Life — December 10, 1925 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a man in formal attire playing a saxophone, observing another figure labeled "BIG BUSINESS" dancing energetically. The caption reads "YES, SIR, HE'S MY BABY!" The cartoon appears to criticize the relationship between music/entertainment and commercial interests during the Jazz Age. The well-dressed musician represents the entertainment industry or perhaps a promoter, while "Big Business"—shown as an exuberant, caricatured dancer—represents corporate commercialization. The joke suggests that Big Business has become the "baby" or product of the entertainment world, implying that commercial interests now control or dominate what should be artistic expression. This reflects early 20th-century anxieties about commercialization corrupting artistic authenticity.