Mad Men

I bought the first season of Mad Men yesterday. The show is brilliant from the writing to costume/set design and period recreation. I also enjoy the historical context and references to social issues that were prominent around mid-century America. The advertisements discussed on the show, are often real, such as the "It's Toasted" coined phrase for Lucky Strike cigarettes. We learn that the world of advertising gives viewers/listeners what Don Draper says all people want: "to be happy" and reassured that "what they are doing is right". This is often a mask for the real underbelly of daily life as it is explored throughout the show.