AJLA27074 HBO's The Wire and the American City

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2024

The course is not taught in Autumn 2024

Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Stephen Paul Hardy, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Tomáš Pospíšil, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Tomáš Pospíšil, Ph.D.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Supplier department: Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 7 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/7, only registered: 0/7
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to investigate the HBO series The Wire (2002-2008) in terms of its approach to the 20th century American city. Together we will discuss a variety of issues; ranging from analysis of the narrative complexity in its representation of the American urban experience, through discussion of the social issues it raises, i.e. urban crime and drug abuse; corruption and bureaucratization on the various levels of the American social fabric, such as education, the political system, the media, and organized labor; to its overall dramatization of the sense of crisis deriving from the above. An analysis of these issues will be supplemented by readings taken from relevant sources in media studies, urban sociology and the socio-economic impact of globalization. The participants will have gained a thorough understanding of the ways in which challenging TV series of this kind seek to connect the apparently disparate worlds of crime, law enforcement, the legal system; education, media and the various levels of political administration.
Syllabus
  • Lesson 1: Introduction Lesson 2: Season 1; urban crime and law enforcement Lesson 3: Season 2; trade unions, the working class; the impact of globalization Lesson 4: Season 3; urban politics; drug legalization Lesson 5: Season 4; American public schools Lesson 6: Season 5; the print media
Literature
    recommended literature
  • The wire. Edited by Sherryl Vint. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2013, vii, 124 p. ISBN 9780814335932. info
  • BEILENSON, Peter L., Patrick A. MCGUIRE and David SIMON. Tapping into The Wire : the real urban crisis. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2012, xviii, 214. ISBN 9781421407616. info
  • ALVAREZ, Rafael. The wire : truth be told. Edited by David Simon - Victor Paul Alvarez. Pbk. ed. Edinburgh: Canongate, 2010, 581 s. ISBN 9781847675996. info
  • The wire : urban decay and American television. Edited by Tiffany Potter - C. W. Marshall. 1st pub. New York: Continuum, 2009, vii, 254. ISBN 9780826423450. info
Teaching methods
Requirements: Watching the five entire series of the show (you are strongly encouraged to start viewing the 60 episodes well in advance of the beginning of the course and keep a viewing diary to facilitate class discussion); required reading of the supplementary materials; regular attendance and active participation;
Assessment methods
Assessment: 25% oral participation in class; 25% in-class quizzes/response papers; 50% 2000 word essay (minimum);
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught: every week.
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