Life — September 29, 1927 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "A History of Necking" - Life Magazine Satire This page satirizes the social phenomenon of "necking" (romantic kissing/physical affection), tracing its cultural history from ancient Rome through modern times. The top illustration shows various figures representing different eras and social classes engaged in or discussing this behavior. The text humorously presents five "epochs" of necking's development, culminating in the "Fifth Epoch" where college students have adopted necking as a major sport, with modern youth embracing physical affection as normal team activity. The right column presents unrelated brief news items about aviation records, using the formula common to Life's satirical style—mixing genuine innovations with absurdist observations. The overall satire mocks both changing sexual mores among youth and the breathless media coverage of modern social trends, presenting necking's evolution as though it were serious historical scholarship.