I also think about that line alot and my take is that Megan's mum is largely speaking to herself, like a lot of MM characters do. She's very funny and charming, but we never get any grasp on what she stands for or actually does, apart from being very (Quebecois) French. I almost feel like her husband is the foil - a complete and total nonce but is at least working towards something he believes in, however silly it may be.
It is easy to get sucked into self-doubts about lacking as an artist, but I always think about Freddie's great line that's the meat of the art life: "Do the work, Don."
such a great read! i've always loved megan. i first watched mad men as a college student and at the time i thought catching the attention of a man like don draper just by waxing poetic about cold cream was the most glamorous thing i'd ever seen.
I fell in love with her when she told Sally, “I fall down all the time.” She was being so humble and kind, giving Sally the grace and understanding that Betty never could.
It’s a killer line that’s a guided black-tipped arrow to every creative person’s soft underbelly. But ain’t no person ever made anything new without that feeling of “What if this/me/all of it isn’t any damn good and ain’t worth a damn?” Wanting is somehow as good as making. At least I hope it is.
I, too, have thought about this line too much since first hearing it (I have a Substack but I don't write :\). Ultimate Megan's mom is a much cooler character than Megan is, and I think the writers didn't do enough for her. She shined when she practiced her commercial skit with Don- they were perfect and so cute! It made me believe in their love! But otherwise her character felt hollow, just a plot device that kept coming back. At least she got to divorce Don and move to California.
This definitely took me down memory lane of some Mad Men moments I had forgotten (and made me chuckle). Such a great show - Currently watching Your Friends and Neighbours for the gap Jon Hamm left in my life!
There so little fiction or other writing dedicated directly to the author or artist who try everything and fail. There’s Orwell’s Keep the Aspidistra Flying and Bellow’s Seize the Day and maybe that’s enough for something so devastating. Or maybe that’s why we address it metaphorically. It’s one more thing we can heap upon Moby Dick: he’s not a whale, he’s an audience that doesn’t want Ahab.
I think about this line all the time. From just your title, subtitle and image I assumed you were referencing the artistic temperament moment. Glad I’m not the only one who is semi-haunted by this
I know acting was her dream… but she was good at advertising. Her characters shined the most during the Heinz Beans pitch!! I think when she gave up on advertising, Don, in turn, gave up on her.
It does not matter if you are untalented. It does not matter if you are not recognized or successful. If you think you are an artist, if you create, you are one.
Enjoy your passions. Some of the most talented artists throughout history starved and died unrecognized. External validation is irrelevant.
I’m convinced Jessica Pare got her role in the show—just like Megan does—through her family network (her dad’s in the business and she has barely worked and never in anything half as good as Mad Men). So I wonder if Jessica came first and then Megan’s whole character—especially as an untalented non-artist—was actually inspired by the actress.
Glad to see there is another Megan appreciater.
I also think about that line alot and my take is that Megan's mum is largely speaking to herself, like a lot of MM characters do. She's very funny and charming, but we never get any grasp on what she stands for or actually does, apart from being very (Quebecois) French. I almost feel like her husband is the foil - a complete and total nonce but is at least working towards something he believes in, however silly it may be.
It is easy to get sucked into self-doubts about lacking as an artist, but I always think about Freddie's great line that's the meat of the art life: "Do the work, Don."
I love that reading on Megan's mom — hadn't considered that, but it adds a great layer.
Jessica Pare walked so Aimee Lou Wood could run.
such a great read! i've always loved megan. i first watched mad men as a college student and at the time i thought catching the attention of a man like don draper just by waxing poetic about cold cream was the most glamorous thing i'd ever seen.
Thank you for reading! I would have loved to see her being a lowkey copywriting genius more often
I fell in love with her when she told Sally, “I fall down all the time.” She was being so humble and kind, giving Sally the grace and understanding that Betty never could.
Team Megan! Betty was too much like my own mother. At least Megan was out there trying to live her dream.
It’s a killer line that’s a guided black-tipped arrow to every creative person’s soft underbelly. But ain’t no person ever made anything new without that feeling of “What if this/me/all of it isn’t any damn good and ain’t worth a damn?” Wanting is somehow as good as making. At least I hope it is.
I, too, have thought about this line too much since first hearing it (I have a Substack but I don't write :\). Ultimate Megan's mom is a much cooler character than Megan is, and I think the writers didn't do enough for her. She shined when she practiced her commercial skit with Don- they were perfect and so cute! It made me believe in their love! But otherwise her character felt hollow, just a plot device that kept coming back. At least she got to divorce Don and move to California.
This definitely took me down memory lane of some Mad Men moments I had forgotten (and made me chuckle). Such a great show - Currently watching Your Friends and Neighbours for the gap Jon Hamm left in my life!
I need to watch!
This was wonderful to read as someone who secretly always related to Megan. That line is a gut punch. Thank you for this. ❤️
There so little fiction or other writing dedicated directly to the author or artist who try everything and fail. There’s Orwell’s Keep the Aspidistra Flying and Bellow’s Seize the Day and maybe that’s enough for something so devastating. Or maybe that’s why we address it metaphorically. It’s one more thing we can heap upon Moby Dick: he’s not a whale, he’s an audience that doesn’t want Ahab.
Ahab’s poetry fails on almost every level. He rhymes ‘sin’ with ‘grim.’
lol as I read the sentence prior, I legitimately thought “could be confused to mean you’re saying Don also banged Roger.” Got me!
Sometimes, your fingers type what you're thinking before you think it, lol
Agree: I’ve always liked her. And your writing, for that matter.
Thanks so much for reading, Christian!
I think about this line all the time. From just your title, subtitle and image I assumed you were referencing the artistic temperament moment. Glad I’m not the only one who is semi-haunted by this
Oh my god I think about this line from the show all the time too!!!!
I know acting was her dream… but she was good at advertising. Her characters shined the most during the Heinz Beans pitch!! I think when she gave up on advertising, Don, in turn, gave up on her.
It does not matter if you are untalented. It does not matter if you are not recognized or successful. If you think you are an artist, if you create, you are one.
Enjoy your passions. Some of the most talented artists throughout history starved and died unrecognized. External validation is irrelevant.
I’m convinced Jessica Pare got her role in the show—just like Megan does—through her family network (her dad’s in the business and she has barely worked and never in anything half as good as Mad Men). So I wonder if Jessica came first and then Megan’s whole character—especially as an untalented non-artist—was actually inspired by the actress.