Mad Men Then and Now | Thoughts on Don Draper and Social Media
As you already know, we’re a fan of AMC’s Mad Men series. There’s something about its classic style we find appealing, from the office furniture to their timeless suits. Even the accessories make an impression: tie clips, collar pins and cuff links all finding their place again in a man’s wardrobe. Of course, the snappy writing ties it all together, along with the undercurrent of sexual tension simmering beneath Don Draper’s fearless gaze.
But let’s dig a little deeper, beneath the gloss. Mad Men is a step back into another era, a different time. We know what we can expect. Their way of living was simpler and slower than the hustle and bustle of today’s technology and lifestyle demands. Perhaps this is what pulls us into the show, being able to unplug online and sink into our sofa’s, watching their world unfold. They have safe jobs during the birth of corporate America.They work but can have a smoke and a drink during a stressful workday. They live during a time when the economy was honest and a man came home to dinner.
It’d be delusional, though, to want to be in that world. While it’s nice for an escape, the social barriers regarding civil rights had yet to be broken down. Women had few options for a career or lifestyle. Besides, using a typewriter could be cumbersome.
What’s interesting is the show’s premise. It’s at the dawn of advertising with the rise of television. Marketing is about clever slogans, jingles and commercials. Now, that method is dying as we Tivo and block out direct marketing noise. Instead, we connect online through social media, talking directly with those creating the content we’re interested in. So while we watch Don Draper swagger through the birth of his advertising age, we are now experiencing the decline of his time.
What we can embrace are the show’s old world fundamentals, great style and substance. We could use more of this today, with everyone capable of participating online with these new tools now at our fingertips. So while we enjoy the show, we can also bask in the new technology that has allowed us to savor the moment.
I dig it – commenting on the show’s appeal, while dealing with its obsolescence, while encouraging readers by affirming the positive aspects of the obsolescence… What makes it even more great is that the piece itself is an example of the “new marketing” that is supplanting the traditional advertising of Mad Men… Good stuff.
Thanks Jeff, appreciate the feedback. Yeah, I find the timing of the show’s premise really interesting, regarding advertising. Also, the public’s fascination with that time period and its great style. Glad you liked the article, thanks!