So what’s your take on the debate about whether The Wire is too cynical or might inspire social change?

Just a place to post your thoughts on this week’s readings (and apologize for a couple of 1-line throwaway spoilers in the Williams piece!).

We’re shifting away from readings about the social issues portrayed on The Wire toward readings on the show itself. Note that it’s hard to find readings that don’t contain any reference to things we’ve yet to seen, so you may want to read with a “mental fast-forward” when you see a reference to future events. I’ve tried to avoid sequencing anything too early that contains major spoilers, but there will be minor references at times.

Please post comments here on what you’ve read and whether you agree or disagree with various authors’ arguments.