Life — September 13, 1917 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This 1910s-era Life magazine page is primarily **advertising**, not editorial satire. The main content consists of three product advertisements: 1. **"Chemistry Land"** (left): A patriotic poem celebrating German chemical industry, reflecting pre-WWI American admiration for German science and manufacturing prowess. 2. **Resinol Soap** (center): Features a woman admiring her complexion, promoting the product as a cure for skin problems. The testimonial quote emphasizes social/business advantages of clear skin. 3. **Pétrole Hahn & Bell-Ans** (bottom): Hair and indigestion remedies using typical period advertising tropes. The smaller article "His Part" discusses a foreign visitor observing American government, but appears unrelated to the advertisements. **Context for modern readers**: These ads reflect early-20th-century consumerism, when beauty products and chemical innovations were marketed as solutions to social acceptance and success.