Mad Men 05/08: Creatives vs artists

Ohimygod, did anyone notice this happened on the Monday following this episode? "Creative Week" is happening in New York right now, and in one of the panels a creative remarked: "I think creative people are interesting... I think creative departments are shit," prompting an ad exec to walk off the panel. Other quotes from the Gawker story include "one adult frat-boy" character saying "It comes down to understanding people... Steve and I were just rapping about this last night..." and another "creative" saying: "We think Brooklyn is a creative hub." Vomit in my mouth, stay out of my borough. (Sitting at my desk now, I just heard an interviewing art director quote a slogan at Creative Week: "all advertising is art, all art is advertising." Fuck you, not true.)

But this is oddly appropriate timing for this week/this episode considering we see Megan leave the creative industry for the artistic one. And we see the backlash.

1.) Oh Peggy. I understand her rage. She has worked so hard to get where she is. She sees herself as having paved the way for Megan, and Megan ungratefully rejects it. And Stan is right when he says a job in advertising sucks when you start to think about it, especially when you put in extra hours to sell w**** Heinz baked beans. Maybe Megan's move is making Peggy question how successful she's really been and what she actually wants from life. 

2.) And Don. Don realizes he is not as awesome as he once thought he once was. Megan's youth reminds him he is old. Her talent makes him feel inadequate. Her higher culture pursuits make him feel like a philistine. He doesn't appreciate the Beatles as much as he does jingles. But does he care? He was proud belittling Midge's beat friend, bragging about his fortune. I think this is a question MM is answering this season.

So, at first I was angry at Megan for taking the easy route. But now I don't think I'm angry as much as I am jealous. I often write about Millenials and their love for this show. Something I've been noticing among my peers (at least the artist, non-creative types in Brooklyn) is that we call bullshit on white collar jobs. Most people are like the Adams from Girls, we all secretly want to be carpenters. We ride bikes; we grow tomatoes. Success in business is not our primary goal (like in is Don's). We want contentment, happiness, things that come from achieving something tangible. Right now my life is Megan's. I'm a 26-year-old receptionist at an advertising company, working full days and fitting in my artistic pursuits on the side. If I weren't supporting myself, I might would make the same decision.

**No offense to any advertisers. I love my job. Just don't confuse music with jingles.

Some more observations:

Loved that a man eye-fucked Don. Is this the first time this has happened? Does he even notice?

Also! Can I point out that we haven't seen/heard from Betty this season after that godawful episode "Tea Leaves?" Why did we waste an episode on her?

Oh, and this blog is quickly becoming my favorite review of MM over Slate's.