Our online editor, Tim Reidy, and I are currently battling for supremacy in the contest of who is the bigger "Mad Men" fan. Here we are on this week's podcast talking about the philosophical and theological underpinnings of the hit AMC show--not to mention the hidden meanings in its name (how many ways does "Mad" describe the characters); whether the talented Don Draper and Peggy Olsen will ever find a rest for their restless hearts; why Betty seems so full of sadness and longing; and how the coming social changes that will soon entirely upend the world of Sterling Cooper. (Along the way Tim and I manage to discuss Jean-Paul Sartre, Charles Dickens, Flannery O'Connor, Richard Yates, Betty Friedan and St. Augustine!) And if you've never seen the show, it's a good way to introduce yourself to the last few seasons, without having to buy the first and second season DVDs. Spoiler alert: next week the Culture section will feature a piece by Fr. Terrance W. Klein, associate professor at Fordham, who uses Flannery O'Connor's stories and novels as a way of unlocking some of the underlying themes of "Mad Men."
Mad about "Mad Men"
Show Comments ()
1
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
14 years 9 months ago
It's common knowledge that the priest played by Tom Hanks' son is a Jesuit, right? My wife and I are just catching up on this excellent show and we noticed the S.J. after the priest's name on the parish bulletin in the first episode in which he appears. Very cool!
The latest from america
The lie that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute persisted for centuries. A new play reclaims her story.
"Magdalene: I am the utterance of my name" is advocating for setting the record straight on one of Christianity’s most vital disciples.
This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley struggle to resist the temptation to “type” each other as they learn about the Enneagram from Liz Orr, author of “The Unfiltered Enneagram: A Witty and Wise Guide to Self-Compassion.”
Keeping President Biden on the ballot is like telling voters: “Trust us. Don’t believe your eyes and ears.”
Many watching last night’s debate wondered if this was the end for Joe Biden. But I could not help but wonder if this was the end of presidential debates.