Life — March 1, 1928 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cover depicts a human figure completely covered in tattoos of college slang, songs, and catchphrases popular among 1920s students ("Hey Hey," "Yale," "Spirit of St. Vitus," "Lust"). The figure stands above a row of six onlookers wearing various hats and formal attire, gazing upward. The satire mocks collegiate culture and the superficiality of 1920s youth — suggesting college students were merely absorbing fashionable phrases and attitudes rather than genuine education. The "tattooed man" represents how college identity had become superficial decoration. The onlookers' varied headwear likely represents different social types observing this spectacle of youth culture. This reflects broader 1920s generational anxieties about modern youth's values and frivolousness.