Nicole Hollander, creator of the nationally syndicated cartoon strip “Sylvia,” is team-teaching an undergraduate class this quarter at DePaul University entitled, “Political Humor Before and After 9-11.”

The workshop-structured course has 25 communication students enrolled and is aimed at taking a critical look at how cartoons, essays and performance art have been altered by the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. The course is co-taught by Jacqueline Taylor, director of DePaul’s Humanities Center and a professor of communication.

Hollander and Taylor opened the class by sharing scores of examples of political humor before 9-11 with students. Students have written their own essays and performance pieces, and they have come up with their own political cartoons, as well. “The students also keep humor journals where they collect news items that have humor potential either because they are totally absurd or just so outrageous,” explained Taylor.

The class meets Wednesday evenings through June 4 from 5:45 p.m. until 9 p.m. in the Thomas Levan Center, 2322 N. Kenmore Ave., Rm. 403. Hollander will give a public lecture at 7 p.m. May 14 in the DePaul Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave, Rm.120. She will show slides of her work and provide insight on becoming a cartoonist.