Feb. 8, 2011 — Andrei Codrescu, a respected poet, noted essayist and NPR and PBS commentator, will give a special winter lecture as a guest of the Kegley Institute of Ethics at California State University, Bakersfield. His talk, titled "Whose Global Village? Reflections on Power and Imagination in Today's World," is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21, in the Doré Theatre at CSUB. Admission is free and open to the public. Parking is free after 6 p.m. in Lots B, C and D.

Providing a wonderful follow-up to Carlos Fuentes' fall lecture on globalization, Codrescu's talk will focus on the differences between "globalite" and "globalism." The first, he says, is the natural connection and growing awareness of global sympathies. The other is a crude and often unfair economic reality.

Codrescu has authored more than 30 books, and received a Peabody Award for writing and starring in the PBS film "Road Scholar." In 1983 he founded "Exquisite Corpse: A Journal of Books and Ideas," which can be found online at corpse.org as "A Journal of Letters and Life." His most recent books are "The Posthuman Dada Guide: Tzara and Lenin Play Chess" (2009) and "The Poetry Lesson" (2010).

He has taught literature and poetry at Johns Hopkins University, University of Baltimore, and Louisiana State University. He is a native of Romania and came to the United States in 1966.

In his characteristic accent, Codrescu's sharp wit and deep insight into contemporary life have made him among our generation's most respected essayists and poets. In a recent commentary on NPR about telling foes from friends, he says, "… in the real world, enemies hug you, and friends harm you. It's all in the WikiLeaks. You can look it up."

As a precursor to Codrescu's visit to CSUB, there will be a free showing of his cult classic film "Road Scholar" at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, in the Student Union Multipurpose Room. CSUB's Dean of Arts and Humanities, Dr. Richard Collins, will offer commentary on the film as both a friend and scholar of Codrescu. Parking is free in Lot K after 6 p.m.

Codrescu's lecture is part of the Kegley Institute of Ethics' 25th Anniversary year. The visit is co-sponsored by the Norman Levan Center for the Humanities, San Joaquin Community Hospital and Kern Medical Center. For more information about the Kegley Institute of Ethics, call 661-654-2555.