Comments on: Reading Between the Lines: The Wire’s Poster Art http://www.extratextual.tv/2008/01/reading-between-the-lines-the-wires-poster-art/ Up The Content Stream Without A Paddle Sun, 25 Sep 2011 11:55:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Jonathan Gray http://www.extratextual.tv/2008/01/reading-between-the-lines-the-wires-poster-art/comment-page-1/#comment-318 Jonathan Gray Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:19:46 +0000 http://www.extratextual.tv/2008/01/reading-between-the-lines-the-wires-poster-art/#comment-318 <em>I wonder if it isn’t the ad, so much as the way that the Wire as a series makes us read the ad despite itself</em> I'd go along with that. Though the lack of an article on, say, "Drug Problem the Curse of Baltimore" or something like that is kind of telling, the show beats the advertising, and likely frames it completely, yes. The Midas touch :-) I wonder if it isn’t the ad, so much as the way that the Wire as a series makes us read the ad despite itself

I’d go along with that. Though the lack of an article on, say, “Drug Problem the Curse of Baltimore” or something like that is kind of telling, the show beats the advertising, and likely frames it completely, yes. The Midas touch :-)

]]> By: Derek http://www.extratextual.tv/2008/01/reading-between-the-lines-the-wires-poster-art/comment-page-1/#comment-317 Derek Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:27:49 +0000 http://www.extratextual.tv/2008/01/reading-between-the-lines-the-wires-poster-art/#comment-317 Great post, Jonathan...I too love the Wire's focus on institutions, and yet I wonder how much credit the marketers who created this image deserve for capturing that. Is it pointing to media blindspots in downplaying the series' African American characters and themes by focusing on McNulty and Carcetti, or replicating them? Presumably it's the same promotional staff who came up with the promo that ends "...and McNulty is drinking again" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFQVSvG5x54), emphasizing that one popular, white character. Why wouldn't they emphasize him in their print ads as well? His status as first-billed star might in some ways demand his inclusion from a marketing standpoint. I guess I wonder if it isn't the ad, so much as the way that the Wire as a series makes us read the ad despite itself. The Wire forces us to consider these things institutionally, as you say, and that can't help but bleed into promotions for it that might be produced outside of the control of the series' producers. Great post, Jonathan…I too love the Wire’s focus on institutions, and yet I wonder how much credit the marketers who created this image deserve for capturing that. Is it pointing to media blindspots in downplaying the series’ African American characters and themes by focusing on McNulty and Carcetti, or replicating them? Presumably it’s the same promotional staff who came up with the promo that ends “…and McNulty is drinking again” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFQVSvG5×54), emphasizing that one popular, white character. Why wouldn’t they emphasize him in their print ads as well? His status as first-billed star might in some ways demand his inclusion from a marketing standpoint. I guess I wonder if it isn’t the ad, so much as the way that the Wire as a series makes us read the ad despite itself. The Wire forces us to consider these things institutionally, as you say, and that can’t help but bleed into promotions for it that might be produced outside of the control of the series’ producers.

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