posted by perich on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 7:00am
In a sense, this show doesn’t belong here.
Overthinking It proclaims its niche as “subjecting popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn’t deserve.” Matthew Weiner’s Mad Mendefinitely deserves scrutiny. (We’ve already got some here, in a special podcast supplement.) Everything, from its stylistic choices to its minimalist presentation to its historical grounding, communicates meaning on multiple levels.
(In fact, I wonder if there’s an audience out there that underthinks this show, that just takes it at face value. “Gee, Joan sure seems unhappy with her husband. I wonder why she doesn’t just leave him?” Ah, well. I’m glad you’re not one of those lightweights. Good thing we’re deep intellectuals, eh, Overthinking It readers? *clinks martini glass*)
Several quality weblogs exist to recap and delve into the references sprinkled throughout each episode. We won’t be challenging that hill. But now that season 3 of the most intriguing show on television has wrapped, with this past Sunday’s season finale, we can delve into the season, and the series, as a whole.
So shut the door, have a seat, and settle in for some Overthink.
(Warning: the following post will contain substantial spoilers for Season 3 of Mad Men)
posted by Matthew Wrather on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 4:09am
In a special supplement to the Overthinking It Podcast, Matthew Belinkie, Ryan Sheely, and Matthew Wrather overthink Mad Men in light of the Season 3 Finale. (Spoilers for all 3 seasons.)
Tell us what you think! Leave a comment, use the contact form, email us or call 20-EAT-LOG-01—that’s (203) 285-6401.
posted by sheely on Monday, February 2nd, 2009 at 10:08pm
One of the videos that made it into our Super Bowl ad roundup was the Conan O’Brien ad for Bud Light, in which his agent/manager/ambiguous guy in a suit convinces him to make an embarrassing Bud Light Ad by assuring him that it will “only be seen in Sweden”.
The message of this spot seems to be “Drink Bud Light because it is a beer for awesome-non-Eurotrash-American Dudes!” In the world of the commercial, the only way that the effete Swedes could be convinced to drink Bud Light is with fire, mesh tops, and cheesy techno. But does anyone really still hold this view of Europeans?
