Life — December 23, 1920 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 1167 This page is primarily a **subscription advertisement** for *Life* magazine itself, using humor to persuade readers to subscribe. **The Satire:** A character named Griggson deliberates over spending $5 on a *Life* subscription. His internal monologue humorously lists self-improvement justifications—improved artistic sense, literary taste, and social awareness—before he ultimately decides to take a cheaper trial subscription instead of committing fully. **The Joke:** The visual metaphor shows a figure literally struggling under the weight of "CONSCIENCE," representing the internal conflict between wanting self-improvement and financial caution. The accompanying figure with the balloon represents the lighter relief a trial subscription offers. **The Point:** This satirizes readers' rationalization of their purchasing decisions, while gently mocking penny-pinching hesitation about cultural refinement—a common concern during this era.