I really enjoyed the Mad Men examples that were mentioned in class when we were first introducing hegemony and ideology. Through the tv show, which has won Best Drama THREE years in a row, we see both terms in action. In his article, James Lull defines hegemony as “the power that one social group holds over others.” Using this definition, I have a better understanding of the behavior of certain characters within the AMC show. Hegemony is what makes characters/viewers praise the lead protagonist, Donald Draper. The men of the office have hegemony over the women.
Watching the show, we see the interaction between the men. They stick together, joke, laugh, drink, and work together. It is almost like a huge “bromance” going in within the office. But, we also see the men of Madison Avenue and their obvious oppression of women. Within the office, the women are all secretaries and most importantly, eye candy. For example throughout the first season, characters often made speculations about how a female character got the job as Donald Draper’s secretary (they all assumed that she slept with him). And the men praised him for it. Don Draper is envied and lots of men within the office wish they were him. Draper has it all: the job, the reputation, the gorgeous wife and children, etc. Because the men see his life, they think they should all have similar lifestyles. The men think that Draper is the “top dog,” and that all men should be like him. The men have the mentality that not staying faithful to your wife earns you a high five within the office, simply because they see Draper doing it. Some men see this, and even have affairs with secretaries from their office.
“The capacity of the ruling group that enables it to maintain its power and reinforce its ideology.” In class we used this as the definition of hegemony. So to break it down: the “ruling group” is the men of Madison Avenue with the “capacity” being their mentality that they should all be Don Draper and live by his morals and standards (regardless if they are just or unjust). They think the “ideology” they should be upholding is the fact that they rule the world with women just being a side show. The way to uphold this ideology is through the “power” of their oppression to women.
I am posting a link to the first season trailer of Mad Men, just within the first few minutes you see wandering eyes and sexual comments from the guys directed to the women of the office. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfuMhXcLa-Q
Watching the show, we see the interaction between the men. They stick together, joke, laugh, drink, and work together. It is almost like a huge “bromance” going in within the office. But, we also see the men of Madison Avenue and their obvious oppression of women. Within the office, the women are all secretaries and most importantly, eye candy. For example throughout the first season, characters often made speculations about how a female character got the job as Donald Draper’s secretary (they all assumed that she slept with him). And the men praised him for it. Don Draper is envied and lots of men within the office wish they were him. Draper has it all: the job, the reputation, the gorgeous wife and children, etc. Because the men see his life, they think they should all have similar lifestyles. The men think that Draper is the “top dog,” and that all men should be like him. The men have the mentality that not staying faithful to your wife earns you a high five within the office, simply because they see Draper doing it. Some men see this, and even have affairs with secretaries from their office.
“The capacity of the ruling group that enables it to maintain its power and reinforce its ideology.” In class we used this as the definition of hegemony. So to break it down: the “ruling group” is the men of Madison Avenue with the “capacity” being their mentality that they should all be Don Draper and live by his morals and standards (regardless if they are just or unjust). They think the “ideology” they should be upholding is the fact that they rule the world with women just being a side show. The way to uphold this ideology is through the “power” of their oppression to women.
I am posting a link to the first season trailer of Mad Men, just within the first few minutes you see wandering eyes and sexual comments from the guys directed to the women of the office. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfuMhXcLa-Q
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