Come and Be Shocked: Baltimore beyond John Waters and The Wire

The film "Come and Be Shocked" explores the cultural history and racial politics of contrasting images of Baltimore, from the 1950s to the early twenty-first century. It examines how artists created powerful images of the city and how public policy shapes cultural representations. It also investigates the rise of tourism, urban branding, and citizen activism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2020
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press

Baltimore, a city with a rich cultural heritage and a complex history, has been the subject of numerous films, television shows, novels, plays, poems, and songs over the years. Whether it's the small-town eccentricity of Charm City or the gang violence of Bodymore, Murdaland, Baltimore has played a significant role in popular culture about cities since the 1950s. In her book "Come and Be Shocked," Mary Rizzo delves into the cultural history and racial politics of these contrasting images of the city.

Rizzo examines how artists have created powerful images of Baltimore throughout different periods, from the 1950s, a period of urban crisis and renewal, to the early twenty-first century. She explores how these imaginary cities affect the real cities we live in, how public policy shapes the cultural representations artists create, and why the relationship between artists and Baltimore city officials has been so fraught, resulting in public battles over film permits and censorship.

To answer these questions, Rizzo explores the rise of tourism, urban branding, and citizen activism. She considers artists working in the margins, such as the East Baltimore poets writing in Chicory, a community magazine funded by the Office of Economic Opportunity, and a young John Waters, who shot his early low-budget movies on the streets, guerrilla-style. She also investigates more mainstream art, including the teen dance sensation "The Buddy Deane Show," the comedy-drama "Roc," the crime show "The Wire," from Anne Tyler's award-winning book "The Accidental Tourist," to Barry Levinson's movie classic "Diner."

Through her comprehensive analysis, Rizzo sheds light on the complex relationship between artists, Baltimore city officials, and the broader cultural landscape. "Come and Be Shocked" is a valuable contribution to the study of urban culture, race, and representation, offering a fresh perspective on the city's rich artistic legacy.

Weight: 546g
Dimension: 163 x 235 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781421437910