Capital New York

berdachenyc commented on The very white poetry of 'Mad Men'

All your points are well taken and although I love this show I would be the first to say that for a show taking place in the 60's...it seems to utterly ignore the most important thing going on..i.e. the civil rights movement. I suppose Weiner might say that this is a reflection of how separate Whites and Blacks lived even in liberal New York in those days, and how the folks being portrayed really didnt feel affected by or take much interest in the experience of African Americans at the time. If that is so...then the experience of those left out should be portrayed in contrast. We never learn much about the long suffering house keeper. We catch only a glimpse of the few African Americans that appear on the show once in a great while. That said...I just can't resist to take you up on the challenge you posed: "It would be interesting to see what Quentin Tarantino, a product of multi-ethnic working class neighborhoods in L.A., would do behind the camera on a 'Mad Men' episode." I suspect it might go like this: Draper and Sterling pull up to a traffic light. They pull Extra-Large thick-shakes out of a Burger King bag, insert straws and continue an ongoing conversation. Camera views the interior of the car from the passenger's side, centered on Draper over Sterling left of frame. Draper: "I'm tellin' you, ten years and you'll be seeing these all over." Sterling: "No. No, I just don't see it. McDonald's maybe, but this place is really for - A car screeches around the corner. Shots fly out. Draper and Sterling duck as the driver's side window shatters. Sterling: "It's BBD&O!" Draper: "They call this a campaign? It lacks subtlety. It's devoid of human interpersonal warmth. Trust me--it won't sell." The camera, focused on Don, swings around him 180 degrees to reveal him from through the driver's side wiindow The previously unseen side of his face is now revealed to be bleeding profusely, riddled with bullet-holes to the point of being nearly unrecognizable. He continues to talk as if nothing were the matter: "Gentlemen, I propose we allow their campaign to fail on its own merrits, then introduce a counter offer complete with point-of-purchase merchandising..."

Posted on June 26th, 2012 12:35am