Life — July 12, 1917 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is primarily a **Murad Turkish cigarette advertisement**, not political satire. The ad uses orientalist imagery common to early 20th-century marketing: women in exotic/revealing attire in a harem-like setting, with a turbaned man smoking in a circular portrait. The accompanying text appeals to consumers to "Judge for yourself—compare 'Murad' with any 25 cent Cigarette," emphasizing that Turkish tobacco is "the world's most famous tobacco for cigarettes." The phrase "Everywhere Why?" appears to reference the product's widespread availability. This reflects period marketing strategies that exoticized non-Western cultures to sell luxury goods to American consumers. The imagery perpetuates orientalist stereotypes rather than conveying political commentary.