1. It uncovers 'mystical' or mysterious truths of life.
2. It 'pedagogically' teaches us how to live fruitful and prosperous lives.
3. It makes us 'sociologically' aware of others.
4. It acknowledges the 'cosmological' questions and paradoxes which we can never fully understand.
Mythology is a testament to the human condition told through stories. As with all stories, myths have characters, archetypes, themes, symbolism, settings, and truth. But the truth of mythology does not exist within the profane realm. Myths are stories, that didn't necessarily occur, but help us live a life of meaning.
Santa Claus is one of the world's greatest myths. Every year on Christmas Eve parents around the world tell their children a fat man is going to land on the roof and deliver presents. As the kids age, they start to question the validity of Santa's gift-giving spree that happens every year on a really cold night. Many parents tell their children that Santa was a fake and that they lied to them, and it makes them sad. Although I don't have kids, I would tell children that although the story of Santa's sleigh isn't necessarily true, it doesn't mean it's not truthful.
Santa Claus comes only once a year and he makes everyone happy, and generous, and he spreads a lot of cheer. Santa brings with him the joy of the Christmas season.
So what does any of this have to do with Mad Men?
Mad Men is a very rich, complex accumulation of characters in a TV drama that dances effortlessly between several layers of story line. When analyzed as myth, the drama unleashes truth through mannerisms and tone of speech. Maybe we can't have a drink with Don himself (although we'd all like to), but we can watch his suave character transform based on his context. We see him make the same mistakes again and again, but we don't want to change him for it. We're along for the ride with the protagonist; the hero.
It teaches the 'mystical' secrets of living in a time where "the bomb" could drop any minute, and there may be no tomorrow. Don teaches his associates how to live, write, and prosper by being the best at all of those things and leading by example. Don's platonic and sexual relationships give us sociological perspective on our own relationships. Finally, Mad Men teaches through a cosmological function which establishes the niches of archetypal characters, to illustrate where each piece and person fits in the universe.
Joseph Campbell also said that every myth that has ever been written is true... for a certain context. "If we give truth a contemporary medium, we too can have myth."
Writers of myth speak in a vocabulary of acts and adventures. Mad Men is one compilation of acts and adventures that illustrates a dynamic cast of characters in a fascinating time period. The wisdom that is delicately sown into the script can help illustrate a plethora of humanity's truths, while keeping us on the edge of our seat with passionate dialogue. My hope is this blog will help share ideas and create discussion about the deep layers within AMC's Mad Men.
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