Judge — October 8, 1927 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This comic strip satirizes a man attempting to behave inconspicuously in public settings. Across six panels, he progressively fails at his goal through increasingly absurd behavior: 1. He speaks "too loud" in what appears to be a courtroom or public space 2. He attempts "something prayer-like" 3. He's described as "Silly" 4. Two men discuss him as "too darn collegiate" 5. He exclaims "My God, a sissy-pop!" 6. Final panel shows him leading a lodge procession with dramatic gestures and regalia The joke's irony is clear: his attempts to avoid drawing attention result in the opposite—his self-conscious efforts to appear "normal" make him conspicuous. The final lodge scene suggests that even formal, socially-sanctioned conspicuousness (like fraternal organization pageantry) contradicts his stated goal. The satire mocks social anxiety and performative normalcy.