Life — June 1932 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is primarily a **public health advertisement** by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company promoting eye care, not political satire. The illustration shows a family group (adults and children) gathered outdoors, appearing to represent diverse social classes—likely emphasizing that eye health concerns affect everyone. The "Don'ts" list addresses common early-20th-century health concerns: reading in poor light, sharing towels (disease transmission), holding materials too close, and avoiding eye specialists. The mention of "Blindman's Buff" as dangerous reflects genuine anxiety about preventable blindness. The text cites the National Society for Prevention of Blindness' claim that 114,000 Americans were blind, attributing many cases to treatable conditions like glaucoma. This represents Progressive Era public health advocacy—using insurance company resources to promote preventive medical care and professional medical consultation over folk remedies.