Background
Mad Men is a serial TV show set in the late 1950’s/early 1960’s and is produced by AMC in the United States. It follows the lives of six men who work at a fictional advertising agency in New York City on Madison Avenue. The series highlights in detail the life of the senior executive, his family, secretary, mistresses, and interactions in his life. Many of the scenes are shot at a few locations: bars, the ad agency, and the suburban neighborhoods where the men reside.
For purposes of this analysis, I will be taking highlights and observations from the first season only (it is almost in it’s third at present).
Mad Men is a serial TV show set in the late 1950’s/early 1960’s and is produced by AMC in the United States. It follows the lives of six men who work at a fictional advertising agency in New York City on Madison Avenue. The series highlights in detail the life of the senior executive, his family, secretary, mistresses, and interactions in his life. Many of the scenes are shot at a few locations: bars, the ad agency, and the suburban neighborhoods where the men reside.
For purposes of this analysis, I will be taking highlights and observations from the first season only (it is almost in it’s third at present).
Exaggeration of typical roles
This TV show has really outdone itself with regards to traditional roles of men and women. While even after looking back at these typical roles, it seems that the idea of men has changed little, while the idea of women has progressed significantly (although some would argue otherwise.)
Men are the typical macho, whiskey drinking, sexist but kind breadwinners portrayed frequently of that era. Most of the men have extramarital affairs with the secretaries, and do the “man chores” around the house (anything involving a power tool or sweating). While women, who are portrayed far worse in this housewife role than compared to many other films/television shows, are complete shadows of male dominance. They are frequently told what to do, how to do it, and where their proper place is (which is in the home).
There are a few characters who prove to be examples of the “wrong” way to live. There is a free spirited woman artist, a single mother who is beginning to embrace on the feminist movement, and the gay man who is in the closet. These characters are usually the subject of an argument or gossip in the household and workplace circles, because they do not subscribe the typical lifestyle. Interestingly, the people who live on the fringe of the acceptable society, are actually the happiest.
A discourse on living
The series essentially attempts to disembowel the fake, marginalizing, and boring façade of the 1950’s era. It uses the marginal characters, as the option to a lifestyle that has led to extreme unhappiness. While the marginalized characters have their share of problems, they live life without the same societal constraints as the main characters. I really find it interesting how the commentary on womanhood points out that slaving in the kitchen, attending your children, and an alcoholic husband, only ensures you will have a nervous breakdown and need psychiatric help. While women have struggled to be in the workplace (as in the secretaries at the ad agency), they have made little progress to receiving respect and dignity, and instead they have become available as sexual fodder; maybe they should go back to the kitchen? Other themes present themselves, but overall, Mad Men paints a grim picture in a time warp before women were allowed to function in regular society.
This TV show has really outdone itself with regards to traditional roles of men and women. While even after looking back at these typical roles, it seems that the idea of men has changed little, while the idea of women has progressed significantly (although some would argue otherwise.)
Men are the typical macho, whiskey drinking, sexist but kind breadwinners portrayed frequently of that era. Most of the men have extramarital affairs with the secretaries, and do the “man chores” around the house (anything involving a power tool or sweating). While women, who are portrayed far worse in this housewife role than compared to many other films/television shows, are complete shadows of male dominance. They are frequently told what to do, how to do it, and where their proper place is (which is in the home).
There are a few characters who prove to be examples of the “wrong” way to live. There is a free spirited woman artist, a single mother who is beginning to embrace on the feminist movement, and the gay man who is in the closet. These characters are usually the subject of an argument or gossip in the household and workplace circles, because they do not subscribe the typical lifestyle. Interestingly, the people who live on the fringe of the acceptable society, are actually the happiest.
A discourse on living
The series essentially attempts to disembowel the fake, marginalizing, and boring façade of the 1950’s era. It uses the marginal characters, as the option to a lifestyle that has led to extreme unhappiness. While the marginalized characters have their share of problems, they live life without the same societal constraints as the main characters. I really find it interesting how the commentary on womanhood points out that slaving in the kitchen, attending your children, and an alcoholic husband, only ensures you will have a nervous breakdown and need psychiatric help. While women have struggled to be in the workplace (as in the secretaries at the ad agency), they have made little progress to receiving respect and dignity, and instead they have become available as sexual fodder; maybe they should go back to the kitchen? Other themes present themselves, but overall, Mad Men paints a grim picture in a time warp before women were allowed to function in regular society.
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