It’s only fair, right? Isn’t it time to examine my own side of the gender gap? So what makes a woman tick? Weird science Now why is it that when I set myself the task of elaborating on what makes a woman a woman, the first word that popped into my mind was biology. And […]
Letters, Writ Small, for Nathalie Sarraute
Nathalie Sarraute was one of the initiators of the nouveaux romans genre of novel-writing, a style that shuns the use of traditional narrative techniques, such as plot structure, characters, and setting. Instead, Sarraute and other practitioners of the “new novel” focus on presenting precise, objective narratives that are often episodic in nature and call upon […]
Mad Men Moves Us… to Tomorrowland: Season 4 Finale
Was Mad Men’s Season 4 Finale a fitting close to a spectacular season? You bet. And one that moved us quickly through the growing pains of the new business, and the renewed lives of the characters we love. Some managed to uncover new versions of themselves, or as Don might say, at least they’re trying. […]
Mad Men: Sand, Sex, and Chinks in the Chinese Wall
A touch of sand It’s just an innocent ride home from Jones Beach, right? A little bit of sand clinging to Peggy’s skin. A crowded car. Peggy is jammed onto Abe’s lap as he strokes her arm, brushing off the sand. Is that sunburn on her face, or the undeniable color of chemistry? Right. They […]
Mixing My Martini, Musing on My Mad Men. . .
What day of the week is it across the country? Mad Men Day, of course. And while it isn’t quite evening yet, it’s approaching cocktail hour in my neck of the woods. Why not get a jump on the festivities? I’ve had a productive weekend, albeit sans my favorite role as provocateur, or should I […]
Precarious Pairings: Mad Men Episode 10 (Hands and Knees)
A couple, embracing in a moment of intimacy. Both are seemingly on the same page, sure of their world, their judgments of others. Pete and Trudy share a moment. “Just remember. Everything’s good here,” she says, as her husband proudly rubs her pregnant belly. In an episode of Mad Men where our favorite characters find […]
The Inner World: Mad Men Seduces Us Again
Just when I think the mood, the storytelling, the performances, the surprise of it all can’t get any better – I am seduced. Again. Last evening’s Mad Men took on Don’s inner world – not through observation – but inner dialog, supplemented by various views of our hero as the summer of 1965 begins. Who […]
Mad Men Season 4 Episode 4: The Rejection
Mad Men continues to do what it does best, revealing characters in all their complexity. “The Rejection” is filled with nifty elements which seed future story lines as bad news transforms into opportunities for some, and drives others into deeper despair. Of course, we don’t yet know which paths our favorite characters will take as […]