Here I attach the iconic happiness monologue from the hit tv show, Mad Men, in relation to our conversation on consumerism, advertising, and art.
As expressed by the protagonist in this clip, much of advertising aims to give the public peace of mind over their decisions. I think here we can draw a line between art and advertising, because I perceive art as portraying a specific perspective on reality and exposing an underlying truth—regardless of your happiness. Although there is a certain level of manipulation in art, I don’t believe it’s trying to sell anything to its audience; rather, I think it aims to challenge its audience to think in a certain way.
