Alliances. Story by David Simon and Ed Burns. Teleplay by Ed Burns.
Directed by David Platt.
First aired 8 October 2006.
Carcetti learns that Greggs has been assigned the witness
case and uses the information against Royce. Watkins forms an alliance with
Carcetti. Now a sergeant in the major case unit, Herc takes part in a series of
ill-advised raids that fail to render any significant arrests. Herc takes a
video camera without permission to surveil Stanfield. Marlo tries to enlist
Michael but he rejects the offer. Marlo arranges to have Omar framed for
murder. Dukie debunks Randy's theory that the Chris and Snoop's victims are
undead and shows him the bodies. Prez struggles to control his students'
behaviour. Bubbles is beaten by another drug addict and throws Sherrod out for
skipping school. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wire_(season_4)
Take a look at this clip: Prez gently giving Dukie lunch and being informed by Crystal—the student who saw earlier in the season helping Miss Donnelly clean the school before it opens and the girl who brought Duquan school clothes—that Dukie's "people" sell his clothes on the corner.
2. "I ain't eat no lunch and my stomach is making all these noises...I won't ever disrespect your pencil again." So says Zenobia. This and some other comments from the class, almost all of whom are in detention, gets Prez to let them go early. Given what the class is like, how it cusses as him—Namond in particular—is Prez being a pushover by letting them go? Or is this actually the right thing to do?
3. Speaking of Namond: to Prez, "Fuck you. Gimpy ass, big grill motherfucker." Then later that day: "Came to say sorry. I didn't mean to get all in your face like that...It's just the evil gets in me and before I know it, I go off." And Prez forgives him. Is Namond playing Prez? Is he sincere? And should Prez have forgiven him?
4. "Ain't no special dead. There's just dead." This is Duquan at the very end. He just walks away from the corpse he has shown his friends. He doesn't seem as spooked as the rest of his friends: no talk of zombies from him. Why do you think that is?
5. Speaking of the kids: for each of them—Duquan, Namond, Randy, Michael—give the word that best describes him to you. And why? And which one do you feel most drawn to, or like the most?
Make this as long as what Julian and Marie wrote on the previous blog. Two sentences per question is not enough and will not get credit. Punctuation and mechanics count too. Capitalize names and first words of sentences! This is a literature class.
Finally...
I personally believe that the reason we see the wire get shut down and the show still keeps its name is because a wire tap will be used again. I think that the wire taps shutting down is the major conflict that the police face when trying to catch Marlo. The reason then is that the wiretaps are still important and are still critical to the case especially after the bodies are found.
ReplyDeleteI personally think it depends this is because if they start respecting him it was the right move to also show that he is willing to be lenient on his rules if it makes sense to for example when Naymond initially said he didn't know about the rule change so he shouldn't get punished. However, he either should have kept them there the full hour or can't be lenient on them again or he would look like a pushover.
I don't think Naymond is necessarily playing Prez as personally I don't think he would try and at this point where he is already suspended I doubt he would care to. I think Prez did the right thing after all he has to teach Naymond every day so he might as well try and get him to behave slightly better by trying to get Naymond to like him as a teacher.
I personally believe Duquaun is one of the smartest there and already knew very well what they'd find inside, maybe he even has seen something like this before, and I think that the others were extra scared as they thought that they would find zombies as Michael brought a baseball bat. Another reason why Randy was extra scared is he feels guilty that to some extent he got Lex killed.
I think that Michael is tough but caring to his little brother and friends. I think Duquaun is very smart especially in math, I am very excited to see how his character progresses in Prez's class, I think Naymond is somewhat spineless and does whatever benefits himself while also being a coward and I think Randy is slick as he is able to make money buying and selling snacks at lunch and by a corner. I really find myself drawn to Randy as I really like watching him being nice to Prez, which I don't think is manipulation though I could be wrong, and along with that Randy being able to make a large amount of money. I am also excited to see what develops with him having snitched on one of his class mates to get out of trouble.
1. I think the show is called the wire because it shows the importance of secrets. Major crimes unit used a wiretap to watch Barksdale in previous seasons, and although no one else is using a physical wiretap, there still seems to be a lot of spying going on. One example of this is the drug lords, like Marlo. Marlo is not wire tapping anyone, but he has an eye on everything and always knows what’s going on in the neighborhood. When the police tried to videotape him, he had an informant who saw what happened and warned him. Another example is Carcetti. Carcetti was behind in the polls, but once he started receiving secrets from inside the police station, the race became more competitive. Although Carcetti does not have a wiretap going on inside of the police station, we, as the viewer, see how valuable secret information can be.
ReplyDelete2. I believe that Prez is being a pushover. Like we said in class, the kids can sense the “new teacher” vibe from him. They sense that they can take advantage of him because he is new, and so his convictions are weak. After Prez lets the kids out, he walks out with Randy and Dukie. They mention another teacher, one that presumably the kids respect more than Prez, and they talk about how she always makes the kids stay for full detention.
3. I am not sure what to think of Namond’s apologies. Although I do not see Namond as the type to apologize to somebody like Prez, he sounded sincere when he apologized. I believe that Prez did the right thing in forgiving Namond. Even though Namond might not be fully sincere in his apology, I think that after being caught by the teacher in the hall and then punished by the school, he might have felt bad about what he had done. However, if a friend were to ask him what happened, I think he would pretend like he had completely played Prez and felt no remorse for his actions.
4. I think Duquan has had more experience with dead than either Randy or Michael. When Randy realized that he was involved in Lex’s death, he was visibly scared. And although Michael has a hard home life, I do not get the impression he sees a lot of dead people. I think the other boys have romanticized the idea of death in their minds, and they are using their imaginations to help them cope with it. I would guess that Duquan has already learned to cope with it, and so he does not need to use zombies to process Marlo’s mass killings.
5. The word I would use to describe Namond is pretender. Namond pretends to be a big and strong guy, like his father, but we can see, in fact, that he is lazy (he tries to cop out of the work his dad got him), and is more talk than action (he cannot fight, and when he sees Michael getting beat up, he runs away scared). I would describe Michael as caring. He does not bully Duquan like Namond does, and loves and cares for his brother like a parent. I would describe Duquan as a survivor. Duquan has one of the hardest home lives we have seen so far, and yet he is managing to survive. His life is tough, but he keeps on showing up to school and has not yet turned to drugs (as his parents have). I would describe Randy as clever. He is observant and knows how to work the system (as evidenced by his selling snacks at school). So far, Randy is my favorite. He is very smart, and he has initiative. I especially liked the scene where Prez asks Randy what he wants to be when he grows up, and he says that he wants to be a store owner.
1. I think the show can still be called “The Wire” because wires represent connections, and the show is really about how these three very different worlds all still connect to each other. For example, Marlo trying to recruit Micheal mixes the of the school world and the drug world. Another example could be the work of the detectives who are doing a case study on middle school kids. It mixes the police work with the children and they seem to have good intentions but I think it could end up hurting the kids in the long run.
ReplyDelete2. Initially I thought that Prez was being a pushover because I think those kids won’t respect him in the future if they know they can just get away with stuff. However, Namond’s apology has me question if Prez’s method may actually be a good thing for these kids. When Prez, Randy, and Dookie are leaving it is mentioned that another teacher giving detention never lets her students leave earlier. However, with this detention the students’ behavior hasn’t changed. I think I will just have to see how well this works out for Prez because maybe his new method will have a different affect on the kids.
3. I thought that he was playing Prez a little bit when he said the evil comment. I believe that the principle was probably like “go apologize to Prez for your behavior.” I just don’t feel that Namond’s character is the type to really be sorry to someone like Prez. I also bet in the future he’ll do something else along the same lines to Prez. I think that Namond is one of those kids who definitely takes advantage of Prez’s inexperience to being a teacher.
4. Dookie seems to have had a harder life than the other boys and he’s probably seen more death than the other boys. I think the other boys can still believe in this almost fantasy world because they haven’t had it as hard as Dookie has. Dookie is also very smart so I think he knows what Snoop and Chris do and he knows to what extent their actions are.
5. I think Micheal is caring because of the way he takes care of his little brother. I think Randy is cunning because he is very sneaky but smart with the whole six grade lunch invasion. Duquan is strong. It must be incredibly hard to come from his family background, and on top of that not everyone at school or even some parents are empathetic to his situation. I think Namond is confused. I just don’t think he knows who he is and what he stands for because the image of his father casts such a big cloud around him. I’m most drawn to Randy and Micheal because I think they both have the odds to change how their lives are in the future.
1. I agree with what Kayla said about why the show is called The Wire. Everything is connected, like how electrical wires all connect and work together. In the show, every decision that someone makes affects other characters. For example, the small choice of Randy deciding to tell Lex to go to the playground led to Lex’s death, which triggered an interest in the boys to find out what happens to the people Snoop and Chris kill.
ReplyDelete2. I think Prez is definitely being a pushover by letting them go, but I don’t think he knew any better. I think most of the teachers at the middle school handle the kids by being very strict with them. But that isn’t how Prez wants to treat his class. He sees that the kids have very hard lives so he doesn’t want to scare them into respecting him. He just wants the kids to like him, even if he has to be a pushover to get there.
3. I think Namond has many motives for apologizing to Prez. On the surface, I think he is playing Prez so that he can take advantage of him later. But I think Namond is a good kid deep down. He knows that what he did was wrong and that Prez deserves an apology. But no matter what his motives were, I think it was right of Prez to forgive him. Namond is still just a kid and is going to make mistakes.
4. I don’t think Dukie was as spooked by the corpse as his friends because of his home life. He has probably seen his parents do some pretty awful things. I think those experiences have taught him how to decipher what's real in any given moment. So when his friends created the zombie theory to make themselves feel better, he was able to see what was actually there instead of what his friends wanted to believe.
5. I think the best word to describe Dukie is resilient. He has a hard home life and his friends aren’t always very nice to him, but he never complains and continues to push through. I would describe Namond as entitled. He has more money and an easier home life than any of his friends but I have yet to see him do something for someone else. To me, Randy is troubled. He is living with the knowledge that he is inadvertently responsible for Lex’s death. He tries to hide his guilt but I can tell how distraught he his because of what he’s done. Finally, I would describe Michael as strong. Despite all he has been through with his dad, he is still able to put on a brave face for his brother and care for his friends. I am most drawn to Michael as a person but I think Namond is a very intriguing character as well. However, I would rather be friends with Michael in real life over Namond.
1. While clearly the name “The Wire” originates in the wiretaps of the MCU it has become a metaphor. I think that “The Wire” is describing how we, as a viewer, have access to all these people’s lives. We have our own wiretap into the different storylines of the show, and that is what makes “The Wire” so unique. There are so many different stories that we are a part of, but we are really just listening to their conversations. In that way, I feel that the title of the show is pretty powerful and has a message about our judgement towards these people. We are still outsiders who simply listen to conversations and make assumptions.
ReplyDelete2. Prez is being a pushover in letting all the kids go from a detention that he instituted earlier that day. In the morning he is trying to create some order in the class with harsher punishments, but then when one student complains after being punished he shuts it down. Prez needs to decide whether or not he wants to be lenient or strict. The kids will eat him up if he oscillates between the two. I think that he is trying to do right by his students, but is not doing an effective job so far.
3.Namond is clearly trying to get out of a punishment, but I think that he is being sincere. We have already seen that Namond is a coward and I think that that shows here. He acts tough in front of his classmates but can be easily scared. An incident like this between Namond and Prez is not a one time thing, but I don’t think that Namond means anything he says. I think that Prez did the right thing in forgiving Namond. He noticed the attributes that I have already noted and realized that he was being sincere. It also would create a bad reputation for Prez if when his students apologized he didn’t forgive them.
4. There are several reasons that Dookie is unfazed in seeing the body. The first reason is his parents condition. I’m sure that having lived in his house he has seen a lot worse. The death and gore does not get to him because he understands it. This brings me to my second point: he is extremely intelligent. He is able to recognize the falsity of the boys stories of zombies. He knows logically that that doesn’t make sense.
5.
a. Michael: The word I would use to describe Michael is strong. He is not just strong physically, but mentally as well. He is able to recognize the consequences of the drug trade, and, unlike his counterparts, wisely turns it down. Also, when he takes care of his brother he shows incredible fortitude.
b. Namond: the word I would use to describe Namond is two-faced. He acts one way to some and another to others. He is a coward that acts tough. He is a very paradoxical character because he often flips his actions from good to evil on a dime.
c. Randy: Randy is clever or shifty. He is a competent businessman, but he skips class, and lies in order to get what he wants. He seems to me that all he cares about is money.
d. Duquan: Dookie is, as I have already said, extremely intelligent. With his intelligence, I feel that he brings a certain logic and politeness despite his situation. He is very gracious to Prez when he gives him his sandwich, and is able to shrug off his friends insults. I think that Dookie is one of the most compassionate characters on the show, and that is why I am drawn to him.
1. The wire is a way for the police to listen to and understand what the suspected “criminals” are doing. I think the show is called the wire because it is a way for the viewer further understand the lives of people who might be different from them. Simon cleverly uses this narrative to contradict some of the stereotypes that may go along with being in the streets of Baltimore. He has many characters like Bubbles, Micheal, Duquan, Omar, Randy, and even Chris and Snoop who have some great qualities to their character.
ReplyDelete2. He is being pushover. I understand that he is new, but I think it is important to gain the kids respect early on in their relationship. Almost none of the kids listen to him in class and close to none of them do the work. It is important for the kids to like the teacher, but that doesn’t matter if they’re not learning anything.
3. I think Namond is being partly sincere, but I do believe he was asked to apologize by the principle. Namond is obviously very insecure, which is the reason he feels the need to be a bully. I think Prez made the right decision to forgive h8m because it’s not a good idea to hold a grudge against someone you are trying to teach.
4. I think Duquan’s feelings have been numbed from the assumed lack of affection from his junkie parents. He is also too smart to think there could be zombies. We’ve been shown how smart he is multiple times. For example when all the other kids are trying to catch the white pigeon Duquan knows it’s not valuable.
5. The word that best describes Duquan is knowledgeable because he is the smartest of any of the kids. For Namond, my word is inconsiderate because of how he is never thinking about how other people feel and only really cares about himself. Randy is clever, he finds a great way to make money by switching his shirts and taking advantage of the new teacher. Even the ugh he is taking advantage of Prez, I don’t think he means any harm by it. Micheal is compassionate. When he could go have fun with his friends he chooses to make sure his brother gets home safe. He also gives Duquan a lunch on the first day of school without him even asking.
1. I think the show is stilled called the wire because the the wire taps might come back, and logistically it wouldn’t make sense to change the title of a show towards the end of its run. Although they might not be using wire taps anymore, they still symbolize the spying and secrecy that plays a big role in the show. Not only the police spying on the drug dealers, but Mario spying on everyone, and even the corruption of the government. Because all of these are related with spying and secrets, I think it makes the title relevant even if actual the wire taps aren’t in use.
ReplyDelete2. I think Prez was being a pushover by letting the kids leave early. I thought he was making progress by standing up to the kids and giving detention, but by letting them leave early he just showed that he can be taken advantage of. I think he realized that when he was walking away with Randy and Dukie after detention and they mentioned one of their teachers never let them out early. This experience just proved his inexperience of being a teacher.
3. I’m not sure what to think of Namonds apology. I don’t think he was necessarily playing Prez, It was just probably forced. I can’t tell how genuine it was, however I think it was the right thing to do. I also thought that it was smart of Prez to forgive him. Having a bad relationship with Namond would only cause more conflicts in the future.
4. I don’t think Dukie was as spooked as the other kids because he has been more exposed to this type of stuff. Though none of the kids are innocent, Dukie is definitely more aware of what’s out there. This is most likely because of his home life. While the other kids might have created the zombie theory to help cope with reality, Dukie already knew the truth.
5. I would describe Dukie as intelligent, because he seems to be he smartest of the kids school wise. I would describe Randy as crafty because he is more street smart. You see this especially when he sneaks into different grades lunch’s to sell snacks. Namond is egotistical and stuck up. He definitely thinks highly of himself because of his family and legacy. However I think he is also a bit insecure about living up to that and being the best of his friend group. Michael is compassionate and loyal. He has his morals straight and he sticks to them. He also stays strong for his younger brother and is a good role model for him despite the circumstances.
1. I can not find the saying “to live life on the wire”, but it seems familiar, and is what I thought of when I here The Wire, I think of it as living life on the edge. A wire can spark and surprise you and the show definitely does that. I thought of when Latisha cut Chiquan, I was beyond shocked which a wire could do, and that is why the show is called The Wire, because it does the same thing.
ReplyDelete2. Yes, I believe he was being a pushover by letting them all go. I do not think he should have given them all detention, not all of them completely deserved it and he needed to focus on those who really behaved the worst, not those who had just mildly disobeyed. I think that if he punished those who really deserved detention, then the others would see that detention is a real threat. By letting every single student leave detention, Prez showed that the students have power over him, and not the other way around.
3. Prez should not have forgiven Namond so fast, I do not know if Namond was sincere, but it would be very out of character if that was the case. Even if he was being sincere, that does not mean one apology would change who he is, just because Namond apologized does not mean he learned from his mistake. Namond is still the same person, and Prez took his apology too fast.
4. Although Duquan seems like the younger brother of the group, innocent, and teased by the others, he has lived through more than the rest of the group. Duquan is actually the strongest of the group, because he has to do everything for himself, and deal with others tormenting him. Since Duquan’s parents are addicted to drugs, he has seen the worst, and having grown up without parents who weren’t really there, or not mentally present, because of drugs, Duquan has seen them a death like states.
5. I am most drawn to Michael because of how he takes care of his brother, and how determined he is in everything he does. In school he has a hard time understanding, but he does not act out, I think he really does try, but school might not come naturally to him. When Prez gave Michael detention I was annoyed, I don’t think Prez has differentiated with the kids who do not care about education, and the ones who care, but other factors in their life may get in the way. I think Michael is loyal, driven, and caring. Randy was the first one who we saw be nice to Duquan, and over the episodes we have watched, we have gotten more depth into Duquans character. Now, although the other have not always been kind to Duquan, they still take care off him, whereas after the first episode, I assumed the would been mean to Duquan for the majority of the show. Duquan is a strong character and deals with his tormentors better than anyone else. I think if any of the other boys had the same life as Duquan, they would not be able to handle everything and well as Duquan does. Duquan is surprisingly brave, and also empathetic. Duquan is smart as we see in Prez’s classroom, but Randy is also surprisingly smart. Randy is a bit of a business man, he makes money in such a creative way, and he is typically one step ahead of the teachers. Randy thinks of everything in his business, by switching his shirt to sell at prime time, taking hall passes, and providing special orders. I want to see Namonds deeper level and redeeming qualities soon, but I do not know if we will in this show. We have begun to understand why Namond is the way that he is because of his father. Namond’s father was such a powerful man before he was in prison, and it is impossible for Namond to live up too his father. This is why Namond talks such a big game, and because he has money he does not have to work as hard as the others, or as his father did. Since Namond has money, he does not have to work hard for his money, and he also will just take handouts. Namond does not understand that money is not always equal to respect. I understand how Namond came up this way, but I hope he learns how to grow up, and realizes that although he may appear powerful, to actually be powerful he has to be brave and strong.
DeleteI think it’s called the wire because of all the connections everyone has. A wire is a long string that is connected and doesn’t disconnect till cut. In the show you can see that everything is connected, from the cops to the politicians and to the people on the street. A wire can also connect to different things which makes the wire extend. You can see the extensions with the street kids, the extension being Bubbles, Omar, and Marlo
ReplyDeleteI think it’s te right thing to do. He brought fear into the kids while telling them they have detention. When he let them go, it makes the kids feel happier which will make them like Prez even more. Also, its good that he got to know more about the kids and why they cant stay for detention—example being Michael.
I don’t think that Namond is playing Prez. When Namond storms into the hall, he runs into the head teacher and instantly gets sent to the front office. I believe that once he saw that head teacher, he realized that what he did was wrong. So yeah, I believe Prez should’ve forgiven him, it makes the situation better for both of them.
I don’t think that he’s as spooked as everyone else due to the fact that he’s possibly seen a good amount of dead bodies before. He’s gotten the understanding of Marlos hitmen and how no killing is special, they all fall the same way.
Duquan-a fighter-fighter goes with duquan because he is constantly getting made fun of and taken down, but at the end of the day he always gets back up
Namond-fake street- he acts like he’s hot shit but in reality you can tell he isn’t. He isn’t like his dad, he’s more of the opposite. He acts tough which makes him fake
Randy-smart- I think he’s smart because he usually seems to outsmart people. Like the cafeteria scene when he bring tons of different shirts so he could make some money in the cafeteria was really smart of him
Michael- hard- he’s really tough and has a lot going on with his life and he’s doesn’t let small things take him down. He also doesn’t let big things scare him such as Marlo. He is really smart and knows what he’s doing to keep him and his brother safe
1. The wiretaps are symbolic of how the government wants to have complete power and control over disenfranchised communities. Fear drives them to violate civil rights and to take the easy route (using wiretaps) rather than engage in real police work that works to help people rather than control people (not that the major crimes unit isn’t necessarily doing real, deep police work. They are definitely trying to do this, and the wiretaps help them do this, which makes it kind of confusing). However, the power that they have (which is evidenced by their ability to use wiretaps), stands in contrast to the complete lack of control they have. The government can implement these truly draconian systems such as wiretaps and mass incarceration, but it is obvious that these systems have horrible effects on the community, including the destruction of trust between the police and the people, and is nothing more than a bandaid on a the much larger issues that these communities face. It is clear that this system is not working when you look at the lives of the people in West Baltimore. One example that shows how the people in this community don’t feel that the police are their to help them, rather that they are the enemy, is when that sixth grade boy immediately points out that Bunny Colvin is part of the police.
ReplyDelete2. While watching the episode, I definitely felt that Prez was being a pushover and that he needed to show the kids that they needed to respect him if he wanted to have any control whatsoever over his classroom, but looking back I am a bit more unsure as to whether or not what he did was completely wrong. Looking back, I think about how he was probably coming from a place of feeling sympathy for these kids, and I think it’s really important for these kids to have an adult that sees them as humans with real feelings rather than just delinquents. For example, afterwards, there was a nice moment when he was talking with some of his students after class (then donut opened his car for him), and I doubt he would’ve been able to have this nice moment with his students if he had been strict and made them stay in detention. That doesn’t mean I think he necessarily should’ve let them go. I’m unsure. He’s in a difficult position where he both wants to show empathy for his students while also having control over his class room, and I don’t know what the answer is.
3. While watching this, I definitely got the vibe that Namond had been forced to apologize and wasn’t being completely genuine, but maybe I’m not giving him enough credit and am making assumptions based on the type of person I have seen Namond to be previously in the show. Again, as for whether or not Prez should’ve forgiven him, I don’t know. What Namond said earlier was very disrespectful, and if Prez wants control over his class, he needs to show that he won’t be disrespected, so if you’re thinking about it from that perspective, maybe he shouldn’t have forgiven Namond. But also, Prez wants to do more than just control these kids, he wants to be there for them, and if he wants to be the type of figure who can really be there for these kids, he needs to show empathy and compassion, and therefore, forgiving Namond is the way to go. To me, out of context, empathy and compassion is always better than demanding respect, but given the context, I am unsure. These kids need to have someone who respects them and sees them as people, but maybe a safe enough, stable environment is the best thing Prez can realistically provide.
4. All of these kids have seen a lot, and none of them get to be kids in the way they ideally could be, but this is especially true for Duquan. Duquan seems like the weakest of the characters and gets picked on the most. However, this moment shows that he is actually quite hardened. He is desensitized to this sort of thing.
ReplyDelete5. Duquan: Underdog because he gets picked on the most and is a bit of an outsider. He is the character I am most drawn to because he is the biggest underdog.
Namond: I know this is a phrase not a word, but I would describe him as trying to be something he’s not. He wants to be super macho and tough, but in reality he is not. Randy: Clever. He is very smart in a certain sense. You see this when he is selling the candy. He does get caught, so I wouldn’t say he is clever in every sense, but he does have this entrepreneurial spirit that takes a certain level of cleverness.
Michael: Another phrase rather than word, but I would say all around really good guy. Michael has morals (evidenced by when he gives Dukie that sandwich), is smart (evidenced by when he doesn’t take the $200), caring (takes care of this brother), good at boxing, and is well liked. Even though I see him this way, I know there are a lot of issues he’s hiding.
1. I really like Jack’s point about how “The Wire” gives the police insight into the lives of these criminals, and the title of the show is somewhat of a metaphor for how we as the viewer gain insight into all of the secret lives of these characters. Those who use the wire taps are able to watch the lives of these criminals unfold, but they are unable to control what they are doing, and as viewers we are only able to watch as well.
ReplyDelete2. Prez is definitely being a pushover. He has to establish himself as being strict if he wants to gain control over the class. He had been doing well and clearly gaining much more respect, but this incident will definitely set him back. I would imagine that after learning about Dukie, all he wants to do is help him, and so he can’t help but wonder if these kids are in the same situation when they begin begging to leave. They use his strong sense of compassion against him here.
3. I think that Namond is being sincere here. Namond is not the type of person to go out of his way to do things like this, and he only spends his tome doing things that matter to him. If he didn’t feel the need to do this, he simply wouldn’t have. Namond realizes how hard Prez is trying, and he realizes that he is a big reason in Prez’s frustration and failures and he wants to change this.
4. My guess is that Dukie has just lived a much harder life than his peers. He is probably familiar with these types of situations. Having drug addict parents, he has been forced to grow up much faster than his friends, and his sense of imagination and fantasy has been lost. This is why he doesn’t talk about zombies like his friends. He sees the world in a much different way than his friends do.
5. Randy- Clever. Randy is able to get under people’s skin and is able to make people like him because he puts on a persona of an innocent, funny kid. This works, as we see him use these tactics to get on the good side of Prez. He also shows his cleverness with his business and wearing all of the shirts so that he can get away with selling to more kids.
Dukie- Misunderstood. Dukie is much deeper than people realize. Everyone is quick to judge him because he smells bad and looks dirty. No one besides occasionally his friends, realizes that he is actually very smart and compassionate. Dukie is logical, and always keeps a cool head, but nobody sees this because everyone pushes him away.
Namond- Namond is insecure. Namond wants to be like his dad, but he realizes that he isn’t. He puts on a tough, overconfident persona to hide how insecure he feels.
Michael- Michael is caring. He cares for his brother, taking him to school, helping tie his shoes, picks him up, and helps him to get a snack and do homework at home. He also is caring for Dukie.
1. I think the show is called “The Wire” because there is so much going on just below the surface. As we see, even when the detectives get something on the wire, it’s not always clear what the people they’re listening to are saying. There’s much that is literally left unsaid. A viewer can see this on the show too. There are so many classic characters- the drug dealer, the police, the drug addict…. But none of the characters are a stereotype- each person has such a detailed character- it’s even arguable that the assassins in this show, Chris and Snoop, have virtues. You must follow the show closely to uncover what is left unsaid.
ReplyDelete2. When watching this in class, I was surprised that Prez made so many students stay after class. I’m obviously not a teacher, but I don’t think that making students stay after school because they smeared pen on a desk or said an offhand comment about a pencil is really means for punishment. Sure, some of the students don’t seem to care about school, but I doubt that forceful punishment by Prez is going to result in the students caring any more. When he ends detention early, I’d say that Prez is definitely being a pushover, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t the right thing to do. I think Prez needs to decide if he wants to be a teacher that the students believe they can confide in, or if he wants to be a strict, unlikable teacher. Because at this point in time, he seems to be trying to create rules, but he doesn’t actually enforce any of them. But you can tell Prez realizes that he was totally a pushover when he’s walking out the school with Dukie and Randy. Donut tells them about how Ms. Sampson is holding detention, and Prez’s face tells it all. And on another note, I couldn’t help but feel that the whole “sticker chart” idea was condescending- these students are 13 years old, Prez.
3. I believe Namond is being honest here- at times he’s rude to his friends and teachers, but he doesn’t seem to be a bad kid. As Prez said, he does his work in other classes, and he brings up a valid point about the detention, which Prez honors. He doesn’t really have any reason to come and apologize to Prez unless he wants to, as he’s being punished either way. And if his reasoning of, “It’s just the evil gets in me and before I know it, I go off” is how he feels, it seems Namond really didn’t mean to say those things to Prez. In class, after he cusses off Prez, Prez yells at Namond to leave class. But Namond doesn’t until Prez yells, “Go!” (in a way that seems completely inappropriate for a teacher). But in-between Prez telling Namond to leave and then yelling at him a second time, Namond seems really upset about what happened. Just like his pain after seeing Marlo and Michael talk, Namond seems in pain here as well. So I believe Namond didn’t seem to take it that far- we’ve all done this before, pushing the edge past what we meant to do. And I think it was right of Prez to forgive Namond. They treated each other with mutual respect, which I believe each teacher-class relationship should involve.
ReplyDelete4. To me, this is one of the most heartbreaking scenes, and Dukie’s commentary just as tragically upsetting. Dukie seems to be explaining one of the fears about death people always seem to have: when you’re dead, it doesn’t matter who you were. People seem to be infatuated with the idea of a legacy, hoping that people will remember them after they die. But they won’t be around to see it, so why do they care so much? And this situation is even more upsetting in the context of this show. It seems Chris, Snoop, even Lex, kill people without another thought, and the audience doesn’t even learn about most of their victims, not even their names. Chris murdered the delivery woman, Hattie, just to allow Marlo to get back at Omar. She’s just another person senselessly murdered- in the show only a minute before her death (the only reason we know her name is the nametag on her shirt, right over her heart- which is then covered over in her blood after she is shot). I think Dukie realizes this in his comment, “He dead. They all is.” When you’re dead, you’re just dead. Nothing more than that, as tragic as that is. And to see Dukie so easily say this, even accept it, is really upsetting to me. He’s had to experience the pain of the world before anyone should ever have to. Another part of this scene I think is upsetting is when Michael says, “Yo, man, it stinks, man,” to which Dukie says, “Ain’t like it was.” I wonder if Dukie had been in the building before this- he obviously knows how to get inside and where to go.
1. As Sabrina, Hunter, and Kayla have said, I think that this show is called The Wire because of the amount of connection and secret communication there is. Everyone in the show is connected, and it’s displayed throughout the show countless times. Prez, an ex cop, works at the school that has Namond, the son of Wee Bay, a previous hit man to a top drug dealer, and Michael, a potential recruit for Marlo. Mayor Royce is obviously corrupt, and his actions affect all those below him, including the Kima and Lester, two of the show’s main cops. The Wire, in addition to a physical device that allows the cops to pick up on what drug dealers are saying, is also a symbol for the communication that is present in the show. As we watch more of the show, it becomes clear that almost everyone knows each other, which also plays into the whole purpose of the wire: to find out more information about the suspects.
ReplyDelete2. I think in this situation, Prez is doing the right thing. I’m pretty sure that they’re manipulating him, but in my opinion, it’s ok for him to let them go the first time as long as he’s more strict all of the following times. It’s possible that Zenobia really was hungry and was agreeing to not be rude to Prez again, but it’s also possible that she was just lying to be released. However, I think that regardless of the situation, it’s ok for Prez to let the students off the hook the first time so that he’s liked as long as he does not let them off the hook the rest of the times. It’s imperative that he earns their respect, and they won’t respect him if he continues to allow them to do what they want. He has to lay down the law eventually.
3. I think that Namond is playing Prez here. However, I can’t figure out why. Almost all of the students we’ve seen so far are extremely manipulative, and I think it’s a mechanism they’ve developed to get what they want in a city where they’re deprived. Namond is no exception to the manipulative personality, but I’m not sure why he would apologize to Prez. It’s clear that his dad doesn’t care a lot about school; Namond says so himself when talking to his father in prison. It might be to please his mother. Her priorities seem slightly more school oriented than Wee Bay’s and she displays this when she buys Namond clothes for his first day. Additionally, Namond gets suspended, so it could be that he’s only sorry because he was called out for his behavior. Similarly to the previous question, I think it’s ok for Prez to forgive the first time. A problem arises when he continuously shows forgiveness in situations where he shouldn’t. Namond will truly show he’s sorry if he doesn’t repeat his negative actions, and if he does, I think Prez should hold him accountable.
4. As almost everyone has already stated, I think the reason Dukie isn’t as sensitive to the dead body is because he’s exposed many death related situations. It’s clear that his home life is the hardest of the four kids, and I think that because of it, he’s less naive about death. He understands that in the part of town he lives, death is not an unusual occurrence. For the other three kids, death seems further away, and that’s why they can make up stories about those around them that have been killed. For Dukie, death is a reality; zombie talk seems silly when his parents are close to death everyday.
5. The word that I would use to describe Duquan is resilient. I choose this word because it seems that he’s able to handle his situation well, and he doesn’t let his lack of food, water, clothes, etc get in the way of school. The word I would use to describe Namond is cowardly. I choose this word because Namond talks a big game but doesn’t have the skill to back it up; he folds easily and doesn’t defend his friends when given the chance. The word I would use to describe Randy is strategic. I choose this word because he properly uses the skills he’s given to his advantage. He’s made a business out of selling food to little kids, and for a while, he was able to figure out how to avoid from getting caught. The word that I would use to describe Michael is unwavering. I choose this word because Michael is a good guy that stays true to his values and doesn’t let anything get in the way of his goals. I’m most drawn to Michael because of how hardworking and determined he is. He cares for his little brother and goes to the gym to work out everyday. He’s also good at what he does, which makes those around him respect him. While working as a drug runner, he doesn’t budge when the druggies try to get more out of him, and Bodie sees and respects him for it.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the show is still called "The Wire" because the Wiretapping department or just wiretapping in general will come into play again later in the season. Most of the phones owned by Stanfield and his group are still able to be wiretapped, so I predict that one of them will be accessed to help the police force stop Stanfield. The wire could also the represent connections between people going on, and how large and interconnected the drug trade is in Baltimore.
ReplyDeleteI feel like Pres isn't being a pushover by letting the kids go earlier, but I think that he feels bad for them and the situation they're in. The no food part seemed to really offset Pres and make him think more about what they're coming home to after school. Pres could be more resilient about gauging the kids wants to their needs, but I assume Pres will become more forceful with his rules the longer he continues to teach the kids.
In my opinion, I believe that Namond is partly sincere, and partly playing Pres so he wont have to deal with the consequences of his actions. I feel like Namond does not feel hate towards Pres and doesn't like to argue with him, but at the same time, I also think that Namond does not prefer Pres as his teacher because his previous job as a cop. So far, its hard for me to decide if Namond "truly" likes Pres, but right now I'm leaning towards that his apology was sincere.
I believe that Duquan didn't feel as "spooked" as the other boys did about the dead body because of his exposure to violence and crime. The other boys such as Randy and Micheal do live in another area than Duquan that is "nicer" and has less exposure to crime, so I wouldn't be surprised if Duquan's living conditions put him into a situation that he had to see a dead body. It also could've also been off chance that Duquan saw a dead body while the others didn't, but his lowered living conditions than the other boys' is my best guess.
Namond- I would describe Namond as "closed-minded" because of his thought of his only career choice as being a drug dealer, and his captivation on fulfilling his dad's idea of him following in his footsteps.
Randy- I would describe Randy as creative because of his ability to exploit/take advantage of his current situation at home and at school to benefit him positively. This is represented by his business of dealing snacks at school and his idea to take multiple hall passes from Pres when he wasn't paying attention to use whenever he likes.
Micheal- I would describe Micheal as friendly because of the care that he gives to his brother daily and the way he made a friend from the other boxer that he saw a match with.
Duquan- I would describe Duquan as misunderstood because of the ways people around him characterize him by his condition rather than his personality. This can be seen by the way Namond's mom rejects him because of the dirtiness of his clothes and how his classmates tease him because of the way he smells.
Lastly, I would say right now I am the most drawn to Micheal because of his care for his brother and his passion towards boxing. Before the last few episodes, the show hadn't fully told Micheal's story so I had seen him as a flat "supporting" character to Randy and Namond. But now that the show has elaborated on Micheal's story, I feel more sympathetic towards Micheal and want to know more about what shaped him to be who he is in the last episode(s).
I’m not exactly sure as to why the show is called The Wire, but my guess is that it’s because the wire tapping is what connects the police to people on the street. The Wire isn’t a cop show or a political show, it’s about all of these things and how they intertwine in Baltimore. The wire tapping connection is reflective of the connection not only between the police and drug dealers, but also of the connections of everyone in Baltimore.
ReplyDeleteI can see why some might think this is the right thing to do, and how Prez was tempted to let them go, but I think he lost all power when he gave in to the students. I’m not sure what’s the right way to go about trying to control these kids, but I think Prez was starting to gain some respect when he began enforcing rules. When he let everyone leave detention, none of the previous work he had done to establish his dominance mattered anymore.
The apology from Namond seemed sincere to me. While he might have been forced to apologize to Prez by the principle, Namond still made things right between him and his teacher. I don’t think Prez was wrong to forgive Namond. I think whether Namonds apology was genuine or not is hard to tell, so Prez was right to assume positive and sincere intentions.
I think Duquan isn’t very ‘spooked’ by the dead person because he has been desensitized to death. This might have happened because he’s seen this or other bodies before, or maybe because of other things he has seen on the streets or in his home life.
When I think of Duquan I think of his tough home life. So, in a word, I think of Duquan as underprivileged. Namond is cocky. While he of course has more depth, like all the characters in this show, Namond spends most of his time trying to be the dominant one of his friend group and acting full of himself. Randy is crafty. I say this mostly because of his entrepreneurial business he has going on at the school. He was very smart in the way that he played Prez to trust him, and also with the whole system of selling snacks that he made up. Michael is strong. I say this because of the interactions he has with Marlo and Marlo’s crew. Even though they are very intimidating and persuasive, Michael stays strong in what he believes in. For this alone, Michael is a very respectable character.
I think the name “The Wire” has to do with the relation each person, group, etc has with everyone else. The Wire, as opposed to the wires, alludes to the fact that each person is linked in one form or another through some metaphorical wire. For example, Carcetti isn’t just a standalone politician whose connection to the drug trade surfaces solely through his words. Carcetti is linked to the Major through their friendship/support of each other, and the major is directly linked to the other police around Baltimore who investigate Marlo. To go even farther, Michaels story line can be connected to Carcetti's through their relations to Marlo, the police, etc.
ReplyDeleteI think, given previous information from other teachers about how the students act, Prez is being a pushover. From the beginning, he was told he must be authoritative and keep the kids under control. Obviously, when he lets them go, he’s doing the opposite. I think Prez must stay firm in his ultimatums, like giving detention, in order to keep the kids under control. However, I don’t think Prez needs to be a complete hardass. He just has to realize when and when not to compromise/give in to the students wishes.
I honestly can’t tell either way how sincere Namond’s apology is. It would make sense if he’s being insincere considering how he’s acted every other time in the class. However, when he says it he’s with his buddies, and neither Namond nor his friends give any sign that Namond is playing Prez. If he was lying about being sorry, I feel like Michael, Duquan, or Randy would have looked at each other like, “he’s so bad at fake apologies”, or something of the sort. Either way, in this case I think Prez should have forgiven Namond. If Prez is strict in his punishments/rules during the classes, and holds to them even after the kids apologize, the students could realize that fake apologies won’t due them any good. However, not apologizing at all could make them more susceptible to Prez’s ire. Eventually the students who are actually sincere might realize that being sincere benefits them.
I think Duquan isn’t very spooked because a combination of many factors. For one, the fact that he’s seen the body before dampens his surprise and fear of it. Furthermore, Duquan’s at home life has taken a toll on him. We know that his parents, house, etc are in terrible condition. Duquan has seen and experienced to much negativity and fear already, that a single dead body isn’t that much to him. Finally, tying to the previous fact about Duquan’s home life, I think he has a better maturity, understanding, and intelligence of life and the world which he and his friends live in. He’s mature/smart enough not to believe in zombies, and sees the body simply as a body. Nothing more.
ReplyDeleteI would use the word “mature” to describe Duquan because I think he’s mentally older than his fellow friends, and beyond his age. Duquan understands more about the world, or is at least a little more cynical that the other three boys. He’s been forced to abandon parts of his childhood, which has made him more mature. I think the word “pressured” is a good one to describe Namond. Yes he seems very cowardly and is a bit of a jerk, but I think much of his attitude and actions are due to the pressure he gets from his mom, dad, and the other adults in his world. His dad was a former Barksdale, who had money and a reputation. I think Namond feels, and is told that he has to live up to and even surpass his dads achievements. Randy is “cunning”. With his entrepreneur candy business, and the way he sweet talks Prez and other people around him, Randy is pretty smart and sneaky. Even if he believes in zombies. I would describe Michael as “driven”. His parenting of his brother, consistency at the gym, perseverance at school, and knowledge about his job show just how motivated to do well/good Michael is. I feel the most drawn to Randy. I can relate to his imaginative, quick wit, funny sense of humor, and even his feeling of distress when he realized he might have helped aid an unfortunate event, in his case a murder.