A Spatial Analysis of Crime: ‘The Wire’ and Depictions of Urban Crime

Abstract

This chapter sets out to examine the topic of a spatial analysis of urban crime through an analysis of David Simon’s seminal television series The Wire. By developing an analysis of the issues that are presented in the series, issues such as race, ethnicity and representation will be addressed in order to add to the understanding of these topics in relation to race and media representations. Each section will address a set of themes which are evident in The Wire. The chapter highlights the idea of race in the series and how characters are presented on screen. The research is also concerned with economic issues depicted in the series and the effect of the economy on the characters in Baltimore, the U.S. city in which The Wire was set.

The conclusion of the chapter addresses poverty class and inequality as topics and sets out to document these themes in relation to race. The third chapter also discusses the racism and discrimination that is apparent in The Wire. By contextualising the series, the book is attempting to theorise relevant issues surrounding race, gender and power through an examination of relevant literature and the development of a theoretical framework from which key issues will be addressed.

Citation

Leonard, S. (2017), "A Spatial Analysis of Crime: ‘The Wire’ and Depictions of Urban Crime", Environmental Criminology (Advances in Sustainability and Environmental Justice, Vol. 20), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 103-133. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2051-503020170000020007