Lectures on Tap - "Pen vs. Power: The Political Art of the Gilded Age"

📍 Location: Exact address given in confirmation email

📚 Lecture: “Pen vs. Power: The Political Art of the Gilded Age”

🎤 Speaker: Dr. John J. Murphy

Join us for a captivating evening with Dr. John J. Murphy as he explores the powerful intersection of art and politics during the Gilded Age. Long before social media, America had its own version of viral commentary through the sharp wit of political cartoonists who transformed the Sunday papers into lively battlegrounds.

This lecture delves into two realms of illustrated rebellion: first, the cartoons that shaped public opinion, from the tumult of the Election of 1876 to Teddy Roosevelt's dynamic rise. These illustrations were the memes of their time, skewering scandals and exposing hypocrisy with a rapidity that outpaced headlines.

Second, we will investigate the political cartoons that critiqued the era of monopolies and the tension between labor and capital. Artists like Thomas Nast, Joseph Keppler, and Frederick Opper wielded their pens as weapons against the powerful, revealing the growing perception that democracy was for sale.

Dr. John J. Murphy, a historian and educator with experience teaching at multiple City Colleges of Chicago, brings a wealth of knowledge to this intriguing topic.

Don’t miss this opportunity to uncover the political art that defined an era with Dr. John J. Murphy!

Get a drink, connect, and learn at Lectures on Tap! 🙌

Agenda

6:30 PM – Doors open: find a seat (open seating!), order food & drinks, and expect a bar line—arriving early is key.

6:55 PM – Host introduction

7:00 PM – Lecture begins

7:45 PM – Audience Q&A

8:00 PM – Have 1:1 time with the speaker, mingle with fellow guests, and order another round

8:30 PM – Wrap up.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Felecia For The Win