Life — July 1, 1915 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is primarily a **Columbia Records advertisement**, not political satire. The ad promotes Columbia's double-disc records at 65 cents, emphasizing their superior quality and selection (over 4,000 titles available). The illustrated scene below shows people gathered around a Columbia Graphophone (phonograph) in what appears to be a casual, social setting—likely depicting the appeal of owning one of these devices for home entertainment. The imagery suggests the social pleasure of listening to recorded music together. The advertisement's appeal targets middle-class consumers seeking affordable access to "the latest dance hits" and "every class of vocal and instrumental music." There is no political cartoon or satire on this page—it is straightforward commercial messaging typical of early 20th-century Life magazine advertising.