Life, 1927-07-21 · page 29 of 38
Life — July 21, 1927 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece by Andy Consumer mocks advertising claims and corporate accountability. The cartoon depicts two figures negotiating a shirt contract: one representing Andy Consumer (the everyman) and another representing the Rub-a-Dub Shirt Company. The satire operates on irony: Andy claims the company has signed a binding contract ensuring his shirts will meet specifications for life, requiring *them* to absorb all loss if products fail—yet Andy himself signed nothing and invested no money. He frames this as a one-sided deal favoring him. The underlying point critiques advertising's implicit promises. Andy argues that when companies advertise, they essentially bet their money that products work as claimed, creating a public contract. Life magazine's caption reinforces this: advertisers should be held accountable for their promises. The satire suggests manufacturers make grand claims they may not honor, while consumers bear actual risk—inverting Andy's boastful scenario to reveal the real power imbalance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
nN Life LIFE DONATES THIS SERIES IN BEHALF OF BETTER MERCHANDISE You. Seem Ho think, (Theres 2 Sot Hote SEB )\ mane THE RUB-A-DUB SHIRT CO. HAS JUST SIGNED A BIG CONTRACT WITH ME ES. sir. right on the dotted Well. it’s nothing except that line. I've got ‘em right where the Rub-a-Dub Co. has started to T want ‘em F advertise. That's their contract with me, Andy Consum Rub-a-Dub shirts are g ec. At \ be up to my specifications the rest of my life. The Rub-a-Dub people have signed and sworn. [nn short, From now on, they can't shirts I've got “em |} Anybody who puts a wad in they've agreed to keep my shirt on : Hancockito as long as I want to wear one vertising puts his a contract with the public—to be By that. I mean they've signed good. He posts a forfeit he won't up to end my shirt worries. If I skimp shirt tails or slouch sleeve worry, it’s their loss. styles. Every advertisement is a bond I signed nothing and put up no money. It’s a one-sided contract That's the thing I like about ad- my way All [ have to do is to” vertising—it puts big m call for Rub-a-Dub shirts. How ers at the mercy of us come it? potatoes cH | Coy mer | | THE NATIONAL ADVERTISER BETS HIS ——— : | ADVERTISING MONEY THAT HIS PRODUCT IS RIGHT — : comicbooks.com