Don Draper and the Death of God

In a provocative and widely read essay in the recent New York Times Magazine, A.O. Scott argues that American popular culture is witnessing the death of the adult.

Characters like Tony Soprano and Mad Men's Don Draper are the last gasp of white, heterosexual make privilege. This is fine, argues Scott, as it indicates a more inclusive and tolerant society. However, "in doing away with patriarchal authority, we have also, perhaps unwittingly, killed off all the grown-ups." From Adam Sandler to The Hunger Games, superhero movies to video games, we now are ruled by an adolescent culture.