Life, 1922-07-27 · page 2 of 36
Life — July 27, 1922 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1932 *Life* magazine page satirizes the Soviet Union through dark humor. The opening quote—"while there is LIFE there's hope"—jokes that even as Bolsheviks kick a Russian nobleman down stairs, optimism persists. The cartoons depict stereotypical Russian violence: one shows a figure being struck, another a bearded revolutionary with a bomb. The text mocks Soviet brutality while maintaining *Life*'s ironic tone, promising gloomy poetry from "Petrograduates of the Siberian School of Saturnine" cynicism. The subscription coupon offers 10 weekly issues for $1, positioning this as an anti-Soviet political statement packaged as entertainment. The imagery and messaging reflect American Cold War-era stereotypes of Soviet barbarism and communist terrorism—themes that would dominate U.S. political discourse for decades.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Live: Published Weekly by Life Publishing Entered as Second Class Matter June 8; 1883, at the Post Omce at New York, Cuanues Daxa Ginsow, President RicHAupson. for MILLER, ‘Tre Company at 598 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. N. Y., unde March 3d, New ¥ Geo! Annual Bubseription, ‘ol. 80, — c anda LiFi in the United States, England’ and. tie British, Possessions OOOO OOOO: No, 2073. SSESSESSS ON. KO Ss SODROODORN LON OO’ The Russian Issue “Well,” said the Russian nobleman as the Bolsheviki kicked him down a flight of steppes, “while there is LIFE there’s hope.” HIS historic utterance has just reached our ears and in recog- nition of the free publicity thus given us, we are going to publish an issue entirely given over to Russia. (This, by the way, is no mean backhand stroke in itself, as Russia is usually entirely given over to Gloomy as we usually are, this time we shall plumb depths of despair that should bring sorrow to even the most earnest Russian rooter. The poems will be written by the leading Petrograduates of the Siberian School of Saturnine Cynicism; the stories and “jokes” will not only be sad, but abstruse, absolutely swathed in veils of tears. And if we can persuade our Art Soviet to inhale a little vodka, we hope to have no pictures at all, although we may run something original—like a cartoon of a bearded brute brandishing a bomb. Not a very cheerful Nevsky Pros- pect, is it? The ominous date of publication is August 31st, and the price will be 25,507 rubles, or 15 cents, if you pay in U.S. money. However, if you have a dollar, you can spend that too; follow directions on the coupon. To LIFE SOVIET, New York City Dear Comrades: Here is a dollar bill. As a receipt, send me 10 weekly issues so that we can get to know each other. (This includes the Russian Number.) (Canadian, $1.20; Foreign, $1.40.) LIFE, 598 Madison Ave., New York City One Year $5.00. (Canadian, $5.80; Foreign, $6.60) comicbooks.com