Popular Culture Review 29.1 (Spring 2018) | Page 114

By Graeme Wilson

“ A Man Must Have a Code ”: A Contrast of Black and White Masculinity in The Wire

By Graeme Wilson

Abstract : The Wire , which aired on premium channel cable HBO from 2002 to 2008 , is one of the most acclaimed series ever produced for the medium of television . Set in Baltimore , The Wire examines American bureaucracy and ruminates on the shortcomings of public institutions . Notably , more than half of The Wire ’ s ensemble is African American , and while this accurately reflects Baltimore ’ s racial demographics , such diversity remains a rarity in American dramatic television . Thus , The Wire provides a unique opportunity for scholarly research on cultural representations of race and gender in popular media , particularly regarding how they intersect . The goal of this critical studies essay is to determine if The Wire perpetuates or challenges popular notions of hegemonic masculinity , and how they differ across racial representations . This is especially important given the prominent role that popular media plays in influencing expectations amongst male viewers towards idealized masculinity in society .
Keywords : The Wire , bureaucracy , racial representation on television , masculinity , racialized masculinity
Resumen : The Wire , que estuvo al aire en el canal premium de cable HBO de 2002 a 2008 , es una de las series más aclamadas que se ha producido para el medio de la televisión . The Wire tiene como escenario a Baltimore y examina la burocracia estadounidense y se enfoca en los problemas de las instituciones públicas . Notablemente , más de la mitad del elenco de The Wire es afroamericano , y mientras esto refleja correctamente la
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