With these factors combined, Simon is able to create rich characters and a “basis for discussion and analysis of social issues including urban decay, class, gender, sexuality, employment, belonging, globalization, power, bureaucracy, education and, of course, race” (Penfold-Mounce et al. 154). With the abundance of social issues included in The Wire, some may find it surprising how there is still room for a “vast and complex social network” of characters (Potter198). The show switches the narrative point-of-view often between the police, politicians, drug dealers, corner kids, teachers and other members of society. The balance of different perspectives provide the viewer an inside look into characters and “[t]he show’s serial format allows it to track these less prominent narrative threads for extended periods of time across multiple episodes and even seasons” (Potter 198). By including these scenes that have little connection to the leading storyline, Simon successfully creates multi-dimensional, realistic characters. An example of this how Simon chooses to include scenes of Detective Kima’s life at home in season three or the drunken escapades of Detective Bunk in multiple …show more content…
Simon “provides a complex and sophisticated sociological narrative that deals with mainstream sociological issues” (Penfold-Mounce et al. 164). By following these social issues of race, urban decay, class, gender, sexuality etc. throughout the series, the viewer is privy to the different institutions and social societies in a city and how they handle difficult matters. Simon attempts with The Wire
“to produce an ‘authentic’ account of not only Baltimore but wider social issues facing America in particular, but has resonance far beyond its geographical locality” (Penfold-Mounce et al. 154). The social issues included in The Wire can transfer to any American city, as well as the different institutional struggles. Simon uses his series to comment on America and ask the question, “are our society’s largest institutions even capable of reform?”