Life — January 23, 1913 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Dead Heads" and "The Contemporary Job" This page contains two satirical pieces about American institutions and social expectations. The top cartoon shows an airplane flying over a baseball stadium—likely satirizing the era's fascination with aviation as a novelty spectacle, contrasting modern technology with traditional entertainment. The lower cartoon and caption depict a father-son conversation about buying ice skates for three dollars. The accompanying article, "The Contemporary Job," discusses how American institutions (religious, educational, industrial, political) shape young men's character and ambitions. The satire appears to question what values these institutions instill—implying fathers worry about teaching sons practical skills and responsible spending rather than deeper character formation. The caption suggests gentle mockery of parental concerns about small expenses in a rapidly modernizing economy.