Nazareno 1 Meghan C. Nazareno Writing 37 Dr.

Lynda Haas 20 February 2014 The Psychic and Police: A Relationship Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous Sherlock Holmes stories involve fictional police characters that struggle to conclude crimes with a correct verdict. There is always a believable crime with a culprit, and a suspenseful plot with several clues. The police in an investigative mystery genre cannot acquire the correct evidence and deduce rational explanations from it; hence why there is always the one genius person who rationally solves a case with the assistance of his or her sidekick. In this case, the modern-day detective television series created by Steve Franks, Psych, has its own intellectual named, Shawn Spencer; a man who the Santa Barbara police nearly loathe. Unlike Sherlock Holmes, the consulting detective, Shawn calls himself a psychic detective. Though Sherlock and Shawn have unconventional personalities, the police still turn to them for help. The "love and hate relationship" that the police show towards their personal detectives is visible both in the Sherlock Holmes stories and modern day text; but that is just one of the many similarities between the police and detective relationship. In the first episode of Psych, Pilot, two particular police officers are introduced to Shawn Spencer - detective Carlton Lassiter and Lucinda Barry. They interrogate Shawn because they believe he is an accomplice to a man who committed a theft because he calls the local police department regarding the crime. Shawn could not convince either detectives that he is merely observant, so he lies to them - thus creating his image as a psychic detective. The police, especially Lassiter, soon begin to distrust his outrageous claim of having psychic powers. Similar

Nazareno 2 to Detective Jones in The Sign of the Four believing that, "it was more by good luck than by good guidance," for Sherlock Holmes. Neither police forces from the old text and modern text believe the claims given by Sherlock and Shawn - Sherlock's science of deduction, and Shawn's ability to observe. Nevertheless, they still take into consideration the claims that Sherlock and Shawn state because these contentions are proven correct in the end. Although the police are skeptical of Shawn's psychic skills, the chief of the Santa Barbara Police Department, Vick, imposes him to take kidnapping case or else he would, "be arrested for false claims towards the police" (Psych). In the Sign of the Four, a woman named Mary Morstan pleads help from Sherlock Holmes to solve the mystery of her father's disappearance. Morstan needs help to resolve her dilemmas from a man, like a damsel in need of protection and aid. What makes the modern-day series, Psych, different is the stance of a woman's role in society. Gender equality is widely accepted and women are no longer bounded just to the weak and dependent lady label. To have a woman in a high authoritative position in the Victorian Era would be considered irrational and mediocre. Yet here is a woman, Chief Vick, who is given the power to tell men and women below her to complete certain duties. With no choice, Shawn accepts the case given by Chief Vick and brings his partner, Gus, with him to the crime scene. Detective Lassiter approaches them and says, "I'm not going to let you just waltz around here like some kid in a candy store." Shawn Spencer's personality is more sarcastic, unlike the Victorian Sherlock Holmes. The detective series, Psych, is a comedy filled show with several 1980's references and guest stars because its main audience, known as "Generation X" in American culture, grew up in this period. "Let me tell you something - I've worked in a candy store, and it was nothing like this," Shawn countered. Lassiter's association with Shawn often leads less to serious situations and more to humorous ones.

Nazareno 3 He may not treat Shawn pleasantly, but he shows grudging respect for his investigation skills, with Shawn as a consultant like Sherlock (Tor). Shawn could be described as having "his own little methods which are just a little too theoretical and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective," paralleling what Detective Jones says about Sherlock (Conan Doyle, The RedHeaded League). The police can use clues in order to create a logical explanation of what may have happened and who the guilty may be. It was difficult for the police to do so during the Victorian Era, but modern day text also conveys police department struggling as well. Lassiter threatened Shawn later on in the episode, telling him not to trivialize police work, but Shawn responded to him saying, "You're doing a bang-up job of that all by yourself." He may have replied to Lassiter in a mocking manner, but Shawn does prove his point from that fact that he was asked by the chief to solve the case. It is difficult to take Shawn seriously because if he discovers any type of evidence, he would not declare it, but showcase it through one of his vivid "psychic visions" in front of the police men and women. With his extravagant acting, it is difficult for the police to take him serious. With Shawn's outlandish psychic abilities however, Lassiter and the other detectives acknowledge his deductions and takes them into consideration - sometimes they receive the credit from Shawn's discoveries. Comparable to Detective Jones and his police force gaining recognition from Sherlock Holmes' findings. Shawn unfolds the mystery of the kidnapping and missing dog, and no one is arrested. With the assumption that the case is solved, Chief Vick and the detectives close the case with no further speculation even if the circumstances seemed unusual. Chief Vick was not hesitant in closing the high-profile kidnapping case even though there was evidence of more happening at the crime scene. Resembling Detective Jones, the Santa Barbara police do not take a step back further away from their own perspective for the wider

Nazareno 4 picture. In The Sign of the Four, they ignore the mysterious note, "The Sign of the Four" left behind. In Psych, they conclude that the death of the men inside the house was a suicide situation with no further investigation. Not easily convinced, Shawn examines the case even more; later persuading the detectives to investigate it as well. In Conan Doyle's stories, Sherlock's stories are narrated through John Watson's point of view. His emotions and experiences are involved and the audience is involved through his perspective. Having an omniscient narrative approach, Psych provides the audience with a story that incorporates several viewpoints revolving around Shawn Spencer. With "Yale's Film Analysis Guide", one can understand the use of different camera focusing. The camera would either show a deep focus or shallow focus to "represent space" or "direct the viewer's attention to one element of a scene" (Yale). Deep focus is used in Psych to show the full outlook of a crime scene or situation. The shallow focus delivers the view of another character because their actions and thoughts prevail over anything else. In Psych, this helps express different characters' reactions and frustration - usually with a comical twist. Shawn's exaggerative psychic episodes for example, are displayed through a shallow focus of the detectives or a third person, which shows their expression towards how ludicrous his "psychic moments" seem. Since the comedy is strong in Psych, it is significantly different from the lighting in most Sherlock Holmes recreations and details in the Sherlock stories. The high-key lighting in Psych is not as intense and dark, making the atmosphere less obscure and more pleasant. The 1980's is a contrast to the Victorian age. Economically, culturally, and politically. The comedy, sarcasm, crimes, and situations clearly indicate the great social, economic, and general change; especially with wealth and egotism increasing in this time period. With an audience growing up in this era, it is no surprise that Psych is a high-rated television series. The

Nazareno 5 detectives in the modern police may act similar to the police in the 1800's, but there is romance between officers, aggravation, and pride depicted through the officers in the Santa Barbara Police Department - characteristics that appeal to Generation "X".

Works Cited Doyle, Arthur Conan. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Red-headed League. N.p.: Strand Magazine, 1891. Print.

Doyle, Arthur Conan. The Sign of Four. London: G. Newnes. 1894. Print. "Film Analysis." Film Analysis. N.p., 27 Aug. 2002. Web. 21 Feb. 2014. Franks, Steve. "The Pilot." Psych. USA Network. Hollywood, California, 27 July 2006. Television. Khanna, Rajan. "The Legacy of Holmes: Television." Tor.com. N.p., 28 Jan. 2009. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.