Life — December 28, 1922 — page 18: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes the concept of "normalcy"—likely referencing President Warren G. Harding's 1920 campaign promise of a "return to normalcy" following World War I's upheaval. The image shows well-dressed businessmen in top hats operating what appears to be a commercial establishment labeled "NORMALCY & CO." They're conducting business near industrial/construction equipment, suggesting they're profiting from or managing the post-war economic transition. The satire appears to mock how political leaders and business interests instrumentalized the appeal of "normalcy" for commercial gain during the 1920s. The cartoon implies that "normalcy" became less an authentic social goal and more a marketing concept exploited by the wealthy establishment to advance their interests during America's economic boom period.