1-4, pg 175

1. Havrilesky's main insight about Mad Men is that the show, and its characters, reflect the discontent of the American public due to the birth of advertising. In the first three paragraphs, Heavrilesky discusses Americans constant need to have the next best thing, their dissatisfaction with what they have, and this caused unhappiness in the American public. She provides this background detail to set up her analysis of Mad Men. Specific passages that reflect this are, “…underscoring the disconnect between American dream and reality by distilling our deep-seated frustrations as a nation into painfully palpable vignettes.” (p. 171), “The ambition and conflicted desires of these characters in their pursuit of happiness is what makes Mad Men such a singular and resonant reflection of a particularly American puzzle.” (p. 174), and the last paragraph, especially “the birth of the advertising age coincides directly with the birth oh our discontent as a nation…” (p. 175).

2. The footnote says that Havrilesky is the television critic at Salon, so that gives her credibility. Her job is to critique television shows, so it is assumed that she is objective and educated on television. In the article, Havrilesky establishes authority to write about Mad Men and have people believe her by being informed about the show. Her summaries of the plots and the characters are clear, informed, and insightful. She also references the show’s creator, which gives her authority.

3. Havrilesky mostly appeals to the reader’s emotions in the opening three paragraphs when she is describing the Americans’ discontent. For example,  “It’s a sickness that’s infused in out blood, a dissatisfaction with the ordinary that’s instilled in us from childhood.”, “Slowly we come to view our own lives as inconsequential, grubby, even intolerable.” and “…millions of aspiring 3-year old princesses hum ‘Someday my prince will come!’”

4. I had not seen Mad Men before reading the essay, but having read it, yes I do understand the basic premise of the show-it follows an ad agency in 1960’s New York. Havrilesky did make me want watch the show a little bit because the way she described the characters was intriguing.