Life — December 21, 1922 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains no cartoon or satirical illustration. Instead, it's a serious argumentative essay titled "A Business Motive Power" advocating for advertising as a legitimate business tool. The piece compares advertising to industrial machinery: just as manufacturers adopt labor-saving equipment for efficiency, businesses should invest in advertising. The author argues advertising shouldn't be dismissed as frivolous but recognized as essential to competitive success—reducing costs, improving profits, and supporting good sales practices. Notably, the essay was "published in co-operation with The American Association of Advertising Agencies," indicating this is promotional content rather than Life magazine's typical satirical commentary. The page represents early 20th-century efforts to legitimize advertising as a respectable business practice.