As I'm writing this, my tragically hip new "roommate" (the quotes are mostly there to emphasize the short time with which he and I will share this house) is moving in. Now, I've "met" him before, in passing mostly, but there's one thing that I cannot get over about him. Now, mind you, this is completely a superficial judgement, but it's something that has boiled up inside of me for some time now, and frankly, I can't take much more... Anyway, back to the subject at hand... My new "roommate" has one of those mustaches... you know, the creepy pedophile, Tom Selleck-circa-1986 mustaches. And, I dislike them. A lot. Why do I dislike them so? Probably because of the mouths they find themselves attached to... Traditionally, these mustaches find themselves on the faces of individuals who fancy themselves hip. So hip, in fact, that they feel it is necessary to be ANTI-hip, meaning, they counteract any semblance of decency, and go for borderline grotesque.
I don't know how many times I've seen these folks out and about, sporting vintage tees (often tank tops), and short shorts, along with their mustaches. They often have cut-offs (thankfully, not of the Never Nude label) and slip ons, and their hair is often windswept or just poorly cut. Again, all of this appears to be an attempt to be the exact opposite of appealing. I guess, maybe, I'm simply out of touch/whack/place, but if that were the case, I'd see this trend on more than just a select few, and certainly elsewhere besides the lovable city I call college home.
Anyway, this house I live in currently, seems to be like a bug light for people of this variety. Not long ago, our house was the famed "30 Minute Dance Party" house, and again, in an effort to appear more than awesome (?), several folks sporting these creepy mustaches would show up, dance awkwardly for 30 minutes, and then hang out, sweaty and repulsive outside on the front lawn. This lasted for about a year, which was long enough for me, because I sadly became rather annoyed with these shindigs, mostly because of the crowd they attracted: this dingy, creepy, anti-hip scenester crowd that was simply "too cool for school."
Anyway, long story short, I hate mustaches, of almost any variety. Tom Selleck can get away with one, because he's Thomas Magnum. He can pull off the short shorts, and the bushy mustache look. This trend was never meant for a revival, people. Certain things disappear for good for a reason, and sadly, the 80s is full of 'em.
I can only pray that this trend will end, like flared jeans and aviator sunglasses... In general, I dig the vintage aesthetic, specifically in regards to men's clothing (suits, in particular), but I draw the line at the things that require one to shop only at vintage clothing stores. Let's leave some things in the past, clothing included, but especially our facial hair.
For all those who disliked Hancock, or even for those who liked it, and can't understand why people like myself couldn't stand it, you should read this. But, if you haven't seen it, don't read it, as it's loaded with spoilery-bits. On the other hand, if you didn't see it because it looked dumb, then, rejoice knowing you have $8.50 more in your pocket book, and then read it...
So, here I go, once again pointing my blog-o-friends in the direction of some of my favorite media pieces, but alas, media is my life, my obsession and my passion, so that's what you get here at the Haberdashery, so deal with it.
If you haven't seen or heard of Mad Men, the brilliant drama on AMC, then I hope that this post will only encourage you to finally partake of the amazing piece of television.
The show's pedigree is unparalleled. The show's creator, Matthew Weiner, basically went from writing for and producing the most talked about, and critically praised shows of the new millennium, The Sopranos to creating the equally as subversive and brilliant Mad Men. As the story goes, Mr. Weiner's original pilot script for this show was what caught Sopranos exec producer David Chase eye, inspiring him to hire him on. While this little factoid has little bearing on whether or not the show is actually watchable, the good news is that Mr. Chase wasn't wrong in spotting a talent like Weiner, and now because of this, we have the privilege of experiencing Mad Men.
The show's setting is the 1960s world of Madison Avenue advertising, taking its title from a phrase coined at the time to describe these Ad Men, or Mad(ison) Men. Clever, yes, but the title also (naturally) refers to our mad men's state of mind, something that most certainly describes the "hero" of the show, Don Draper, played by relative unknown (to me, anyway) Jon Hamm. He's an unbelievably complex character, who never quite reveals his true colors to us, let alone those he loves. Hamm's nuanced performance is just one of the many highlights of the acting pool of this stellar cast. John Slattery who plays Don's boss, nails the cynicism of a man at the end of his rope, facing death head on, as well as coming to terms with his sad marital life. Christina Hendricks, known by many as Saphron from another fantastic piece of television, Firefly, plays the head secretary (her name escapes me). She too delivers week in and week out, and her fiery sexuality helps give the show an edge that is much more sensual than erotic. It's wonderfully appropriate, given the time period's infamous Puritanism, and she is a stellar example of the beginnings of a more sexually liberated woman.
What I find the most fascinating about the show is that its period setting does not necessarily lend itself to be seen as quaint or as a nice way for the elderly to remember a bygone era. Instead, Weiner picked a time when America was changing fast. The show's first season was peppered with references to the Nixon/Kennedy election, and season 2 begins well into Kennedy's administration. This youthful president was the beginning of dramatic shift in consumer culture, where the emphasis of many people's ad campaigns became the youth of America. Women also were on the cusp of moving past the house-wife tendencies of the 1950s and into a more independent realm. The mousy character played by Elisabeth Moss is a fine example of both how men treated women, but also how women were able to rise above. The conflict in Vietnam lay on the horizon, and that pre-existing knowledge affects the show's eerie atmosphere, as most of us realize the modern gloss of this swank ad agency will soon become superfluous fluff in contrast to the war. All in all, the 1960s was a time when the façade of the 50s was beginning to fade. The gilded men of Sterling Cooper (the ad agency of the show) are beginning to show their true forms, something that society had let settle below the surface for so long. This a group of people who will become the most affected by the change to come, as it'll signal the end of the world they have come to inhabit, and this fact lends to the show's ever-present melancholy.
On a lighter note, the production design and the overall look of the show is impeccable. I cannot get enough of the show's opening credits, as well as the set design. As simple as it may seem to decorate and costume a period drama, for some reason, this stands above the rest as just having that vintage, 1960s feel, without feeling like a set. The actors feel right for the location and the time, and one never get's the sense that we're seeing modern players playing dress up.
I've included an embeded portion of the show's season 2 premiere. Don't worry about it spoiling season one, as there's very little revealed in these first minutes that'll really affect your viewing of the first season. If you are serious about waiting, then at least check out the opening credits, and then the first few minutes or so. Spectacular work.
The show is nominated for a butt-load of Emmy's, and frankly, despite my unabashed love for Lost, I can't help but hope that Mad Men takes it this year. Watch the clip below. Bask in it. Savor it. It's pretty fantastic.
CLOSAT is an acronym. It stands for: C - Character L - Location O - Object S - Situation A - Action T - Theme
Once upon a time, Michael Rabiger introduced students to the notion of CLOSAT. CLOSAT is a story writing method, with which one can create a simple story with all of the essential elements.
