The spectrum Vonnegut creates is so simple yet so applicable to so many different stories. The curve spectrum is a newer and simpler version of the story plot we learn in grade school (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, conclusion), but the curve somehow easily represents an entire story in itself. Vonnegut breaks a story down into its simplest form through focusing on the movement of good and bad, or poverty and wealth, in a story.

When applying this spectrum to the Wire, I almost imagine it looking like the jagged line shown in the first episode when McNulty first comes across wiring. The first season of the show is a jumpy line throughout each episode, it never stops moving and constantly goes up and down with each action and character. I think Vonnegut’s explanation is interesting, but must be applied to each character in the show in order to make sense because when looking at the show as a whole, everything changes constantly. It would be really interesting to trace the cop side and the drug dealing side at least.