Comments on: Mad Men or Why Americans Hate Themselves http://www.grantedglory.com/archives/487 esteeming glory above peace Sat, 19 Mar 2011 06:06:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: justin http://www.grantedglory.com/archives/487/comment-page-1#comment-1149 justin Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:49:27 +0000 http://www.grantedglory.com/?p=487#comment-1149 @Heather: Ken is, indeed, quite satisfied (other than the insatiable sexual appetite that dominates the office; and even that seems to be just fun for him, unlike most of the others). Indeed, his role on the show seems to be pure antagonist—usually for Pete. When has Ken mattered to the show? 1) Published in <i>Atlantic</i>. 2) Making more than Crane. 3) Appointed co-head of accounts. Altogether good, inadvertently causing others pain. He exists to happily antagonize. As your recommended <a href="http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Alan Sepinwall</a> (I'll link him, but I can't add any TV critics other than you to my reading list.) would seem to suggest. And, don't be misled—despite my lack of being overly-impressed, I have watched every episode available on Youku (they seem a few weeks behind). @Heather: Ken is, indeed, quite satisfied (other than the insatiable sexual appetite that dominates the office; and even that seems to be just fun for him, unlike most of the others). Indeed, his role on the show seems to be pure antagonist—usually for Pete. When has Ken mattered to the show? 1) Published in Atlantic. 2) Making more than Crane. 3) Appointed co-head of accounts. Altogether good, inadvertently causing others pain. He exists to happily antagonize. As your recommended Alan Sepinwall (I’ll link him, but I can’t add any TV critics other than you to my reading list.) would seem to suggest. And, don’t be misled—despite my lack of being overly-impressed, I have watched every episode available on Youku (they seem a few weeks behind).

]]> By: Heather http://www.grantedglory.com/archives/487/comment-page-1#comment-1147 Heather Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:37:52 +0000 http://www.grantedglory.com/?p=487#comment-1147 I'm sorry your exposure to Mad Men wasn't of the mind-blowing variety; however, I hope it at least provided a bit of distraction from your illness-induced agony. Goodness knows I've harped enough about why *I* love the show; I think we have some common ground in the aesthetics of it. Your archetype comparisons are certainly apt. I'd like to posit Ken Cosgrove as our best candidate for "satsfied character." A recent article by TV critic Alan Sepinwall (whose excellent blog I would also recommend) suggests that we see so little of Ken precisely BECAUSE he's happy...and happiness doesn't make for much on this show. His recent promotion aside, things seemed to have worked out pretty well for him, eh? At any rate, I won't argue the voyeuristic thrills viewers like me get from the show. I'll never be half as glamorous as Betty, as self-assured as Joan, as successful as Don. But by watching them, I can live vicariously as the trophy wife, office sexpot, or executive. Just as good, with less booze and STD risk. I’m sorry your exposure to Mad Men wasn’t of the mind-blowing variety; however, I hope it at least provided a bit of distraction from your illness-induced agony.

Goodness knows I’ve harped enough about why *I* love the show; I think we have some common ground in the aesthetics of it. Your archetype comparisons are certainly apt.

I’d like to posit Ken Cosgrove as our best candidate for “satsfied character.” A recent article by TV critic Alan Sepinwall (whose excellent blog I would also recommend) suggests that we see so little of Ken precisely BECAUSE he’s happy…and happiness doesn’t make for much on this show. His recent promotion aside, things seemed to have worked out pretty well for him, eh?

At any rate, I won’t argue the voyeuristic thrills viewers like me get from the show. I’ll never be half as glamorous as Betty, as self-assured as Joan, as successful as Don. But by watching them, I can live vicariously as the trophy wife, office sexpot, or executive. Just as good, with less booze and STD risk.

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