Life — September 8, 1921 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Life" Magazine Satire on American Magazine Publishing This is a satirical manifesto from *Life* magazine mocking the editorial philosophy of mass-market American magazines. The winged figure labeled "Efficiency" and "Circulation" represents the commercialized spirit driving magazine content. The satire targets magazines' pandering approach: stories must end happily, include business success lessons, cater to "half a million women subscribers in small towns of the Middle West," and feature pretty girls. The piece ridicules self-censorship—using "h---" instead of profanity, avoiding sexual references with asterisks, never mocking established superstitions, and protecting advertisers. The closing line—"I am right"—delivers the punchline: these magazines claim moral authority while admitting they're driven purely by profit-seeking mediocrity aimed at the lowest common denominator.