Life — November 28, 1912 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a young woman ("The New Pupil") encountering a skeletal, demonic figure labeled "Art of Flirtation." The ominous instructor looms in shadow while ghostly faces appear above—likely representing women who previously fell under this figure's influence. The satire addresses anxieties about young women's education and morality in the Progressive Era. Rather than formal schooling, this "new pupil" is being initiated into the dangerous "art of flirtation"—a critique of how society misdirects female development toward romantic manipulation rather than serious learning or self-improvement. The cartoon reflects contemporary concerns about women's roles, dating practices, and the perceived moral dangers facing the younger generation during a period of rapidly changing social norms.