Misogyny & Boorishness in "Mad Men": What Am I Missing?

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In summary, In Season 1 of Mad Men, the male characters are caricatures and the show is intentionally over-the-top in its portrayal of misogyny. However, by the end of the season, viewers see the consequences of the characters' actions. Christina Hendricks is the main attraction.
  • #1
russ_watters
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I'm halfway through the first season and I just don't get the appeal. Is it just an excuse for acceptable - even celebrated - misogyny and boorishness for men? I've heard criticism of "Entourage" for that, but didn't really buy it - in Entourage, the joke was on the biggest men (Vinny Chase and his brother were losers). Mad Men just seems so over-the-top that it is almost cartoonish to me, but unlike Entourage isn't supposed to be a comedy. And almost all the male characters are basically just clones of each other, so I have trouble telling them apart.

Can someone tell me what I'm missing?
 
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  • #2
Nope - I think you got it, Russ. I've not watched it, nor am I inclined to do so.

Maybe it's something about the NY City state of mind - or something.
 
  • #3
Contrary opinion: My wife and I have watched most of this series, and we have both enjoyed it very much. The main character is Don Draper. If you get into the series very far, you find that he is very creative, but very broken, having grown up adopted by a relative who runs a brothel. Even at that, he returns from the Korean War with a different name than when he went over. At any rate, we have enjoyed it a lot.
 
  • #4
Sometimes, I do watch.
But not because of Don Draper. Because of her:

http://www.beertripper.com/OffTopic/2011/Joan_Holloway/Joan_Holloway_red_dress.jpg
 
  • #5
I think the first season is deliberately cartoonish. If you keep watching, people will begin to suffer consequences for everything they do in season 1. Believe me, it's not a celebration of anything. Everyone's life will fall apart.

None of the characters are perfect, and none of them are completely likeable all the time. I think it's more an exploration of who they are, both good and bad.

I think the main character might actually be Peggy. But I haven't seen season 7 yet.
 
  • #6
russ_watters said:
Is it just an excuse for acceptable - even celebrated - misogyny and boorishness for men?
I don't watch this show so I probably shouldn't comment at all. However, I think I can say that whether or not a depiction of negative behavior is a veiled celebration of that behavior depends on the attitude you pick up from the unseen, and un-refered to, observer through whose eyes you are watching. That observer is all-seeing. It can look at any aspect of any of the character's lives, and it pretends to be neutral, but actually isn't. It is always functioning not just as observer but as editor. It makes choices about what to show you, where you should focus, and what to pay attention to. The cumulative effect of all those choices is what ultimately counts, and it can take some time before you start to see where this observer is leading you.

Take Raging Bull and the Rocky movies. The attitude of 'the observer' in those films towards boxing is radically different. Raging Bull adds slowly up to being an anti-boxing film while the Rocky movies present boxing as a perfectly OK kind of activity.
 
  • #7
zoki85 said:
Sometimes, I do watch.
But not because of Don Draper. Because of her:

http://www.beertripper.com/OffTopic/2011/Joan_Holloway/Joan_Holloway_red_dress.jpg

I'm certain that a significant percentage of the male viewers of Mad Men will watch the show for actress Christina Hendricks. ;)
 
  • #8
zoobyshoe said:
I don't watch this show so I probably shouldn't comment at all. However, I think I can say that whether or not a depiction of negative behavior is a veiled celebration of that behavior depends on the attitude you pick up from the unseen, and un-refered to, observer through whose eyes you are watching. That observer is all-seeing. It can look at any aspect of any of the character's lives, and it pretends to be neutral, but actually isn't. It is always functioning not just as observer but as editor. It makes choices about what to show you, where you should focus, and what to pay attention to. The cumulative effect of all those choices is what ultimately counts, and it can take some time before you start to see where this observer is leading you.

Take Raging Bull and the Rocky movies. The attitude of 'the observer' in those films towards boxing is radically different. Raging Bull adds slowly up to being an anti-boxing film while the Rocky movies present boxing as a perfectly OK kind of activity.

Are you saying Russ's disgust in the misogyny was probably intentionally manufactured by the director/writer/actors?
 
  • #9
Pythagorean said:
Are you saying Russ's disgust in the misogyny was probably intentionally manufactured by the director/writer/actors?

I agree with this. The misogyny is overblown early on but things change pretty rapidly as it is set starting in the 60s. I marvel at how well the show depicts things like furniture and knick knacks (sp?).

I like it. There is no doubt people pay a price for their misdeeds. And there is CH...
 
  • #10
Pythagorean said:
Are you saying Russ's disgust in the misogyny was probably intentionally manufactured by the director/writer/actors?
No. I'm saying the 'author's' attitude toward the characters can take a while to become clear. Case in point: A Clockwork Orange. Kubrick understands Alex, but does he approve of Alex? Does that movie add up to a recommendation of that lifestyle?

So, what I'm saying to Russ is that, even though the 'author' is not inserting a big sign every 10 minutes saying, "This is a bad lifestyle! Do NOT try this lifestyle at home!", the apparent neutrality of the unseen observer through whose eyes you see the movie is belied by the sum attitude you end up with toward the characters.
 
  • #11
zoobyshoe said:
No. I'm saying the 'author's' attitude toward the characters can take a while to become clear. Case in point: A Clockwork Orange. Kubrick understands Alex, but does he approve of Alex? Does that movie add up to a recommendation of that lifestyle?

So, what I'm saying to Russ is that, even though the 'author' is not inserting a big sign every 10 minutes saying, "This is a bad lifestyle! Do NOT try this lifestyle at home!", the apparent neutrality of the unseen observer through whose eyes you see the movie is belied by the sum attitude you end up with toward the characters.

I haven't seen Madmen, but what I was suggesting was that the creative force made the misogyny excessive knowing that it would evoke feelings of distaste. I feel like Kubrick did it too with Alex. First Kubrick wants you to hate him, then feel sorry for him. There's a fiction book called The Physiognamy that employs a similar tactic on the main character.
 
  • #12
Pythagorean said:
... First Kubrick wants you to hate him, then feel sorry for him. There's a fiction book called The Physiognamy that employs a similar tactic on the main character.
:approve:
 
  • #13
Pythagorean said:
I haven't seen Madmen, but what I was suggesting was that the creative force made the misogyny excessive knowing that it would evoke feelings of distaste.
But, it's not clear in Russ' mind that he is expected to feel distaste, and therefore he can't understand the point of it. He questions whether or not this might actually be a celebration of misogyny and male boorishness. So, I'm saying the neutral 'observer" through whose eyes you see the story (the one whose apparently letting the madmen run mad, unchecked) invariably ends up not being neutral at all, but it can take a while to see how things are going to add up in the end. Every scene, every line, every shot ends up having been carefully chosen to lead you to some final overall picture.
 
  • #14
Thanks guys. Yes, I agree that good writing is supposed to manipulate you in how to feel about what is happening. It can be a fine line between reporting on an issue and glamorizing it -- and yes, perhaps being provocative before getting to the point is part of the early hook (if it doesn't turn you off).

Anyway, in ep9, Betty Draper reveals that she does, in fact, have a pulse and Peggy starts to use hers, so that's an improvement at least.
 
  • #15
After reading this thread a few days ago I've started bingewatching the series.
It started out kind of awkwardly, but the series has excellent pacing. I never feel like there's too much or too little happening. Every season feels pretty fresh.
 
  • #16
How far along are you?
 
  • #17
russ_watters said:
How far along are you?

Season 5
 
  • #18
Holy carp -- 5 seasons in a few days? Binge watching, indeed!

I've averaged about an episode a day for the past two weeks.
 
  • #19
I sort of, tune out after a while though. I'll have the show on while I do my homework and stuff.
 

What is misogyny and boorishness in "Mad Men"?

Misogyny refers to the hatred or contempt towards women, while boorishness refers to rude, insensitive, or uncultured behavior. In the context of "Mad Men", these terms describe the pervasive attitudes and behaviors towards women in the workplace and society during the 1960s.

How does "Mad Men" portray misogyny and boorishness?

"Mad Men" portrays misogyny and boorishness through the actions and attitudes of its male characters, who often objectify and belittle women, make sexist remarks, and dismiss their contributions. The show also highlights the limited opportunities and discrimination faced by women in the workplace during that time period.

What impact does misogyny and boorishness have on the characters in "Mad Men"?

Misogyny and boorishness have a profound impact on the female characters in "Mad Men", as they face constant discrimination, harassment, and objectification from their male colleagues. This often leads to feelings of powerlessness, self-doubt, and frustration. It also affects the male characters, who are constrained by societal expectations and often struggle with their own identity and behavior towards women.

Why is it important to address misogyny and boorishness in "Mad Men"?

Addressing misogyny and boorishness in "Mad Men" is crucial because it reflects the reality of the time period and also sheds light on the ongoing issues of sexism and gender inequality in our society. By examining these themes in the show, we can have a better understanding of how they still impact our culture and work towards creating a more equitable and inclusive society.

What other factors contribute to misogyny and boorishness in "Mad Men"?

While the show primarily focuses on the gender dynamics of the 1960s, there are other factors that contribute to misogyny and boorishness in "Mad Men". These include the hierarchical and competitive nature of the advertising industry, the pressure to conform to traditional gender roles, and the societal norms and expectations of the time.

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