Mad Men (AMC, 2007-2015): story, discourse and key ideas

Abstract

This article approaches the television series Mad Men (2007-2015) by scriptwriter, director, and producer Matthew Weiner. First, it sees the story as a discourse and an event. It analyzes the narrative voice, that is who narrates and what does he narrate, as well as the aspects related to the reception, to whom or what he narrates; that means, particularly, the narrative features which emphasize the construction of the gaze. Second, the work envisions three key ideas that highlight, to a certain extend, the organization of the represented world. These three key ideas are: prostitution as an identifying and corporative brand, maternity as an obstacle, and women as male discourse. Although this article can be read as a standalone piece of work, it has been written as a continuation of previous essays about the spatial and temporary construction of the series, and the shape of the story as a whole