Your Mad Men Quote of the Week -- "You're doing this job"

I was so unimpressed with last week's episode that I could not even find a quote to pull. The two bright spots (Joan firing an incompetent secretary and the Don/Lane New Years romps) didn't give me anything to work with. Luckily for all of you there are two quotes this week.

First, Pete Campbell buries the hatchet with his old rival Ken Cosgrove over lunch. After clearing the air, Ken tells Pete that the purchase of the old Sterling Cooper by McCann did not go well. Ken calls McCann "The worst agency I have ever seen...the WORST", a phrase likely gets uttered these days as well (not hatin', just sayin'). They trade happy family news and commiserate in a way that only two Account guys can:

Ken: New family, new agency. Has to be exciting.

Pete: Well, you know...where ever you do this job, you're doing this job.

Ken: You're all slaves to Draper over there, but I'd rather be a slave to Creative than some old fart. Whoever pours the last drink gets all the credit and your spinning your wheels half the time.

There are two brilliant statements in this exchange. The first is Pete's proclamation that the job is the job is the job. You do it one place or another, and you meet the same challenges. The second is Ken's lament that its better to be beholden to the whims of Creative than big Agency Executives.

Here's a little insight about us Account folks. We are creative thinkers, in that we can find creative ways to negotiate and solve problems, but we are not "Creatives" in that we don't write or draw or make the work. But, we like to be around creative people which is why we work in advertising.

Speaking of insights, at the end of the hour we find Don having a show down with Market Researcher/Focus Group Moderator Dr. Faye Miller. After holding a focus group of SCDP's "girls",she reports that Don's creative hypothesis was not proven and they need to change creative direction:

Draper: I'm not going to do that...so what are we going to tell the client?

Miller: I can't change the truth.

Draper: How do you know that's the truth? A new idea is something they don't know yet so of course it's not going to come up as an option. Put my campaign on TV for a year then hold your group again and maybe it will show up.

Miller: Well I tried everything. I said routine, I tried ritual...all they care about is a husband. You were there, I'll show you the transcripts.

Draper: You can't tell how people are going to behave based on how they have behaved.

Miller: Why are you being so obnoxious. Do you think I haven't had this argument before?

Draper: Because you go in there and you stick you finger in people's brain and they just start talking "blah, blah, blah" just to be heard. And you know what? Not only does it have nothing to with what I do, but its nobody's business.  

Wow. There is so much going on here its hard to start. You've got the conflict between Market Research and Creative, those who try to measure opinion and those who try to change it. The real gem is Don's assertion that he does not need to listen to consumers and their opinions are no ones business.

This week's episode has been evaluated as the old school mindset coming in conflict with the new way of thinking, setting up the inevitable culture clash of the late 60s. Don has no interest is listening to the opinions of "a room full of 22 year old girls" because he knows what they want more than they do. I can only imagine what poor Don would have thought of Twitter. 

Comments

[Alex]

Here's a little insight about us Account folks. We are creative thinkers, in that we can find creative ways to negotiate and solve problems, but we are not "Creatives" in that we don't write or draw or make the work. But, we like to be around creative people which is why we work in advertising.








This basically describes why I work in video game production. I don't code or draw or design the games, but I like to be around the people who do and I can find creative ways to negotiate and solve problems. :)

[FAU]

I think its why a lot of people are in the "support" roles for the entertainment industry. Talent agents in the film and music industry for example. The energy of the "creatives" is great to be around. And you and I are both "creative" people in that we act or build and have these outlets, but its fun to work in industries that are driven by creatives.