Life — March 10, 1921 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page This page presents a humorous essay titled "What Is Love?" that offers satirical definitions from various social archetypes—the Flapper, Bigamist, Cynic, Playwright, Statistician, Philosopher, Middle Aged Gentleman, and Obedient Wife. Each perspective parodies that character type's worldview. The accompanying cartoon depicts a police sergeant questioning a small girl about a lost kitten with yellow eyes named Mary. The humor operates on multiple levels: the sergeant treats the mundane lost-pet situation with bureaucratic formality, while the girl's casual response contrasts with his serious demeanor. This satirizes both police procedure and childhood innocence, typical of Life magazine's gentle social comedy from the early 20th century.