Are you Mad Yet?: A Mad Men Review By Elaina Price
There seems to be a deep rooted sense of nostalgia among the masses in America. This theory can be proven just by looking at the culture in which we live. Fashion, art, media, television, and movies, all draw inspiration from the past., all in a very fashionable way of course. The show Mad Men is one perfect example of this. Mad Men first made its television debut on July 19th, 2007 on AMC and it entering its fifth season, which is set to commence in March 2012. Mad Men depicts the lifestyles of individuals that work at Sterling Cooper, a fictionalized, prominent advertising agency located on the bustling Madison Avenue in New York City during the 1960’s. As a viewer, you get to see and appreciate the way the world was in the past, including the societal hierarchy and culture of 1960’s Manhattan. Viewers will marvel at the suave men in dapper suits and slicked back hair , and the voluptuous women in all their finery and perfectly manicured hair and makeup, working their magic. The show mostly focuses on Don Draper, a handsome ad man with the seemingly perfect home life, with a taste for beautiful, sharp-tonged women. As if the name Don Draper doesn’t draw you in enough, the setting, the clothing, the characters, the plot, and the drama are sure to catch you hook, line ,and sinker. The show is truly a masterpiece, encompassing everything that is needed for a thrilling and compelling show, and the critics agree. The show has won multiple awards including fifteen Emmys and four Golden Globes. The audiences are singing the shows praises as well, basking in the greatness that is Mad Men. Both older and younger audiences alike will be entertained. The first because they can relate to the time period, and the later because of the show’s innate glamorous, and seemingly unreal nature. This show will not only pique your interest, it will always leave you wanting more. There has never been a time that I have wanted to see an episode end, because I am so completely engrossed with all that is happening. It will make you want to pick up a whisky on the rocks and go dance the night away while listening to live jazz music at a fancy club in New York City (Or maybe that is just me). This show showcases a lifestyle very few people at the time got to experience first hand, but it is none the less a lifestyle that people then and now still strive for. If there is one thing this show will teach you, it is that you have to work hard to get ahead in this world, but you have to play harder. This show will shock you, put a smile on your face, leave you in awe, and make you reminisce about the days of old. I think that is why this show is just so popular. The people watching this show are from all different circumstances and different tracks of life, but the power of a good story and the ability to take you back to a time when life seemed simpler, are what make this show one of a kind and truly worthwhile to watch. Don’t miss the newest episodes coming this March, you will be glad you didn’t!