I think what happens in fanfic is not only that we have no idea how it felt being Victorian, nor any of how a member of the opposite sex would react, but also that we are very conscious, even if it is subconsciously, of the fact that we are writing for a modern audience, who, for the most part, adore those characters. If we were to write Holmes doing something really insensitive, it is very likely that we will get reviews asking why Watson was not mad, and how in the world could Holmes do that. And so, we make him nicer, and show more glimpses of his heart than Holmes would perhaps have ever thought of showing - in that sense, it is as much of a modernisation of the character as effeminising him (I don't deny that I have been guilty of that before. I noticed that crying, for example, is one of the issues best to be avoided if one is writting about the other sex). As such, "Sherlock" is the perfect opportunity for us writers to criticise Holmes without changing, however slightly, his character - as you say, criticism lite!
I also agree, interpreting Holmes from a non-scholarly, but modern standpoint is a curious minefield. It is hard to tell, sometimes, what ACD did intend merely as mannerism, and what are real displays of affection. I'm not sure Sherlock is exactly Holmes without the mannerisms - if Holmes in the Victorian area choose to stick to some of those despite his character, he must have had some reason for that. Sometimes, when he drops the pretence, even a modern reader notices that he is being impolite. At times, Sherlock is a little too impolite for my liking. Even in our times, there are certain rules of society, that, if you ignore them, are very likely to push you out of society - I would have assumed that he, too, would at least maintain some pretence, which at the most part, he doesn't. The only time that it happens is when he is clearly and visibly lying through his teeth, for example when he meets Molly in the cafeteria (in fact, I am surprised she doesn't notice!), or when he tries to get into that flat, but he drops the niceties far more quickly than Holmes, and he seems to have an even poorer opinion of them. That is what I mean when I say that the BBC exaggerated his insensitivities a bit. It is just a minor difference, of course, and you are quite correct: it takes away any chance of possible confusion on the viewers part. When Sherlock is insensitive, we know it. That's what modernisation is all about. What it lacks, in my opinion, is the subtlety, the cleverness which Holmes used even when he was insulting his fellow humans face to face. That might be just another part of the Victorian way - you just didn't say 'You idiot!' into the face of another - but it was always something I love about Holmes, and I assume it irks me a little that Sherlock, at least in parts, uses such primitive insults (However, the more clever ones always appease me. The whole exchange with Anderson at the crime scene is priceless!). But yes, if you modernise something, you have to make it understandable for modern viewers, who probably have never heard of any particulars in the Victorian area, and expect insults like they often are our days - straightforward.
So yes, I am looking forward to the next season of "Sherlock", and it will be interesting to see if Sherlock has changed - which I would expect after the way the show has been going - or whether the character development will stop in the theoretical stage. It would be interesting to see a truly good Sherlock...
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branchandroot
Re: And again Continued...
Date: 2011-03-24 09:10 pm (UTC)As such, "Sherlock" is the perfect opportunity for us writers to criticise Holmes without changing, however slightly, his character - as you say, criticism lite!
I also agree, interpreting Holmes from a non-scholarly, but modern standpoint is a curious minefield. It is hard to tell, sometimes, what ACD did intend merely as mannerism, and what are real displays of affection.
I'm not sure Sherlock is exactly Holmes without the mannerisms - if Holmes in the Victorian area choose to stick to some of those despite his character, he must have had some reason for that. Sometimes, when he drops the pretence, even a modern reader notices that he is being impolite.
At times, Sherlock is a little too impolite for my liking. Even in our times, there are certain rules of society, that, if you ignore them, are very likely to push you out of society - I would have assumed that he, too, would at least maintain some pretence, which at the most part, he doesn't. The only time that it happens is when he is clearly and visibly lying through his teeth, for example when he meets Molly in the cafeteria (in fact, I am surprised she doesn't notice!), or when he tries to get into that flat, but he drops the niceties far more quickly than Holmes, and he seems to have an even poorer opinion of them. That is what I mean when I say that the BBC exaggerated his insensitivities a bit. It is just a minor difference, of course, and you are quite correct: it takes away any chance of possible confusion on the viewers part. When Sherlock is insensitive, we know it. That's what modernisation is all about. What it lacks, in my opinion, is the subtlety, the cleverness which Holmes used even when he was insulting his fellow humans face to face. That might be just another part of the Victorian way - you just didn't say 'You idiot!' into the face of another - but it was always something I love about Holmes, and I assume it irks me a little that Sherlock, at least in parts, uses such primitive insults (However, the more clever ones always appease me. The whole exchange with Anderson at the crime scene is priceless!). But yes, if you modernise something, you have to make it understandable for modern viewers, who probably have never heard of any particulars in the Victorian area, and expect insults like they often are our days - straightforward.
So yes, I am looking forward to the next season of "Sherlock", and it will be interesting to see if Sherlock has changed - which I would expect after the way the show has been going - or whether the character development will stop in the theoretical stage. It would be interesting to see a truly good Sherlock...