The lecture, which is linked to Professor Jensen’s recent monograph, will focus on television series created by one of the most significant creators of contemporary American culture, showrunner David Simon. The primary focus of Simon’s work is the condition of the modern American city, and all of his series depict various aspects of metropolitan life. While each work offers a unique perspective on the American city, collectively, they provide a nuanced and multifaceted examination of urban challenges in the United States, encompassing themes such as deindustrialization in The Wire, residential segregation in Show Me a Hero, the impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans in Treme, and the transformation of downtown in The Deuce.
Associate Professor Mikkel Jensen from Aalborg University is a distinguished scholar with a key interest in American culture, society, and media. Prof. Jensen’s research centers on how television shows depict American urbanity and has published on how media texts engage with contemporary historical developments such as deindustrialization and anti-urbanism.
Prof. Jensen’s recent monograph, published by Manchester University Press in 2024, explores the works of showrunner David Simon and their engagement with historical realities in American cities.
