Sunday, June 23, 2013

THE WIRE: THE GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL?

I'm reading the Alan Sepinwal book THE REVOLUTION WAS TELEVISED. He says if you are looking for the great American novel, a good case can be made that it is THE WIRE. What say you?

Posted by at

10 comments:

MysterLynch said...

I can totally see that. Looking at the series as a whole, it examines almost every aspect of the American dream.

1:36 AM
pattinase (abbott) said...

Exactly. Through the lens of a failing city, a failing city government, a failing newspaper, a failing school. a failing police department. What book had 60 hours worth of space to write about this.

7:28 AM
George said...

THE WIRE captures the reality of decline of American Cities. THE WIRE could have been filmed in Detroit or Buffalo with similar results.

8:12 AM
Anonymous said...

Absolutely. Brilliant to the end.

1:21 PM
Todd Mason said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
5:12 PM
Todd Mason said...

Well, no. THE WIRE was at its best as good as any television I've seen, but it wasn't always at its best. In fact, there's a tendency for series to present their worst episodes when I try to turn my father onto them, and in this case it was the first-season trial episode in which Omar mocks the pushers' syndicate lawyer from the dock, and the latter essentially has no response, which was about as believable as a typical GILLIGAN'S ISLAND.

5:19 PM
pattinase (abbott) said...

But on the whole, it offered a pretty convincing critique on America. On what we have sacrificed to corporate greed.

5:51 PM
Todd Mason said...

Yes...however, no better than various novels, from people ranging from John D. MacDonald to Edith Wharton...and some of our friends and acquaintances...

6:28 PM
Charles Gramlich said...

Haven't read it but have been hearing lots about it lately.

12:44 AM
w said...

I would agree. The Wire looked at every aspect of urban crime from the street to the media view. Loved the show and own the series. People love to say "the best show on TV!" and for this show that was actually true.

9:48 AM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)