Rewatching ‘Mad Men’ From the Outskirts
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- The author revisited "Mad Men" on HBO Max and reflects on the treatment of Carla, the Draper family's Black housekeeper, whose abrupt dismissal at the end of Season 4 highlights Betty's pettiness and advances Don's storyline.
- Carla serves as a key example of how "Mad Men" uses its Black characters more as narrative devices and moral symbols rather than fully developed individuals, which undermines the show's otherwise meticulous storytelling.
- Despite the show's detailed 1960s setting and cultural context during the civil rights movement, its portrayal of Black characters like Carla often resorts to stereotypes and objectification, revealing a reluctance to engage deeply with race issues.
- Carla is portrayed as a moral judge and silent observer of the Draper family's
