Blog Post #1 Eng 100

by Yasamin Aftahi Title: Mad Men Watch: Open Your Mouth and Say Ennui Author: James Poniewozik Source: Time Entertainment This review presents two components scattered throughout its body; recapping the major events in the plotline of season five of Mad Men, and spelling out the possible meanings that creator Matthew Weiner embedded between the lines of his script. Without chronologically listing the events, Poniewozik pieces together an outline of what is imperative for one to take away from season five. I chose this review because I found it to be a fine example of a more creative form of review. The author sews together the obvious scenes and plotlines with Weiner's infamous abundance of non-literal meanings. With a show like Mad Men, it takes a lot of active analyzing of the symbolism to discover the universal themes and motives of the characters, and this review served as a detailed supplement to watching the show. For example, he singles out the symbolism behind Don's toothache: "He opens the episode rubbing whiskey on a toothache. For he is suffering from decay!". Thoughtful observations like this lend the review texture and depth, and allows it to be more purposeful than a mere list of major events in the plotline. Poniewozik also connects the actions and situations of the characters to universal themes, like tension between genders in the work place. He alludes to the dynamic shift as women began to hold more power in the business world by point out that "Much of the Season 5 story at the Draper household has been Don’s dealing with the possibility of having a wife who is his equal". He goes on to describe Don's first time experiencing a relationship in which he does not hold the most power, and his struggle to adjust to this shocking, new dynamic. Addressing the bigger issues behind the arguments that Don has with his wife gives the reader some context with which they can broaden their understanding of the show. One specific thing I love about the writing is the way that the author casts a shadow of very human darkness over the piece, without using any directly morbid vernacular. One of the most powerful tools that a writer uses is the ability to tell it like it is, and expose the naked truth about the human condition in their words. As a reviewer, it is clear that Poniewosik is invested in finding a way to persuade his reader that the plotlines of Mad Men can offer more than just good Sunday night TV. He dissects the entire season, unfolding it conveniently, so that the reader may walk away with a deeper understanding of the world around them. Through this, one may view his piece as real writing and not just a traditional television review. This is strongly exemplified in his ending paragraph: " What I like best about the closer is that it leaves us in peace to take it all in, as a woman asks Don Draper, “Are you alone?,” and he gives her the look, cutting away moments before the response that Season 5 has invited us to imagine. Aren’t we all? His writing offers a chance to open the minds of his readers to see more than meets the eye, by way of watching Mad Men. When writing my own review, I would emulate many of the characteristics that I mentioned. I would tie in universal themes and non-literal meanings when breaking down the general plotline. I would treat the review with the same amount of tenderness and humanity, employing rich vocabulary and creative sentence structure. I would give me readers a reason to believe that what I am reviewing is somehow important on a larger scale, and would use my words to move them the same way that Poniewozik's review moved me. Mad Men is one of my favorite TV shows of all time, and that is saying a lot considering how many shows I have personally invested myself in over the years. Mad Men is a journey, full of symbolism and broader meaning. When you watch it you escape into this world that uses the characters as puppets to portray the gritty, messy, and utterly human nature of life itself. Each character, even the ones that seem so minutely involved in the clockwork of the show itself, presents a rich and complex storyline and by the time you are hooked onto the show you find that they each mean something very different to you. Watching this show will help you escape, but it also represents the reality of reality: there is no escaping. We all have to find a way to wade through the mud before we can hold the Sun in our hands.