Life — June 3, 1920 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is primarily **advertising content**, not satire or political commentary. The dominant feature is a large advertisement for Pepsodent toothpaste ("The New-Day Dentifrice"), which occupies roughly half the page. The illustration at top shows a couple in an intimate moment, which is typical period advertising imagery meant to suggest that good dental hygiene improves romantic attractiveness—a common marketing angle in 1920s consumer advertising. The text promotes Pepsodent's supposed scientific innovation: a "film combatant" ingredient that fights tooth decay better than traditional methods. The ad includes a free sample offer coupon. The page also contains small advertisements for other products (Masonic Books, Capewell Nails) and a "Nominations" column of satirical candidates for various positions, but these occupy minimal space. The content reflects early 20th-century marketing practices emphasizing pseudo-scientific claims.