Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Matt Davies spoke to students at Chadbourne Residential College Wednesday evening as part of a series sponsored by the Public Affairs Writer in Residence program.
Davies is the 2004 recipient of the Herblock Prize, a new award named for three-time Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist Herbert Block.
\In case you hadn't noticed by now, I'm not from these parts,"" joked Davies in a thick British accent.
Davies described in comedic detail the culture shock of moving from London to suburban Connecticut in the mid 1980s as well as his beginnings in political cartooning.
""I had always been, ever since I can remember, a smartass,"" Davies said, recalling one of his works published in The New York Times. He was reprimanded for drawing a nearly identical cartoon as a child.
Davies attended the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia and later relocated to New York, where he studied illustration and fine art. He began his career as a young freelance artist before being discovered by The Journal News in Westchester, N.Y.
""Some of the most successful things that have ever happened have been the product of some naivet??,"" said Davies of his humble beginnings.
Davies said he fell in love with political cartooning after seeing the work of a Connecticut neighbor, a cartoonist for The Economist.
Davies shared some of his award-winning work and offered insight into its origins.
One cartoon depicted the door to the ""Homeland Security Bio-Terror Readiness Unit."" Tacked to the door was a hand-written sign that read, ""Out With Flu.""
Davies' work poked fun at liberals and conservatives alike.
""I like to think of my political viewpoints as anti-stupid,"" he said.
The cartoonist described his form of political commentary as ""99 percent opinion,"" inflected with humor.
""I was a little offended, but I think the way he said it was in a nice way,"" UW-Madison sophomore Heidi Hackbarth said, reacting to a cartoon addressing the issue of molestation by Catholic priests.
""I always enjoy looking at political cartoons,"" said UW-Madison sophomore Mike Schmid. ""I believe that irony is one of the best ways to get a point across.\
