ENGL 53.34 The Wire

Though David Simon’s Baltimore cop drama was not the popular sensation when it aired (2002-2008) that “Breaking Bad” or “Game of Thrones” are today, it is widely considered one of the best shows in television history. Over sixty episodes the fascinating and often disturbing series explores a range of social and political issues familiar in contemporary American cities, but it does so with unusual literary ambition and success. In the course, we’ll treat the series as a work of literature—asking how its use of plot, narrative, character, conflict, etc. recalls the artistry of Sophocles, Shakespeare and, especially, Dickens. Readings will include texts from each of these authors and all five seasons of the show, as well as analyses of individual episodes.

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Dist:LIT

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Course Group III