‘There are now two Americas” according to writer, journalist, and author David Simon. He’s the creator and writer of “The Wire,” “Treme,” and “Homicide: Life On The Street.” Some think “The Wire,” myself included, is the illest show ever created in the history of television. It takes a living breathing picture of a disenfranchised society and suffocates you, inhale. It’s easy to understand how he wrote “The Wire.” He reported on the crime beat for the Baltimore Sun. Its impossible to fathom how he was able to retell, reimagine and write all those stories after experiencing what he saw on the beat for twelve years.
At this year’s Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney, Australia, Simon gave a speech about the social implications of capitalism and the ever widening gap between rich and poor. What happens win capitalism wins and all of its complaints are solved. A discussion follows, he gets into the intricate politics and emotional chaos of observing what happens to the people and places that get ignored by society at large. Craze.
2 comments On Creator of The Wire, David Simon at Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2013
He reminds me of Upton Sinclair, for our times imo.
I haven’t read Sinclair, but given his career and perspective I definitely see what you’re saying. Simon has a special kind of talent that, aside from writing, has to do with endurance and empathy.