On this edition of ST, we offer a discussion of the life and work of Thomas Nast (1840-1902), who is commonly thought of as "the father of American political cartooning." Highly influential in his time and still admired by artists, columnists, writers, and cartoonists today, Nast might be best known for his work -- done before, during, and after the Civil War -- for Harper's Weekly. He also, quite famously, created the modern illustrated version of Santa Claus...as well as the elephant as a symbol for the G.O.P. Our guest is Dr. Fiona Deans Halloran, a Nast expert, who will give a free-to-the-public lecture -- entitled "Thomas Nast and the Invention of the Modern Political Cartoon" -- tomorrow night, Thursday the 10th, at 7pm in Tyrrell Hall on the TU campus. Dr. Halloran, the author of "Thomas Nast: The Father of Modern Political Cartoons," speaks with us about Nast's origins and ambitions as both an artist and journalist, and about some of the key contradictions within his own life -
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