The Department of Literary Arts presents a reading by poet and critic Calvin Bedient as part of its Writers on Writing Reading Series. A former English professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, Bedient has published numerous analytic and poetic works including Candy Necklace, The Violence of the Morning, Days of Unwilling, and others. He was a finalist for the National Book Award and previously taught at Harvard University. The event begins at 2:30 p.m. in the McCormack Family Theater, 70 Brown St. http://www.brown.edu/academics/literary-arts/events

Contemporary Pueblo painter Mateo Romero will talk about his work as part of the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology's Artist Talk series. An award-winning painter, Romero is the Dubin Fellow in painting at the School of American Research in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His work is influenced by his urban upbringing and his connection to his family's ties to the Southern Keresan Cochiti people. Romero's work has been featured throughout Canada and the United States. Sponsored by the Friends of the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology and donors to the Barbara A. and Edward G. Hail Lecture Fund, the event begins at 5:30 p.m. in the List Art Building, Room 120, 64 College St. http://brown.edu/Facilities/Haffenreffer/new/calendar.php

The Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America presents a lecture by Alexandra T. Vazquez titled "Listening in Detail: A Remix." Vazquez, assistant professor of African American studies and English at Princeton University, has published numerous works on music and the history of women in performance. Her talk will focus on the role of music in scholarship and the things made possible by listening closely. The discussion will offer viewers a set of guiding principles about writing and method. The event begins at noon in Pembroke Hall, Room 305, 172 Meeting St. http://www.brown.edu/academics/race-ethnicity/events-programs/alexandra-t-vazquez-listening-detail-remix

Adam Michnik, founder and editor-in-chief of Gazeta Wyborcza, will deliver a lecture on "The Traps of Democracy after Communism," as part of the Watson Distinguished Speaker Series. A prominent public figure in Poland, Michnik has been detained by the Polish communist regime on several occasions. Between 1965 and 1986, he has served a total of six years in prison for his views on tolerance and freedom. Michnik is the author of numerous books, essays, and analyses including Letters from Prison (1987), and The Church and the Left (1993). He is also the recipient of many accolades including the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award, The Erasmus Prize, The Francisco Cerecedo Journalist Prize, and others. The lecture will be presented in Polish with translation and will be live streamed. The event begins at 4 p.m. in the Watson Institute for International Studies, Joukowsky Forum, 111 Thayer St. http://watson.brown.edu/events/2014/adam-michnik-traps-democracy-after-communism

In honor of Brown's 250th anniversary, the Department of History and the John Carter Brown Library present a lecture by Joyce Chaplin titled "The World is Not Enough: Brown circa 1764." The lecture is the first of seven lectures on the world at the time of Brown's founding. Chaplin, professor of early American history at Harvard University, is the author of Round about the Earth: Circumnavigation from Magellan to Orbit (2012) and Benjamin Franklin’s Political Arithmetic: A Materialist View of Humanity (2008). A reception will follow the discussion. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. in the John Carter Brown Library, MacMillan Reading Room, the College Green. http://www.brown.edu/academics/libraries/john-carter-brown/event/2014/04/22/1764-browns-founding-global-context

Dr. Jon A. Mukand will deliver a lecture on "Renovating the Brain" as part of the Cogut Center for the Humanities' Creative Medicine Lecture Series. A clinical assistant professor of orthopaedics at the Warren Alpert Medical School, Mukand will read excerpts from his book-in-progress Renovating the Brain, the story of an Iraqi war-veteran with a brain injury. Co-sponsored by the Department of Emergency Medicine and the Creative Arts Council, the event begins at 5:30 p.m. in Pembroke Hall, Room 305, 172 Meeting St. http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Humanities_Center/

Several authors and civic groups will take part in a discussion about making a difference in American political life, as part of the book launch of The Civic Imagination: Making a Difference in American Political Life. The authors will discuss ways to build a better city by sharing what they discovered when they embarked on a project. Based on their observations, the authors will share how Americans understand, talk about, and act out their visions for change. Speakers include Gianpaolo Baiocchi, professor of sociology and director of the Urban Democracy Lab at New York University; Alissa Cordner, assistant professor of sociology at Whitman College; and Ph.D. candidates Elizabeth A. Bennett, Peter Taylor Klein, and Stephanie Savell. The event begins at 7 p.m. in the Watson Institute for International Studies, Joukowsky Forum, 111 Thayer St. http://watson.brown.edu/events/2014/civic-imagination-making-difference-american-political-life

As part of the Security Seminar Series, Melissa Hathaway will deliver a lecture titled "A Surplus of Politics and a Dearth of Ideas: The Struggle for Internet Dominance." The lecture will focus on the strategic competition for power and influence of all aspects of the internet. As countries seek to provide internet access to all households and businesses to increase productivity and deliver GDP growth, they also make themselves vulnerable to nefarious cyber-attacks. Hathaway will talk about the battle for control over the internet and whether international agencies should regulate it. Hathaway is the president of Hathaway Global Strategies LLC and a senior advisor at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center. She also worked on the Cyberspace Policy Review for President Barack Obama. The event begins at 12:30 p.m. in the Watson Institute for International Studies, Joukowsky Forum, 111 Thayer St. http://watson.brown.edu/events/2014/melissa-hathaway-surplus-politics-and-dearth-ideas-struggle-internet-dominance

The Political Theory Project presents a Janus Forum Lecture with Noam Chomsky and Ambassador Dennis Ross titled "Thinking Strategically: Should America Support Israel?" From sympathetic supporter to military funder, the United States' relationship to Israel has evolved since its post-World War II inception. Today, Israel receives the largest amount of foreign aid from the United States, largely in the form of military assistance. Israel has been a democratic ally of the United States in the Middle East. Some see this alliance as a stabilizing influence, while others view it as the impetus for continued turbulence in the Middle East. Does America’s support for Israel promote the causes of peace, justice, and democracy? Members of the Brown community will be admitted to the lecture with their Brown ID. Others should contact Jennifer_Witt@Brown.edu. The event begins at 4 p.m. in the Salomon Center for Teaching, DeCiccio Family Auditorium, the College Green. http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Political_Theory_Project/janus/events/lectures/thinking-strategically-should-america-support-israel