Life — May 16, 1918 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a **World War I recruitment advertisement** from Life magazine, not a satirical cartoon. The image depicts an adult (likely representing a soldier or authority figure) lifting a child, illustrating the headline "What Are You Doing About This?" The advertisement appeals to American civilians to support the war effort through various means: volunteering for war work, conserving food, reporting suspicious individuals, purchasing Liberty Bonds, donating to the Red Cross, and subscribing to Life magazine itself. The child symbolizes America's future and vulnerability, creating emotional pressure on readers to participate in the war effort. This reflects the propaganda approach common during WWI, when publications mobilized public support for military and civilian contributions to the war.