Overview

This book examines The Wire’s authenticity and its establishment of the series realism. Along with tracing creator David Simon’s onscreen critique of numerous failed American institutions, the book focuses on the connection between authenticity and realism in three distinct areas: language, character, and location. While it is shown that The Wire is indeed authentic, the study examines occasions where the language, characters, and even the location are ‘curated’. Yet, while we can witness these moments of curation, it is The Wire’s unflinching focus on authentic dialogue, authentic characterisation, and an authentic location that makes the series the most realistic, and arguably the best, television show of all time.   

Full Product Details

Author:   Ryan Twomey
Publisher:   Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Imprint:   Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Edition:   1st ed. 2020
Weight:   0.203kg
ISBN:  

9783030459949

ISBN 10:   3030459942
Pages:   139
Publication Date:   02 August 2021
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
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Table of Contents

1. Curated Realism: The Wire’s Authenticity.- Authenticity & Realism.- Complex Television.- Authentic… for who?.- 2. 'Listen Carefully’: The Authentic Language of The Wire.- The Importance of Language.- Season One: Acronyms and Baltimore Police Profanity.- Season Two & Three: The Docks and the ‘War on Drugs’.- Drug Terminology, Baltimorean Accents, and ‘Motherfuckers’.- Season Four & Five: Education, Politics, and Print Journalism.- 3. Superheroes, Dickens, and Uncertain Endings: The Wire’s Authentic Characters.- Real-Life, Doppelgängers, Actors.- Dickensian?.- Bubbles’ Uncertain Ending.- Omar Little, Robin Hood, and Spiderman.- Curated Character Realism.- 4. ‘Dante’s Hell’: The Wire and the Authentic Representation of Baltimore.- David Simon’s Cities.- Sounds of the City.- Visual Realism.- Historical Fiction, Unrealistic Plots, and the Baltimore Streets.- The Real Baltimore.- 5. The Wire: The Legacy of On-Screen Authenticity

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Author Information

Dr Ryan Twomey is a senior lecturer in the Department of English at Macquarie University where he teaches on intersections between literature and visual narrative. He has published various articles and book chapters on television series such as Fargo, Stranger Things, Mad Men, and True Detective.   

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