From David Simon’s letter to the people of New Orleans:

Pablo Picasso famously said that art is the lie that shows us the truth”.

By referencing what is real, or historical, a fictional narrative can speak in a powerful, full-throated way to the problems and issues of our time. And a wholly imagined tale, set amid the intricate and accurate details of a real place and time, can resonate with readers in profound ways. In short, drama is its own argument.