The Wire’s creator was recently awarded a MacArthur “genius” grant. Many critics consider it the greatest television program of all time. Harvard and Yale offer courses on the show. Yes, it’s that good. The DePaul Library has long carried season one, and I am delighted to announce that we now own all five seasons of The Wire. The Wire can be a difficult show to watch, both stylistically and because of its content. It is written more like a novel than a T.V. show and thus demands a lot from the viewer. Still, if you commit to the program, you will not be disappointed. The Wire is temporarily on reserve, but you can still borrow headphones and watch a few episodes in the Library’s media lab. DVD. 791.4575 W798s12004
I didn’t know what to expect when I heard that Robert Crumb had published an illustrated version of the Book of Genesis. One of the most celebrated artists of the “underground comix” movement, Crumb’s work ranges from silly to provocative to downright profane. Yet in his graphic novel adaptation of Genesis, Crumb remains appropriately serious. The book includes every word of the Book of Genesis and illustrations make the text come alive in the uniquely R. Crumb fashion without being offensive or disrespectful. If you’ve never read Genesis, or want to experience it in a new way, check out Robert Crumb’s illustrated version of The Book of Genesis. Available at the Richardson Library, 222.1105209 B7243.
As state and federal governments continue to debate how best to address budget deficits, many politicians and pundits are calling for drastic cuts to public funding for services and programs. One such budget item that is sometimes cited as superfluous and expendable is public spending for the arts. Lambert Zuidervaart disagrees with this assertion in his new book Art in Public: Politics, Economics, and a Democratic Culture. Taking a polar opposite position, Zuidervaart argues that the arts help foster democratic communication and creative dialogue and are thus essential for a healthy democracy. As such, he believes that cuts to public funding for the arts are detrimental to civil society. Read Zuidervaart’s argument for yourself by checking out Art in Public, available at the Richardson Library, 700.1 Z945A