The best show on advertising you probably aren’t watching
by Randall McCarley
August 31st, 2007
What you call love was invented by guys like me… to sell nylons
If you want a surreal education on what advertising is really about and what works you should be watching AMC’s drama Mad Men.
Mad Men is about the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency of the 1960’s Madison Avenue set. These are the people that made smoking and alcohol consumption a cultural phenomenon. Ego and the art of the sale are what are important - surface over substance. These are the trend makers. The captains of their craft.
Ethics don’t count. Sexual harassment is the norm… everywhere. So is racism. Pregnant women smoke 2 packs a day and drinking large amounts of alcohol.
And that is just the backdrop.
There are personal issues and story-lines. Intrigue. An all-star cast. And even though the pacing is a bit slow Mad Men is being hailed by critics as “the best new television drama”. But who cares about all that when you can learn about advertising the way it was when it worked?
The insight into the industry is amazing. Advertising is about making people feel that they are ok. You are ok to smoke Lucky Strikes because “they’re toasted”.
The culture of 1960 is shocking to my modern sensibilities. This show is in-your-face with how the ad world worked at it’s peak and its influence over the rest of the US. It’s dark and driven and seemingly accurate from what I’ve read.
The show is good. The education is unbeatable. And you can learn more about it at the official Mad Men website.
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