Can Mad Men Bring Sexy Back to Contracts?
I am late to the hit AMC series MadMenjust last week, I started watching the first season on DVD. I amenjoying the show, and tolerating the unrelenting misogyny as a representation of theperiod. That aside, the showdefinitely has an alluring and sexy aesthetic – partly attributable to theconstant smoking and cocktail drinking in well-tailored suits.
I’d love to bring some of this allure into the contracts classroom –without the sex, sexism, smoking and drinking. And, I just might be able to. I have it on reliable information that there is anemployment contract issue that arises as a sub-plot late in Season 2 and has carriedover to Season 3 of the show. Apparently the story line involves Don Draper refusing to sign anemployment contract because it contains a non-compete clause. When I heard this, I went from likingthe show to loving it.
But, this is as informative as my post can be – because I have not yetreached these episodes of the show. That is why I am asking those of you who read this blog and watch MadMen to explain in the comments the non-compete sub-plot and name the episodes in which it receives treatment. We willaddress non-competes in my class in a few weeks, and I am thinking I just mightbe able to bring sexy back to Contracts.
[Meredith R. Miller]