Life — January 18, 1917 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 85 This page contains two distinct elements: **Left Side - Advertisement & Story**: An ad for Great Western Champagne and a satirical story titled "The Gentle Art of Reforming the World." The narrative mocks office bureaucracy, depicting "Mr. Average Man" trying to reach his boss Mr. Smith by phone. The satire critiques workplace inefficiency and the absurdity of office hierarchies—even simple communication requires navigating multiple intermediaries and formal procedures. **Right Side - Medical Advertisement**: A Standard Oil Company ad titled "When Physician Meant 'Physic-Dispenser'" references Shakespeare's era, when doctors prescribed laxatives and bleeding treatments. The ad promotes Nujol laxative as a modern, gentler alternative. It satirizes outdated medical practices while using historical comparison to market the product as progressive medicine. Both reflect early 20th-century American concerns: workplace frustration and medical advancement.