Judge — January 21, 1928 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This cartoon is titled "Judge" and shows a courtroom scene with a judge presiding over what appears to be a trial. The caption reads: "First Intellectual.—What a beautiful day—let's go out and kill an ideal!" The satire appears to target intellectual pretension and hypocrisy. The "First Intellectual" character suggests going outside on a beautiful day not to enjoy nature or engage in meaningful activity, but specifically to "kill an ideal"—a darkly ironic statement that mocks how intellectuals claim to champion ideals while their actual behavior contradicts these principles. The courtroom setting may reinforce the theme of judgment and accountability. The cartoon satirizes a particular type of affected intellectual who speaks grandiosely about principles but fails to live by them—a common target of Judge magazine's social satire.