VICE Does America

VICE Does America is an engaging and evocative docuseries from 2016 produced by Viceland. The series takes a spellbinding, in-depth and balanced look at the pertinent issues shaping our society while revealing the many faces of contemporary America.

The docuseries is hosted by The Atlantic writer and correspondent Abdullah Saeed, alongside comedians and stand-up artists Wilbert L. Cooper and Martina de Alba. Together, they embark on an epic, cross-country road trip across the length and breadth of the United States, exploring the rich diversity and sheer enormity of American culture. Their journey spans a total of 17 US cities, weaving an intricate tapestry of people, places, and political landscapes in their wake.

Throughout the series, the hosts inspect the defining features and pressing issues of the varying locales, engaging with a diverse array of communities. Encountering diverse cultures, subcultures, expectations, and ideologies, they dig beneath the surface of these many strata of American society. They not only present an intimate reflection of contemporary America, but they also set about to challenge and build their own understanding of what it truly means to be an American.

In each episode, the trio explore thought-provoking and pertinent topics such as immigration, injustice, marginalized communities, and economic disparity, providing viewers with an in-depth and diverse perspective on America. The hosts entertain open discussions and debates, often with local experts, expressing different points of views to bring an unbiased and balanced perspective on sensitive subjects. They offer opinions, agree, and disagree, promoting insight and understanding through authentic dialogues.

Saeed, Cooper, and de Alba, together with a talented team of writers, directors and cinematographers, deliver an unprecedented look at the contrasts and contradictions of America, examining both its conventional beauty and its challenging realities. They engage with reality rather than sensationalism, spanning the socio-cultural-political milieu that speaks to the very quantity and quality of America’s vast spectrum of experiences.

Notably distinguishing VICE Does America from other travelogue formats is its effective use of humor as a tool for engagement and narrative development. The hosts’ distinct personalities, backgrounds, and their impressive stand-up comedy experience create a viewing experience that is at once entertaining and enlightening, augmenting the raw and unfiltered authenticity of their journey.

The robust storytelling employed within the series is an amalgamation of raw emotions, reluctant truths, and irrepressible humor. It is an unflinching series that mirrors America's contradictions and its equally compelling and complex narratives.

Moreover, the fact that the road trip is done in an old RV adds an element of adventure and unpredictability to the series. The RV often breaks down, presenting the hosts with unexpected challenges and detours, leading them to diverse experiences.

The cinematography within the series is worth mentioning, as it captures the inherent and expansive beauty of various American locales. From the mesmerizing grandeur of vast plains to the captivating magnificence of towering skyscrapers, the visual content adds a potent substance to the already engaging narrative.

In the end, VICE Does America does more than just present a cross-section of the American landscape—it presents an immersive dive into the heart of America’s societal, cultural, and political landscape. It serves as an enlightening vehicle of understanding that showcases the unadulterated reality of America’s constantly evolving narrative.

Challenging, humorous and at times, heart-wrenching, this docuseries provides its viewers with a fascinating exploration of the many different mundanities and marvels that ultimately constitute the American ethos. In watching VICE Does America, viewers are taken on a complex and vital journey, offering a unique perspective on the vast diversity and intrinsic nuances within the American collective.

To sum up, VICE Does America stands as an evocative monument to the 21st Century American experience, shedding light on its many compelling realities as seen through the eyes of its three charming hosts. This is a must-watch series for anyone interested in understanding the multi-faceted richness of modern-day America and its intricate social fabric.