Most recent public comments by Mike;Michael Doeren https://nowcomment.com/users/28299 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735714 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735714 The perpetuation of political agenda founded on the discourse of 'rewarding lawbreakers' has long been around as we've been studying. I , as I'm sure is common among many of you, hear it regularly when the topic of gun control is brought up. In relation to the Civil Rights Era, it makes one wonder: if the fight for racial disparity is shunned when protested, what can be justly protested if anything at all? What golden standard permits protesting even though it is legal in our land of the free? We see the same discourse with the Latino population in the States in the year of 2017. We've seen it in the past. We've seen it during the supposed war on drugs. What's possibly the most discouraging is that we continue to elect officials into office that push such hateful and misconstrued agendas even to this day. Though, as highlighted in 13th, both parties adopt each other's agendas to attempt to appeal to voters. Wed, 12 Apr 2017 22:19:10 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735701 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735701 This paragraph hit home as my intersectionality frequently hits on this topic as well as various others (priviledge, et cetera). In my hometown, I've regularly heard the idea of modern racism scoffed at on more than one occasion. While obviously such a discourse is in the wrong, it makes me question the long-term effects of federal policies enacted through various presidencies as touched upon in the documentary 13th. Not only were African Americans disenfranchised, but we were made to believe we were, as a society, operating in a post-racism society. Past presidents didn't just pass legislation, they shaped the discourse of modern society. How long before we can see the forest for the trees as a society at large and not just in circles of academia? Wed, 12 Apr 2017 22:01:51 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668153 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668153 Matt, I also found this tidbit interesting. One the surface, it makes a fun blurb to tell your friends; it almost advertises the legitimacy of the show, providing another reason to watch it. On the other hand, it allows viewers (or at least myself) to feel as if I'm being treated like an intelligent viewer. We have all seen a film with sequences that are simplified to the point of absurdity (I'm looking at you 'Hackers' from 1995). Did you know that the process of making meth in Breaking Bad was so accurate that particular steps were deliberately left out as to not entice viewers to make their own drugs? Wed, 01 Feb 2017 18:45:35 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668137 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668137 Erin, If you look above, one of my comments praised The Wire for its authenticity; however, I appreciate your comment in that it counterbalances my own. While the show should be renowned for its attention to details, viewers should be grounded in remembering that the show is, at the end of the day, a caricature. As the reading states, it may be accurate though it is not a "carbon copy" of reality. Wed, 01 Feb 2017 15:14:05 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668133 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668133 Erin, I think you pose a very real and legitimate question. I think it's safe to say that there are a lot of issues that are not being properly handled by official outlets (i.e. newspapers). I think it's important that we realize and embrace the possibilities of various mediums to explore such issues. While television has obvious potential, artistic avenues offer a lot of leeway in how we can explore social realities. For instance, I've read of several projects that are utilizing virtual reality environments in attempts to instill empathy in viewers for Syrian refugees. I think it's safe to say that, should such projects prove successful, traditional outlets are only one part of an ever-evolving equation. Wed, 01 Feb 2017 15:09:36 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668115 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668115 I enjoyed this passage in particular because it was certainly a prevailing theme I noticed while watching the first season. Not only is the "criminal" Barksdale organization clouded with issues of structure and personal relations, but as is the "official" departments responsible for dismantling their street counterpart. I feel that by showing the lives of individual Barksdale members, it humanizes and legitimizes their concerns. For instance, D'Angelo is initially only shown to be the man at the beginning of the series who was acquitted for murder. However, as the show progresses, we see his struggle with accepting the ugliness that accompanies his stay in the Barksdale family business. Additionally, he is shown to feel morally obligated to appease his family despite his grievances with the organization due to his blood ties. He cares for Wallace, he shows discomfort at Gant's murder, and he proves to be more than just a "typical gangbanger" as we may see in other television shows. On the flipside, we are also shown the seedy underbelly of the Baltimore police department as well. Their image is hardly representative of a typical sitcom binary of "good versus evil." Police are shown wrestling with alcohol addiction, smuggling dirty money from crime scenes, and, in the case of Cedric Daniels, wrestling to maintain a bridge between various departments. Ultimately, I feel the show so far has done an excellent job in demonstrating the moral ambiguity of the streets in contrast to government officials. Wed, 01 Feb 2017 19:36:39 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668034 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=668034 We have briefly discussed in class David Simon’s professional background, his novel, et cetera. However, I find it astounding how much care and attention to detail the showrunners have invested into the authenticity of The Wire; for instance, as detailed by our reading, a former Baltimore cop and schoolteacher were collaborators on the show. Furthermore, the fact they shot the show on location is impressive as well (as a student filmmaker, I can only imagine the process one must take to acquire such privileges). If anything, typically the complaints I hear in relation to television shows is related to their inability to remain accurate; though, I found it almost humorous that Marylanders “scrutinized” the plot for appearing possibly too “spookily authentic” when contrasted to real-life people and events. In a world where we have a plethora of crime drama television at our fingertips, it’s heartening to know that there are options for finding material that does its source material justice. Even a former Baltimore mayor and governor have made cameo appearances! Wed, 01 Feb 2017 21:13:48 -0500