Life — March 10, 1921 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Page 341, Life Magazine (March 10) **The Main Cartoon:** Titled "THE FIRST TIME THEY TRIED TO RAISE THE RENT FROM TWO SKINS TO FIVE," this depicts primitive figures attempting to negotiate a rent increase. The satire mocks contemporary landlord-tenant disputes by transplanting them to caveman times, suggesting such conflicts are absurdly timeless. **The Text Sections:** Below are two unrelated pieces: dialogue about diamonds and police procedures, and a "Brain Fag" advice column addressing a woman's anxiety about choosing between wealth and poverty. **Social Context:** The cartoon likely responds to 1920s-era housing disputes and inflation concerns. The juxtaposition of primitive economics with modern problems creates humor through anachronism, while the advice column reflects period anxieties about class mobility and social status.