Most recent public comments by Margaret;Meg Jarman https://nowcomment.com/users/6106 https://nowcomment.com/documents/52798?scroll_to=505736 https://nowcomment.com/documents/52798?scroll_to=505736 Carolyn brings up some really good points and makes a great connection to UVA. It is so troubling to see and hear about African American students and other minority students feel so uncomfortable here. While UVA does have outlets for these types of conversations like sustained dialogue groups and other options, even these groups are not widely publicized (in my opinion). Mon, 04 Apr 2016 10:51:14 -0700 https://nowcomment.com/documents/52798?scroll_to=505715 https://nowcomment.com/documents/52798?scroll_to=505715 Here Alexander addresses much of what we have been discussing in class. While jail time is seemingly a typical part of "the game," dealers and leaders of organizations still have power within the prison system. As we see with Cutty, once a person is released from prison rejoining the game is the easiest option to assimilate. Even though Cutty eventually is able to leave the game and open his own gym, he joins the Barksdale organization at first. Like Alexander mentions, Cutty did not realize the difficulty he would have trying to obtain legal employment once back in the real world. This goes to show that not only are social factors working against African American men, but the role of prison makes it that much more difficult to reenter society. Mon, 04 Apr 2016 10:41:47 -0700 https://nowcomment.com/documents/52798?scroll_to=505712 https://nowcomment.com/documents/52798?scroll_to=505712 This sentence essentially summarizes much of what we talk about in class and is explored in The Wire. As Alexander posits, not only are institutions workings against African Americans, but they are also subject to "legalized discrimination" within the institutions. Last week we discussed topics such as these. They're tricky to answer, but talking about them is more important than just acknowledging them. Mon, 04 Apr 2016 10:28:40 -0700 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49881?scroll_to=485177 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49881?scroll_to=485177 This description of police home life mimics McNulty's situation with his first wife and then Beattie. He has a cycle of drinking too much, staying out too late, and obsessing on his current case. Much like the situation here, he alienates himself from him family and support system in effort to dedicate all his time to the case, almost to a fault. Especially as we saw in Season 5, McNulty dedicates himself to his faux serial killer case in order to get the higher ups to care about police work. All in all, one of the perils in McNulty's character is how he abandons his support system to focus on his cases and in the process spirals into reliance on alcohol. Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:20:46 -0800 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49881?scroll_to=485173 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49881?scroll_to=485173 This sentence and the one preceding it echo the situation in Season 2,3, and 4 of The Wire. As we saw, the interaction between the mayor and police commissioners is a symbiotic relationship. In order for Mayor Royce to show he has made improvements in crime in Baltimore, he asks them to make the homicide rate decrease. This example resonates with what Leap is describing here. The police are interested in clearing murders, while other bureaucratic forces are interested maintaining good rates. Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:14:52 -0800 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49881?scroll_to=483764 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49881?scroll_to=483764 While family ties do predetermine some characters' involvement in the game, other circumstances pull characters to join. For example, Michael does not have any preceding ties. He goes to school, is a good student, and takes care of his younger brother. When Bug's father returns from prison, Michael turns to Marlo for help. For his situation, Michael knows that Marlo can make the problem go away, but he will have to repay him. In this case, joining game goes beyond family ties and pure choice. Wed, 02 Mar 2016 04:49:08 -0800 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49881?scroll_to=483715 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49881?scroll_to=483715 I would agree with your assertion that the desensitization of murder in the police unit in The Wire is a "good" thing. The police characters are able to move past the shock of a dead body and analyze the murder scene critically. As you note, there is a theme of "soft eyes" throughout series. Generally, having soft eyes makes the character blind to the reality of the situation, whereas having hard eyes makes them see things more realistically. Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:27:26 -0800 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=483522 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=483522 I agree with your comment and also think it ties into the certain "look" that Anderson describes. Young African-American males that fit this mold are demonized, much like the nurse does to Cutty. Even though he has worked incredibly hard to turn his life around since leaving prison, he is still reduced to a gangster by other people within his environment. Tue, 01 Mar 2016 16:50:45 -0800 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=483521 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=483521 I also think that this goes to show that organized drug crime goes beyond race and economic status. To some extent, the Sobotka's see themselves above those involved in the game. However, they are continually defeated by the institution and the lack of union jobs begins to weigh on them forcing them to to turn to the game. I think crime offers an example of extralegal activity benefits that will always exist no matter the economic climate. Thu, 03 Mar 2016 06:38:00 -0800 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49882?scroll_to=483519 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49882?scroll_to=483519 In answer to your question, yes. I think that inevitably Dukie still would have succumbed to peer pressure and joined the game. Even with a "proper" support system, I think external forces would have pushed him to quit school eventually. As we have seen over the seasons of The Wire, the boys of all ages continually turn to the game. Tue, 01 Mar 2016 16:40:15 -0800 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49882?scroll_to=483514 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49882?scroll_to=483514 As you mentioned, the environment in which these poor families live almost single-handedly determines their lives. When reading your comment I thought about how we place so much emphasis on the institutions in The Wire. Especially in regard to the drug institution, the characters affected by it seemingly have no choice but to become a product of it. Whether it means doing time, murdering people that cross them the wrong way, or even getting themselves killed, the rules of this institution almost inevitably come to dictate their lives as well. Thu, 03 Mar 2016 06:55:07 -0800 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49882?scroll_to=483511 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49882?scroll_to=483511 After reading about Vicky's relationship with her two kids, it is evident that she only wants the best for them and her efforts to give them a better life demonstrate how she encourages him to do the same for himself. This type of encouragement and urge to do the best for himself stands in direct opposition to the way Namond's mother, DaLonda, acts. Rather than encourage him to do well in school and stay on the straightened path, she informs him that it is time to follow in his father's footsteps and join the Barksdale organization. When he fails to succeed in the game, she is angered with him. I find it interesting that the Wire chooses to portray this type of situation rather than the one Kozol is describing here. Tue, 01 Mar 2016 19:34:25 -0800 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49882?scroll_to=483507 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49882?scroll_to=483507 The lines that state, "many forms of misbehavior that were common in a building in which almost every person ahd to break some rule rule or operate some petty scam in order to survive," to me, resonate with some of the situations in the Wire. As we and other authors have discussed, often times there is no choice but to enter the game. In regard to this quote, the "broken" rule of the Wire is breaking the expectations inherent in Elijah Anderson's decent code and being forced to comply with the street code. Much like the situation of the impoverished people in New York City that Kozol is describing, certain characters, like Michael, feel as though they have no other choice but to enter the game in order to stay alive and protect themselves and the people for whom the care. Wed, 02 Mar 2016 06:56:18 -0800 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=481191 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=481191 When reading this section and the following one "The Baby Club," I realized that The Wire does not delve into the female aspect of the game. There is no constant female character in the game. In the first two season the mother of D'Angelo's son makes appearances, but the show never fully explains her situation. Season 4 introduces a new female character, Snoop, but even she dresses in the masculine clothing of the street. For me it begs the question: did David Simon intentionally leave out the female aspect of the game? I think it is clear that gender lines are strictly constructed in the game and that females rarely become directly involved, but rather are impacted in other ways. As Anderson mentions earlier in the reading, women that "date" members of the game often receive benefits like presents and security, but also acknowledges that many know that they might not be the only girl. I think it would be interesting to see the game from the angle of a women more explicitly than the side characters that pop up in a few seasons. Mon, 29 Feb 2016 16:11:38 -0800 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=481184 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=481184 In Season 4, we see Namond's mother essentially force him into the game. As the son of Wee-Bey, it is clear that he is expected to enter the Barksdale organization and eventually be a front runner. It is clear that Namond does not have the natural inclination to be a drug dealer. He breaks the code over and over again and his mother is continually let down. When watching the scenes between Namond and his mother, I found it so interesting how much weight she placed on him joining the organization and being successful. As we have discussed, family ties only matter only to a certain extent in the game. However, I found it interesting that she was so heavily invested in his faults and successes, further indicating how intertwined different parts of the game are and how many people it affects. Tue, 01 Mar 2016 19:03:21 -0800 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=451831 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=451831 I agree completely with your sentiments on Simon's vision versus what occurred after the Rolling Stone article. Though they both wanted to convey the cultural issues, Erdely did so without the proper facts. In contrast, Simon's fiction portrays inner city Baltimore in a way in which his viewers can learn and relate. Mon, 01 Feb 2016 17:50:14 -0800 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=451827 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=451827 Like last weeks reading discussed, entertainment journalism has become an increasingly popular way to obtain information. Though Bowden openly addresses the fact that Simon's own prejudices are unleashed in the show, it seems as though he is met with much less criticism than a news station would. I think that because it is a fictional show viewers are more open to the fact that biases do exist and that not everything in the show may be portrayed entirely accurately. Mon, 01 Feb 2016 17:45:28 -0800 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=451819 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=451819 As other students have touched on, the recurring theme of fiction versus fact in Bowden's article as well as the show itself presents an interesting mindset in viewing The Wire. Though the settings and characters of The Wire feel incredibly authentic, it is important to view them through a skeptical eye because fiction is, indeed, fiction. However, as Bowden notes, fiction frees Simon to be "unfair" in his criticism of the bureaucratic system in Baltimore. In Simon's case, a fictional show allows him to delve into the "tough" issues more directly because he is operating in his own Baltimore. In turn, the viewer is able to see how the flaws within organizations contribute to the seemingly endless cycle of corruption and violence. Though fiction, Simon is able to penetrate the issues and minds of his viewers in ways that traditional journalism and media could not. Wed, 03 Feb 2016 07:29:38 -0800 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=451800 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=451800 Though Bowden wrote his article in 2008, the decline in quality, investigative journalism is still present in 2016. Newspaper offices are forced to cut back on reporters, in turn investigative journalism, in order to meet the bottom line. How can a newspaper serve as a check to the government and its officials if they are struggling to pay bills? Simon's frustration with the organizational change that occurred when the "white guys" came to The Sun mimics the same frustrations of many today. Though Simon abandoned his life as a reporter for Hollywood, it is easy to argue that The Wire and its themes have been more impactful and reached more people than his articles ever could. This thought is also representative of the overall change in our media climate as we begin to favor entertainment that highlights the tough issues, rather than wrestling with the facts themselves in their true form. Wed, 03 Feb 2016 14:22:26 -0800