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Dishant Donga
Professor Harrison
Writing 39B
17, Aug 2014
Sherlock Holmes: Prodigy of the 21st century
Modernity, a term coined by Tom Gunning, a distinguished professor from the
University of Chicago, asserts that the Industrial Revolution is the catalyst which forever
changed the way humans lived and interact with one another (Gunning, 15). But these changes
were not only limited to technological and industrial advances; in fact, drama, theater, and
literature have fared prosperity as well. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle, had its surge of popularity in the late Victorian era; its audience, comprised mainly of
middle-class Europeans, responded ecstatically to these collections of twelve short-stories. In
the debut novel, A Study in Scarlet, Doyle introduced his new characters, consulting detective
Sherlock Holmes and his friend and sidekick, John Watson, to the European public; needless to
say, its popularity would not have been possible without the rapid expansion of the middle
class in the Victorian era. As George Dove noted in his book, The Reader and the Detective
Story, such stories were entertaining to read as well as intellectually stimulating it allowed
the readers to speculate and come to their own conclusions (Doyle, 3). He argued that Holmess
intelligence is another key factor in its widespread success; and that, the readers approached
these stories to witness his deductive magic tricks in action (Doyle, 5). 125 years later,
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enthusiasts can delve into similar magic tricks in modern adaptations of the tales of Sherlock
Holmes. These contemporary creations, largely in the form of films and television series, have
been thoughtfully modernized, or updated, to fit the perspective of the 21st century audience.
But they still convey a common message; that, Holmess intellect is as unparalleled as ever, and
that, without it, the incompetent police force is rendered helpless. Often compared to a
machine, Holmess deductive methods are one of a kind; hes cold, emotionless, and dead set
on finding the absolute truth behind a particular phenomenon. His sheer focus on rationalism
reflects the ideologies of the society in which he was created an era driven by advances in
science and reasoning.
Robert Doherty, creator of the popular CBS series Elementary, has brought back the
famous detective in a new city, with new criminals, and a new audience; starring Jonny Miller as
young Sherlock Holmes with his trusty partner, Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson. Together, these
two embark on difficult, and often dangerous, journeys to take on New Yorks biggest and most
elusive criminals of the 21
st
century. As opposed to the original Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,
this series adapts and adheres to a more modern convention. Television series such as
Sherlock and Elementary have secured their respective viewers by employing new techniques in
storytelling, writing, and advanced cinematography, whilst maintaining a few of the Victorian
conventions.
Zack Handlen, a contributor for the A.V. Club, published by The Onion, suggests that
Elementary is superior to its BBC counterpart in many areas; It has more episodes, better
supporting cast, and most importantly, a protagonist that is able to undergo growth and
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change to accommodate to the new audience (A.V. Club, online). Having said so, not
everything is transformed in the series to adhere to the 21
st
century audience. The viewers still
see the same Sherlock Holmes that Doyle had intended, a man of astonishing intellectual
aptitude who will go to any and all lengths to uncover a puzzle especially if the police force
cannot solve it on their own. This 21
st
century Sherlock Holmes embodies similar thinking
methods of that of the Victorian Era; both versions emphasize the importance of small details,
and the role they play in uncovering the bigger problem. In How to think like Sherlock
Holmes, Maria Konnikova accentuates upon this thought approach and labels it as System
Holmes (Konnikova, 18). She assesses that, this method of thinking and analysis, sets Holmes
apart from everyone else; that, he has trained his mind to *impose+ reflective thought where
there should rightly be reflexive reaction (Konnikova, 23).
In the first episode of season 2 of Elementary, Holmes is poised to use his methods of
deduction to help inspector Lestrade uncover a particularly difficult case. Along with Watson,
Holmes flies to London to bring new insight in a murder case; specifically, uncover the identity
of the murderer, and how he killed his victim and disposed of the weapon thereafter. After
collecting enough data, as he calls it, Holmes begins to speculate what likely happened to the
victim. At this point into the episode, Holmes, Watson, and Lestrade have situated themselves
in an abandoned theater to collaborate on their respective findings. As Holmes meticulously
explains what likely happened to the victim, directors and cinematographers have
simultaneously employed their own techniques to bring our attention to Holmes imagination
and the manner in which he goes about solving crimes. First, a flashback scene reveals to the
viewers that the victim was shot by a plastic gun made from a 3-D printer. Shortly after, the
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culprit got rid of the plastic gun by melting it in a bottle of acetone, which coincidentally
resembles a harmless bottle of milk something that the police force overlooked. Holmes
made this connection from a particular nail in the wall at the murder scene. This sort of
reasoning should not be a surprise as Holmes was known for his reflective approach from his
Victorian days; perhaps, another element of his that has been carried over to modern
iterations. Second, the cinematographers have purposely selected a set where there is little to
no contrast, resulting from angled lighting. As Yale film site describes it, this low-key lighting
tends to add mystery and suspense to an already enigmatic scene. Hence, the viewers are more
likely to stay attentive, or even get involved, in solving of the mystery. George Dove had
predicted such behavior in this genre; He argued that detective fiction is an exhibition of
mental gymnastics, in which the reader (in this case, viewer) is invited to take part (Dove, 3).
Robert Doherty modernizes Holmess persona to make his character more universally
appealing, especially given the romantic entanglements involved. In the last episode of season
1 of Elementary, Holmes is reunited with Irene Adler, the woman of his life, later revealed to be
Moriarty, the mastermind consulting criminal. The scene at the hospital, where Holmes is
being treated for his apparent over-dose, is important as it allows the viewers to see Holmes
under a different light, under intense turmoil; one could tell that he is suffering emotionally
from facing Moriarty, who was once the love of his life. As the scene progresses, the close-up
shots of the actors also increase in frequency; these close-ups further portray the emotions of
lost love, disorder, and drama. Doherty has morphed the deductive machine that once negated
all sentiments into someone capable of experiencing empathy and camaraderie; And, by doing
so, hes gathered the attention of many viewers and critics alike. As Moriarty approaches
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Holmes, notice the angle at which the shots are framed above Sherlock Holmes and under
Moriarty; such angles imply the powers associated with each character. The scene ends when
Holmes reveals to Moriarty, that, he indeed faked his over-dose to lure her into Police custody.
At this instant, the camera angles down upon Holmes, demonstrating a shift in power to his
favor. Such techniques in storytelling, coupled with advanced cinematography, have drawn
broad appeal, both nationally and internationally.
Sherlock Holmes, irrespective of the time period, continues to be one of the most
celebrated literary figures of all time. His legacy has remained relevant through the span of the
past two centuries; mostly, due to the fact that enthusiasts have molded the tales of Sherlock
Holmes to fit standards of the contemporary public. Writers, and producers alike, have taken
advantage of such rhetoric to create films and television series of the famous detective. Though
these adaptations might differ in context, one thing is common; that, Sherlock Holmes remains
to be the best, and wisest detective, to step on this planet.






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Works Cited
Dove, George N. The Reader and the Detective Story. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling, Green State
University Popular Press, 1997. Print.
Doyle, Arthur Conan. A Study in Scarlet. 2008. Project Gutenberg. Web
Gunning, Tom. "Tracing the Individual Body: Photography, Detectives, and Early
Cinema." Cinema and the Invention of Modern Life. Berkeley: U of California, Berkeley, 1995.
Print.
Handlen, Zack. "It's Elementary, Sherlock: How the CBS Procedural Surpassed the BBC
Drama," A.V. Club. The Onion, 20 Jan. 2014. Web. 16 Aug. 2014.
Konnikova, Maria. Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes. New York: Viking, 2013.