new film, a new translation
The Odyssey: An enduring story, a new film, a new translation
<p>In an examination of Homer’s Odyssey we unravel questions about the flawed hero Odysseus, the epic’s “author” and the cultural contexts and modes of the story’s telling and transmission over the
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The Odyssey: An enduring story, a new film, a new translation
<p>In an examination of Homer’s Odyssey we unravel questions about the flawed hero Odysseus, the epic’s “author” and the cultural contexts and modes of the story’s telling and transmission over the
...The Odyssey: An enduring story, a new film, a new translation
<p>In an examination of Homer’s Odyssey we unravel questions about the flawed hero Odysseus, the epic’s “author” and the cultural contexts and modes of the story’s telling and transmission over the
...
Understanding Australian Law: How the System Works
Understanding Australian Law: How the System Works
<p>Ever wondered how Australia’s legal system actually works? This course provides a clear and accessible introduction to the principles that underpin law in a democratic society.</p>
<p>We explore
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A Dress for Every Decade: Mapping the 20th Century
A Dress for Every Decade: Mapping the 20th Century
<p>The 20th century brought extraordinary social, cultural and technological change, and fashion recorded it all. This course uses key looks from each decade to explore how Western dress responded to
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A Dress for Every Decade: Mapping the 20th Century
<p>The 20th century brought extraordinary social, cultural and technological change, and fashion recorded it all. This course uses key looks from each decade to explore how Western dress responded to
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The History of Spy Craft in Australia from the 1950s to Today
The History of Spy Craft in Australia from the 1950s to Today
<p>In part one we covered the early history of spies and intelligence in Australia from Federation up to 1950. This course explores what happened next. In this course we cover the 1950s to now,
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Sex in Australia: A Social History
Sex in Australia: A Social History
<p>Sex may be deeply personal, but it has always been shaped by public rules, beliefs and pressures. This course explores how Australian attitudes to sex have changed over time under the influence of
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Is Britain Broken? Politics, Society and Britain's Future
Is Britain Broken? Politics, Society and Britain's Future
<p>Historians and political commentators are currently debating whether “Britain is broken”. Since 2010, successive British Prime Ministers, both Conservative and Labour, have found it difficult to
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Plagues that Changed History
Plagues that Changed History
<p>The Plague of Justinian (541-549 AD) killed a quarter of the population of the Byzantine Empire and precipitated its fall. The Black Death (1346-1353) killed 50% of the people of Europe and led to
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Are the Tech Bros the New Robber Barons?
Are the Tech Bros the New Robber Barons?
<p>The extraordinary wealth and influence of today's technology leaders have prompted comparisons with the "robber barons" of the late nineteenth century. But are these comparisons fair? This
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The Shahnameh: Persia's Great Epic
The Shahnameh: Persia's Great Epic
<p>The Shahnameh is one of the great epics of world literature, yet it remains far less known in the English-speaking world than it deserves. Written to celebrate and preserve Persian culture at a
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The Rise - Fall and Future of the Liberal Party
The Rise - Fall and Future of the Liberal Party
<p>The Liberal Party dominated Australian federal politics for much of the post-war era, but its position is no longer secure. This course explores the party’s formation under Menzies, its earlier
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