Judge — July 3, 1926 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This political cartoon satirizes Arctic exploration, specifically targeting what appears to be early 20th-century polar expeditions. The scene depicts Inuit people ("Mr. Eskimo") amidst falling aircraft and flags in a war-like bombardment from above, with explorers huddled below taking shelter. The satire likely mocks the romantic glorification of Arctic exploration in American culture. The phrase "Darn these Arctic explorers, anyway!" suggests the Inuit perspective—their land is being invaded and disrupted by competing expeditions (multiple flags, aircraft visible). Rather than heroic adventure narratives, the cartoon presents exploration as chaotic, unwelcome intrusion into native territories. The artist (R.B. Fuller) critiques both the competitive nationalism of exploration and the disregard for indigenous peoples already inhabiting these regions.