Life, 1917-11-22 · page 4 of 44
Life — November 22, 1917 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines an advertisement and social commentary. The cartoon depicts figures reading a copy of *Life* magazine, with a dialogue questioning whether intellectual people should find humor in the publication. The satirical argument claims that *Life* targets "educated and controlled people" whose pleasure is "purely intellectual," not laugh-based. The moral conclusion suggests that intellectuals shouldn't waste time subscribing when they could be doing more worthwhile pursuits. The wreath decorations indicate this is a holiday/Christmas season issue. The "Coming" section notes this will be the final double-Christmas issue, requiring subscriptions by December first. This appears to be self-aware satire—*Life* magazine ironically arguing against its own readership while promoting subscriptions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
What is the matter with the characters in this picture? They are laughing and smiling. Haven't they any right to do this? No. Why not? Because they are looking ata copy of Lire. But isn’t Lire intended to be laughed and smiled at? Not at all. The people who read Lire. are edu- cated and controlled people. Their pleasure is purely intellectual. Then what is the moral of this? That if you are an intellectual person, with a keen sense of humor, you should lose no time in becoming a regular subscriber (see coupon). The winter season is now upon us, and to miss a copy Enclosed of Lire because it is all sold out— find One De But you are now addressing yourself to intel-, weer lectual people, who will undoubtedly— ag ftaGe., Send Dis Quite right. , 7 Special jer ¢ COMING Only two weeks more now before the yreat double Christ- Number, price 25 cents. , . co. s number will be included 7 LIFE West 3rst Street, New York. 17 Il yearly subscriptions that 7 commence not later than De 7 . cember first. Obey that im- 7 One Year, $5.00. (Canadian, $5.52; Foreign, $6.04.) 7 pulse. Open only to new subscribers; no sub: scriptions renewed at this rate.