This week was inspiration week and I really liked it because it gave us the time to think and reflect on everyone’s work. Everyone in the class has done such awesome and clever work and I was happy to have the time to look through it all. We had to post three assignments we were inspired by and I chose Jessica Reingold’s Kodak commercial, Maggie Stough’s Edward Scissorhands silent film and Imrah Ahmed’s ending bumper for the Wire Buyers radio show. These works really helped me put myself to think more about my work and to be clever, but they also drove home the idea of different types of storytelling.
We also had to do ten comments on peoples’ blogs this week. I did a few more, but here are my first ten:
1. Maggie Stough‘s Edward Scissorhands silent movie assignment
2. Carmela Mitchell’s “Half&Half Indie” daily create
3. Amy Wallace‘s inspired post on Carmela Mitchell
4. David Mercer‘s “Flow Sweet Like Cinnamon” post
5. Maggie Stough‘s analysis of season 3, episode 6
6. Brittany‘s post on the Wire episodes
7. Lauren Brumfield‘s “Glow Art” post
8. Brittany’s TDSN radio show reflection
9. Carmella’s “WOW WireBuyers” post
10. Amy Wallace‘s “Snowman”
I did two daily creates this week. The first gave me time to have fun on a new app by making a light painting and the second on my ultimate snowman for the winter drawing daily create.
This week we had to listen to and tweet along with a class radio show and then comment in a blog post. I tweeted along to the awesome “Science of the Wire” radio show and wrote a follow-up analysis post on it.
Wire:
Episode 5-
This episode was sort of boring to me. I didn’t feel that too much happened in the beginning. I did like how Bubbles is helping Kima more, it’s for the money, but at least he isn’t getting into trouble…for now. The cops are still working and McNulty’s meeting with Stringer showed the dynamic that Stringer is basically untouchable. The meetings with Stringer and his crew is interesting because now it is more of a large committee. Even Stringer’s helper says they are putting away petty problems and acting like Republicans. Avon is finally out of jail so Stringer will have him back. I’m interested to see how that dynamic goes. The cops might be a problem for the business though as they are really pushing people out of certain areas in the city. Stringer has a completely new system for the drug system and Kima and McNulty are watching. Meanwhile “Hamsterdam” is running strong.
Episode 6-
This episode’s beginning was pretty cruel. You really see the dealers being forced into a cage of sorts. The cops are pushing everyone into the same place and punishing those who don’t comply with the rules. I think there may be some sort of blowup soon. Avon is not the top anymore. Stringer is even more of the brain and I think there may be some issues between him and hot-headed Avon in the future. Avon seems confused by Stringer’s new way of conducting business and the big picture seems a bit too big and new for him. “Like businessmen,” Avon japes. The two roles they play are drifting apart. Avon is working behind Stringer’s back to go back into the game, while Stringer is fighting with high up officials to get what he need. The gangster and the businessman at work…against each other?
We get some more insight into McNulty’s sad life and Daniels’ relationship with his ‘wife.’ I loved the part where the officer visits the old woman in her home and tries to offer her a house outside of the city. We get a sense of before and after of the city, but the old woman also points out the blatant truth: that these cops are doing nothing about the way the city has become. They are not tackling the real problem, but only cleaning up corners.
Bunk’s insight to his past life was nice to hear. He used to be one of the many drug dealers we have seen, but now he is a cop. He is an exception and got out of the hell. This is why he is so worried about getting the murderer to every death, because everyone matters, and he is tired of the dictators on the street that cause the piles of bodies.
Episode 7-
The McNulty-Daniels relationship is once again on the rocks. Bubbles’ view of “Hamsterdam” is a glimpse into the new hell that the cops have created. It’s like a new red light district for drugs, almost like a blocked out warzone. The cops created this hell and are mad when the rules are not followed by its inmates.
Kima is again fighting with her partner and admits to her anger in the change in their relationship. Kima is even kicked out of her house, a very McNulty-esqe move. We also see children when the cops round up all of the neighborhood kids. One wonders what will happen to them. Now the cops are acting like babysitters. There are a lot of injustices happening because of the cops and the city seems in more trouble if anything. Not even Kima and McNulty knew what was happening with “Hamsterdam.” In the ensuing discussion, Kima says “you’re legalizing drugs,” which is so interesting considering what is happening. This whole situation is basically a system to save a portion of town and I have a feeling it will end in a mess. And at the end it looks like the cops just find out Avon is out. Nice going.
It was really great to be able to take a step back this week from my own work and focus on everyone else’s in the class. There is some exceptional work that has arisen and I think everyone in the class is awesome for being able to accomplish so much.
