Life — January 19, 1928 — page 21: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a humorous illustrated map of Havana, Cuba, labeled as a "Life" magazine feature. The cartoon depicts various Cuban stereotypes and tourist attractions of the era through exaggerated scenes: the Guitar Fabrico factory, Cuban Giants baseball stadium, Oriental Park, bars, a carnival, and the Prado with "slow Spaniards." The satire mocks both Cuban culture and American tourists' superficial engagement with it. Speech bubbles emphasize crude stereotypes—one character insists "You can't tell the players without a guitar," reducing Cuban identity to romanticized musical tourism. Historical references include the "Cuban Navy" ships and a monument to Richard Harding Davis (noted journalist who covered the 1898 Spanish-American War, suggesting this cartoon dates to the early 1900s when American interest in Cuba was high). The overall tone is typical of Life magazine's irreverent approach: poking fun at American attitudes toward foreign cultures while depicting Cuba as an exotic, somewhat absurd destination for leisure and entertainment.