Life — November 23, 1928 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cover depicts a woman in 1920s flapper attire calling "TAXI!" while fleeing from a giant anthropomorphic insect. The illustration, credited to Garrett Price, appears to be a humorous commentary on urban life and the prevalence of insects in cities. The joke likely plays on the era's anxieties about pest control and sanitation in modern American cities, combined with the fashionable woman's desperate attempt to escape. The exaggerated insect and her theatrical reaction create comedic absurdity typical of Life's satirical style. The cover's sections promise "Amusement News," "Personalities," and "Sport"—standard Life magazine content from this era. Without additional context about specific contemporary events, the cartoon appears primarily to offer general social humor rather than targeted political satire.