Aspects of Neoliberalism in the work of David Simon

master's thesis

• Author: Filip Poparić-Grgas
• Mentor: Stipe Grgas (mentor)
• Committee member: Sven Cvek (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2020-07-01, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics

Abstract

Contemporary United States of America follows the neoliberal doctrine. Whereas neoliberalism managed to elevate capitalism to a new level and establish the United States as the most powerful country in the world, it also had adverse effects on ordinary people. Economic gap between the rich and the poor has never been as substantial as it is now. This paper aims to determine what neoliberalism is and how it functions in various spheres of public life by examining the prominent institutions of the United States such as local government, the police, and the military, through the work of David Simon. The study will include an overview of neoliberalism, the manner in which a neoliberal city functions, a closer look at David Simon’s career as a journalist as well as his work on HBO, an analysis of neoliberal aspects in his series The Wire and Generation Kill, and an examination of the current administration of the USA, led by President Donald Trump.

Abstract (croatian)

Suvremene Sjedinjenje Američke Države slijede neoliberalnu doktrinu. Neoliberalizam je uspješno podigao kapitalizam na novu razinu i potvrdio status SAD-a kao najmoćnije države svijeta, ali je istovremeno imao štetan učinak na prosječnog čovjeka. Ekonomski raskorak između bogatih i siromašnih nikad nije bio veći nego danas. Ovaj rad pokušati će odrediti što je to neoliberalizam i kako on funkcionira u različitim sferama javnog života kroz analizu bitnih institucija SAD-a kao što su lokalna vlada, policija, i vojska, kroz djela Davida Simona. Studija će uključivati pregled neoliberalizma, način na koji neoliberalni grad funkcionira, analizu novinarske karijere Davida Simona i njegovog rada u HBO-u, analizu neoliberalnih aspekata u njegovim televizijskim serijama The Wire i Generation Kill, te pregled trenutne administracije SAD-a, vođene predsjednikom Donaldom Trumpom.

• Keywords: Neoliberalism; David Simon; Donald Trump; the city; the government; the military
• Keywords (croatian): Neoliberalizam; David Simon; Donald Trump; grad; vlada; vojska
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:444088
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (single major); specializations in: TEFL, Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation; Course: Literature and Culture; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2020-06-29 10:43:26