Local History Lecture
The Poet in a Democracy: Robinson Jeffers and His Relevance Today, with Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts, president, Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation
Join us for an engaging exploration of the poetry and life of Robinson Jeffers, whose stark, powerful verse challenging the political and cultural norms of his time is even more relevant today. Known for his philosophy of “inhumanism” and his fierce critique of our country’s engagement in World War II and human arrogance, Jeffers offered an uncompromising poetic voice during some of America’s most turbulent decades. More importantly, his poetry resonates deeply in these unsettled and challenging times. Through commentary and selected readings, this program will highlight how Jeffers’ poetry provides guidelines for living in this time of ecological and political crisis.
Local History Lecture
The Muckraker: How the Radical Lincoln Steffens Won the Hearts (If Not the Minds) of Carmel, with journalist Joe Livernois
Lincoln Steffens was one of America’s most influential muckraking journalists—a fierce critic of political corruption and a relentless advocate for reform. Through works like The Shame of the Cities, he exposed graft in city governments and helped define the Progressive Era’s demand for accountability. In his later years, Steffens settled in Carmel-by-the-Sea, bringing his radical ideals to this quiet coastal town. Carmel offered him a place to reflect, write his memoirs, and engage in spirited debate with the town’s artists and intellectuals. Despite his uncompromising views—he remained a vocal socialist and internationalist—Steffens was warmly received. His neighbors may not have shared his politics, but they respected his integrity and wit. In Carmel, the muckraker found a home, and the town, in turn, embraced the rebel in its midst.
Community Night with the Library
Cryin’ for Daylight: Honoring Voices of the Land, with photographer and historian Louise O’Connor
Join us for a special program featuring award-winning photographer and historian Louise O’Connor, whose book Cryin’ for Daylight captures the voices and vernacular of Texas ranchers with striking authenticity. More than a record of rural life, O’Connor’s work shows how language carries culture, identity, and memory. Using direct quotes and rich storytelling, she preserves a fading oral tradition—expressions, humor, and wisdom passed down through generations–and reveals how everyday speech reflects values like hard work, independence, and connection to the land. In an era of rapid change, O’Connor’s work reminds us that language is not just how people communicate—it’s how they live, remember, and belong.
Community Night with the Library
Journalism, Truth, and the Free Press, with Professor Emeritus Samuel G. Freedman, Columbia University, and former USA Today Correspondent Marco della Cava
Join us for a compelling evening with acclaimed journalist, author, and Columbia University Professor Emeritus Samuel G. Freedman in conversation with USA Today Correspondent Marco della Cava, as we explore the power of language in journalism and its essential role in protecting democracy, promoting truth, and giving voice to the unheard. In an age of misinformation and media saturation, Professor Freedman, also a former New York Times columnist, will share insights from his decades-long career in academia and journalism, offering a profound look at how the words we choose—and the truths we tell—can shape public consciousness and civic life.
Samuel G. Freedman is the author of ten acclaimed books, including Into the Bright Sunshine: Young Hubert Humphrey and the Fight for Civil Rights (2024). A finalist for the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, he has chronicled everything from civil rights to religious life in America. Freedman taught at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism for nearly 30 years, where he earned a reputation as one of the field’s most respected educators and mentors.
Marco della Cava is a retired USA Today correspondent who has reported across continents, helping to launch the newspaper’s first European bureau in London. He has covered a wide spectrum of stories—ranging from technology and business to war and culture—and his work has been submitted twice for Pulitzer Prize consideration.
Community Night with the Library
The Language of Architecture, with architect Elisabeth Cannell
This program introduces the language of architecture: how structures impart culture, identity, and values through form, materials, and design. Just as spoken and written language shapes our understanding of the world, architecture communicates, overtly and covertly, influencing how we feel, move, and connect with it. By decoding this language, we uncover the stories our built environment tells—and the meaning it carries. The program will start with particularly “legible” examples and how to read them. It will then move toward the local with a look at interpreting the architectural language of the Carmel region and its design and construction legacy, including the iconic Harrison Memorial Library, a rich example of architectural storytelling rooted in regional identity and craftsmanship.
Fireside Chat
Life after Fluency: What’s Left for Human Language Learners? with Professor Gabriel Guillén, Middlebury Institute of International Studies
With AI translating speech in real time, why learn another language at all? In this fireside chat, we’ll challenge assumptions and explore urgent questions: What does it mean to learn a language in the age of AI? Can machines teach us empathy, intercultural competence, or the skills to connect across differences? And in a world shaped by climate migration and global instability, what roles do human language learners still play? Join us for a conversation on the future of language education, for formal and informal learners alike, and whether it’s time to let go, double down, or reimagine it altogether.
Community Night with the Library
How the Brain Speaks: Unlocking the Neuroscience of Language, with Dr. Bruce Miller, Distinguished Professor of Neurology, UCSF
How does the brain give rise to language—the uniquely human ability to express thought, emotion, and connection through words? In this engaging program, renowned neurologist Dr. Bruce Miller explores the intricate relationship between brain function and language, offering insights drawn from his leading-edge research at UCSF. From the structure of sentences to the rhythm of conversation, Dr. Miller will illuminate the neural pathways that make language possible, revealing how speaking and understanding are deeply tied to memory, creativity, and our sense of self. Discover how the brain brings language to life—and how this extraordinary ability shapes the human experience.
Community Night at the Library
Artificial Intelligence: The New Language of Power and Possibility, with Professor Emeritus Terry Winograd, Stanford University
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the way we communicate, work, and understand the world. Join pioneering AI researcher, Professor Terry Winograd for a timely conversation about how language, thought, and technology intersect in the age of artificial intelligence. Winograd’s early work helped shape the field of natural language processing and inspired generations of researchers. In this engaging program, he’ll explore how AI systems use language, how that shapes human understanding, and why ethical reflection is more important than ever. AI is more than just code—it’s a system of communication, influence, and possibility. Understanding it is essential to engaging with the present and shaping the future.
Community Night with the Library
Film Screening of “Universal Language” (2024), moderated by film critic Mashid Bozorgnia
Join us for a thought-provoking evening featuring Universal Language (2024), an absurdist and visually inventive film by acclaimed Canadian director Matthew Rankin. Set in a surreal version of Winnipeg where Farsi and French have replaced English, the film weaves together three loosely connected stories that explore identity, displacement, and the strange power of communication. With its blend of deadpan humor, poetic imagery, and subtle cultural commentary, Universal Language challenges audiences to consider how language shapes not just what we say—but how we live, belong, and understand one another. Film critic Mashid Bozorgnia will introduce the film and lead a short Q&A session following the screening, offering insights into Rankin’s distinctive style and the film’s place within global cinema.
Please note dates and events are subject to change. Additional events may be added.
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