Life — August 24, 1922 — page 35: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a massive crowd of simplified figures all moving in the same diagonal direction, following bold black arrows. The title commands readers to "obey that impulse," suggesting mindless conformity and herd behavior. The work appears to critique collective obedience or mass movements—likely referencing either wartime mobilization, propaganda compliance, or social pressure to conform during a specific historical period. The repeated, identical figures emphasize deindividuation and loss of personal agency. The credit line references "Life" magazine and appears to include "The Charge of the LIFE Brigade," suggesting this is satirizing some form of organized mass action or public pressure that Life's editors viewed critically. The cartoon warns against unthinking compliance with prevailing impulses or directives.