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Monday, May 24, 2010 9:34 PM UTC

“24,” the show that defined a decade

A video essay looks at the profound impact of Fox's real-time political thriller, whose finale airs tonight

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Topics: 24, Television,

Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer in "24"

It’s hard to imagine the last decade without Jack Bauer. As “24” takes its final bow tonight on Fox, Matt Zoller Seitz and Aaron Aradillas have unpacked the show’s far-reaching cultural impact in a terrific five-part video series for the Museum of the Moving Image. As the first installment begins:

“If you’re looking for a series to remind you what it felt like to be alive and American in the aughts, ’24′ is the show to beat. ‘The Sopranos,’ ‘Deadwood,’ ‘The Shield’ and other cable series were more acclaimed for their artistry, perhaps rightly so, but ’24′ was as conceptually bold as its peers, and it aired on a broadcast network, a venue in which job 1 was to thrill. And with its combination beat-the-clock plotting, R-rated violence, and straightforward engagement with the dominant political issues of the day, ’24′ changed our perceptions of what a dramatic series could do.”

Watch the entire first video below, and to watch the full series at The House Next Door, click here.

Salon Staff

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Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

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