Madmen

Questions to answer :

Madmen is a comedy set in a 1950/60's advertisement company. The plot of the first episode we watched involved the company trying to figure out a way to sell


Why is this postmodern? Why might it be harder to relate to postmodernism.

Think about the theorists that relate;

*Baudrillard:

 - Representation/impression of the 1960's - not "The" 60's.
 - Based on other versions of 1960's America we have seen in other texts such as Bewitched.

*Lyotard:

 - Rejections of Meta-Narratives e.g Marriage and cheating, at-least two characters cheat on their other half's in this, there isn't any complex plots or schemes, the show leads multiple plots at one time. - Smoking is bad, heavy drinking, racism sexism etc are all perceived as fine in the time the program is set, so its accepting and rejecting meta-narratives at the same time by including these things.

*Derrida:

 - Lack of meaning, concern with surface appearances, multiple meanings.

*Jameson:

 - Recycling of other 1960's set texts.
 - Historicizing the past.
 - Concern with surface appearances + nothing deep
 - Link to consumer culture:
  - Mad Men dolls
  - Banana republic clothing
  - Books + other merchandise.
_The show is about advertising._

Offers a good contrast to other post modern texts, is very contemporary being up to date with a new series out at the end of the month.
Possibly a little deeper than really obvious examples of postmodern texts.

Notes:

The introduction scene is very stylized, reminds me of Stanley Kubrick style, lots of silhouette focus and montage theme of pictures overlapping. Saul Bass inspired title design. Alfred Hitchcock "Vertigo".

Intro music which is reminiscent of 50's 60's with a modern twist on the bass line.

Introduction has presumably the protagonist falling, possible intertextual reference to a modern event in history 9/11.

"Readers digest said that smoking will kill you, ladies love their magazines!"-
Everyone is smoking cigarettes in the beginning.

"(Man) I think we should get married.

(Woman) You'd like me to be your ex wife?" Ironic, sarcastic humour. Lack of meaning.

"So your suggesting people are living one way whilst thinking the opposite, thats ridiculous..." Says the man clearly in denial. - active audience to recognize this type of humour, the fact it is set in the 50/60's means the characters in the programe do not catch on to the joke whilst the audience does (context).

Irony and satire: Smoking in doctors office, Sexism, casual racism "I'll just nip to the dellie and grab you a jew."

The way it ends with the lead guy looking over his children whilst the wife stands in the door way mimics shows of the time it is supposed to be set in, poking fun at the 50's perfect fake image of family, its almost like an advertisements. The fact that the lead is having an affair completely makes this scene bullocks to the audience.

Fiction mixed with the real.

Blurring of boundaries.

Historieising the past - not an accurate portrail of the past but does have some continuity with major events of the time. Therefore it is a representation or impression of life at the time.

The character of Don Draper:

 - Different/Out of place, different world view.
 - Disconnected.
 - "No such thing as love" Pessimistic.
 - Lack of Meaning.
 - The way he pitched was spontaneous, he rejected the conventional way with slides, un conventional.
 - Rejects motion of traditional marriage - cheats on his wife.
 - Rejection of Meta-narrative.