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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Cutting to the Chase: Beauvoir in Five Easy Pieces
Cutting to the Chase: Beauvoir in Five Easy Pieces
<p>Simone de Beauvoir wrote on an immense scale, so this two-hour talk-seminar offers a focused way in. Through five accessible themes, you’ll explore key ideas from her life and work without getting
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10 Iconic Dresses that Reshaped Fashion and Society
10 Iconic Dresses that Reshaped Fashion and Society
<p>Fashion can signal identity, status, rebellion and desire, and certain garments come to define an era. In this course, you’ll explore ten iconic dresses that shocked, influenced or reshaped fashion
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10 Iconic Dresses that Reshaped Fashion and Society
<p>Fashion can signal identity, status, rebellion and desire, and certain garments come to define an era. In this course, you’ll explore ten iconic dresses that shocked, influenced or reshaped fashion
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From Profit to Purpose: An Introduction to Co-operatives
From Profit to Purpose: An Introduction to Co-operatives
<p>This accessible short course introduces co-operatives as member-owned organisations built around participation, shared benefit and collective purpose. Found across areas such as housing, retail and
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Italian Classics: Boccaccio, Basile and Straparola
Italian Classics: Boccaccio, Basile and Straparola
<p>Boccaccio, Basile and Straparola created some of the most influential works in Italian literary history. This course explores The Decameron, The Tale of Tales and Pleasant Nights, showing how these
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Physics and the Arrow of Time
Physics and the Arrow of Time
<p>The passage of time from the past to the future constitutes our basic perception of the world. This phenomenon, known as the arrow of time, arises from a fundamental law of physics called the
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Iran: From Khomenei to Khamenei to Chaos and Beyond
Iran: From Khomenei to Khamenei to Chaos and Beyond
<p>The Islamic Republic of Iran was born in violent revolution in early 1979 with the fall of the Shah and the establishment of a peculiar system if Islamic government (<em>velayat-e-faqih)</em> under
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Eric Clapton: A Life in Music
Eric Clapton: A Life in Music
<p>Discover the extraordinary career of Eric Clapton, one of the most influential guitarists in modern music. This engaging session traces his journey from early blues roots to global fame.</p>
<p>We
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Making Sense of the 2026 US Elections
Making Sense of the 2026 US Elections
<p>The American electoral system is unlike any other, and its midterm elections often have major consequences. This course explains how the 2026 elections work, who is contesting power, and why the
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The Secret Sex Lives of Older Women
The Secret Sex Lives of Older Women
<p>A warm, insightful, and often humorous exploration of how women from the “Beatles generation” have experienced love, intimacy, and identity across their lives.</p>
<p>Drawing on personal experience
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Understanding Democracy and the Rise of Authoritarianism
Understanding Democracy and the Rise of Authoritarianism
<p>Democracy promises representation, accountability and the rule of law, yet many people now feel those promises are fraying. This course takes a critical look at democracy from its Greek origins to
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