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Jules FeifferJULES FEIFFER

One of American's most influential editorial cartoonists

NYS Writers Institute, November 11, 1998
4:00 p.m. Seminar | Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center
8:00 p.m. Multimedia Presentation: "My Life and Times" | Page Hall, 135 Western Ave., Downtown Campus

Film presentation of Feiffer's Little Murders
November 6 (Friday) at 7:30 p.m. in Page Hall

PROFILE
Jules Feiffer, one of American's most influential editorial cartoonists, is also a playwright, novelist, screenwriter and author of children's books. His Pulitzer prize-winning trademark cartoon style, widely imitated by younger generations of political cartoonists, typically features sparely drawn, neurotic characters, appearing against blank backgrounds, and emoting or agonizing over news events and personal problems. His cartoon strip, Feiffer, appeared in the Village Voice from 1956 to 1997, and in 1996 a retrospective exhibition of his work appeared at the Library of Congress. His cartoon collections include Feiffer on Nixon: The Cartoon Presidency (1974), Ronald Reagan in Movie America: A Jules Feiffer Production (1988), and Feiffer: The Collected Works, Volumes 1, 2, and 3 (1998, 1989, 1992).

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Feiffer's work in other genres is characterized by the same talent for social satire and commentary. His 1967 play Little Murders is a brutal black comedy that examines one New York City family's encounters with random and senseless violence. The play received a number of prestigious awards, including the London Theatre Critics, Outer Circle Critics and Obie Awards. New York Times theater reviewer Clive Barnes said of Little Murders "[Feiffer] muses on urban man, the cesspool of urban man's mind, the beauty of his neurosis, and the inevitability of his wilting disappointment." Little Murders was adapted to film in 1971 starring Elliott Gould and Marcia Rodd. Feiffer's other plays include the Obie-winning White House Murder Case (1970), Knock Knock (1976), Elliot Loves (1989) and Anthony Rose (1990).

Jules Feiffer and his wife live in New York City and on Martha's Vineyard and have three daughters.

  • Awards
    • Academy Award for animated version of short story Munro, 1961
    • Pulitzer Prize for editorial cortooning, 1986
    • Venice Film Festival Best Screenplay for I Want to Go Home, 1989
    • Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, 1995
  • Children's Books
    • A Barrel of Laughs, A Vale of Tears, 1995
    • Meanwhile..., 1997
    • I Lost My Bear, 1998
  • Novels
    • Harry: The Rat with Women, 1963
    • Pictures at a Prosecution: Drawings and Text from the Chicago Conspiracy Trial, 1971
    • Ackroyd, 1977
    • Tantrum, 1979
  • Plays
    • Little Murders, 1968
    • The White House Murder Case, 1970
    • Carnal Knowledge, 1971
    • Knock, Knock, 1976
    • Grownups, 1982
    • Elliot Loves, 1988
    • Anthony Rose, 1989
  • Films
    • Munro (animated short subject), 1961
    • Little Murders, 1971
    • Carnal Knowledge, 1971
    • Popeye, 1980
    • I Want To Go Home, 1989

    Books by Jules Feiffer:

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    Cosponsored by the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center and Albany City Area Reading Council

    For additional information, contact the Writers Institute at 518-442-5620 or online at https://www.albany.edu/writers-inst.