Stereotypes of Mad Men

      Mad Men is a drama television series that aired in 2007, that is currently in its sixth season, and headed to their final season next year. The show follows advertising creative executive, Don Drapper, and his life in 1960’s New York. It depicts anything from the advertising business, to the changing lives due to changing culture during this time period. Not only has the show been awarded 4 back-to-back Emmy’s, but also is one reason why I personally chose my major here at UNL. As much as I have followed the show since day one, I never took into account how our culture today may interpret the show. After reading Chapter 9 from our text, I find that I could be taken in a positive and/or negative light. 

      As time progresses, so does the show. In the first seasons the demographic was continuously white, upper class Americans, and very high culture, which is an elite aristocratic expression of culture (Martin & Nakayama, 2013). Black people were simply props of the show, giving authenticity unlike many network shows to avoid the dramatic ugliness of American society (Moss, 2012). However, just as America begins to become more diverse, so do the characters. The cultural groups range from anything to African Americans to Jewish Americans. Although none are “main” characters, many of them have important roles in the plot. Keep in mind that the time period is the 1960’s with many acts or racism and prejudice. There are many occasions of repetition where the “N” word is used, stereotypical remarks about minorities, and most of all, degrading comments towards women. In Don Drapper’s life, when it comes to recurrences of stereotyping, women have it the worst. The Washington Post had even written that "Mad Men's authentic portrait of women's lives in the early 1960s makes it hard for some women to watch” (Coontz, 2010). In the work place, they start as secretaries, only one has been hired as partner (out of 8), and they are consistently told, “You are easy to replace” (Not to mention, the name of the show is pretty sexist). Sexual exploitation also plays a key roll. In fact, the biggest client the agency received was due to exploiting a female worker to sleep with the owner. But this is just how life was… Right? I love this show, don’t get me wrong but are the writers encouraging this behavior simply because this is how life was? They are giving an honest interpretation of the 60’s, but like I said, this could be taken two different ways. You can understand how awful the treatment of other cultures were, and embrace that we live in a new time with new moral decency towards others. Or be brainwashed by pop culture and only reenact what you see. The forcefulness of such a popular drama, very much depends on who is watching and their perspective of the era.

      Being able to have a more in depth look at Mad Men has encouraged me even more to embrace the positive of viewing not only the show, but all pop cultural texts, which can be any sort of media that encodes messages (Martin & Nakayama, 2013). I understand by watching how far American’s of all genders and races have come. And in return, not allowing myself to think that people different from me are less superior. Mad Men can also be a prime example of why pop culture can have a positive effect on perspective. Watching scenes where African American’s are protesting and being taunted for it, people of Middle Eastern decent being feared for no reason, Jewish people being thought of as money hungry, and women being useful only as housewives, it makes me cherish what I have. I’m fortunate and proud to live in this time, in America. Advice I would give others when it comes to pop culture and intercultural communication is that you make your own interpretation. No ones forcing you to think anything. Experience before you judge others... Also watch Mad Men!

     

Resources

Coontz, S. (2010, October 10). Why 'Mad Men' is TV's most feminist show. Washington Post. Retrieved from

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-   dyn/content/article/2010/10/08/AR2010100802662.html

Martin, J.N., & Nakayama, T.K. (2013, October 21). Intercultural Communication in Contexts (6th ed.) New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

Moss, Otis III. (2012, March 27). ‘Mad Men’ Highlights Invisible Black People and Stain of Racism. The Daily Beast. Retrieved from

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/27/mad-men-highlights-invisible-       black-people-and-stain-of-racism.html