Olsonology

At first, it seems far from plausible, if not completely impossible. Who on this message-soaked earth would have so many jean-clad, tennis shoe-wearing creatives falling for the power suit this fall?

The answer? Donald Draper.

We’re two episodes into Mad Men Season 3 and many an OLSONite (or at least all three interviewed for this piece), was smitten at first glance with that silhouette in a '60s power suit endlessly falling against a backdrop of sky-scrapers reflecting lush, iconic advertising images from the era.

Impeccable beehives, mysterious trench coats and bright shades of lipstick. It has us hooked. But, why is Mad Men so much more magnetic than other shows that offer a similar aesthetic?

Obviously, because the stage on which the story unfolds is an ad agency—Sterling Cooper. But, it’s not really because we can relate as advertisers. It’s because we can’t. We all know that five drinks before noon and one illustrated board does not land a national account worth millions.

It’s entertaining because it has us daydreaming about a place we are working hard to imagine ourselves away from each day—the office. It’s not that we don’t want to be here. It’s that we need to envision the various communities in which our audiences live and work, like the grocery store (clean-up on aisle three), a bank (you’ve been approved) or an ice rink (will he go for the one-timer?).

It’s intriguing because it makes you grateful for what you have—a community all striving to achieve the same thing: to gather other communities. And, thankful for what you don’t have.

-Emalie Wichmann, Writer