Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

Gay, Black & Criminal: Omar Little’s Heroic Pursuit of The American Dream in The Wire

            It is widely accepted that American television is now undergoing a renaissance with the emergence of an increasingly literary form of programming (Mittell 29). This new form does not shy away from requiring audiences to engage on a deeper level with the work and with complex and difficult characters. The HBO police drama, The Wire, is one of these programs. Set on the realistically gritty streets of West Baltimore, The Wire is the creation of Baltimore reporter turned television produced David Simon. Simon took his experience reporting on crime, corruption and politics in Baltimore and from that he created an essentially American drama, dealing with the tragic results of the of the pursuit of the American dream in an America that has lost its way.

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This troubling vision of the American dream is embodied in one of the most compelling characters of The Wire, the rogue stick-up artist, Omar Little.

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