Judge — February 12, 1921 — page 25: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page presents a humorous drawing contest celebrating the "Wiggle-Wobble"—likely referencing the popular 1920s dance craze featuring exaggerated body movements. Judge magazine solicited comic illustrations of people performing this fashionable dance, awarding prizes ($25 for first place down to $5 for lower positions). The cartoons depict figures in various states of energetic, undignified gyration—people twisting, jumping, and contorting themselves in comically exaggerated ways. The style mocks both the dance itself and its enthusiastic practitioners, portraying the Wiggle-Wobble as ridiculous and undignified. This reflects Jazz Age satire: Judge, a conservative publication, frequently ridiculed modern youth culture and contemporary dance trends as vulgar and morally questionable. The contest format allows readers to submit their own parodies, making fun of what many considered a scandalous departure from proper dancing.