Sherlock Holmes Adaptations

Sir Arthur Conan's Sherlock Holmes series of stories has gone down in history as rich works of literature due to their adaptability in the fields of television, stage plays, and film. Over 125 years ago, Sir Arthur Conan introduced his readers to Sherlock Holmes. Despite the passing of time, the classic character adopted in these shows, Dr. Watson, has been translated in a number of ways to acclimate to the predominant literary environments. Elementary is regarded as the most recent adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, with Jonny Lee Miller playing the modernized Holmes. On the other hand, the iconic Dr. Watson is played by Lucy Liu; a female movie star of Asian-American origin. Elementary plays a significant role in ensuring that Sherlock Holmes adapts to the 21st century’s world of art based on its ability to embrace modern filming technologies. Despite the high levels of interest stirred by Steven Moffat and Mark Gattis; the co-creators of the Sherlock series in ensuring that the character of Sherlock Holmes adapts to the prevailing movie scenarios of the 21st century, it has undergone massive criticisms based on its efforts to become acclimatized to the original works of literature.

Proper production of adaptations in literature calls for use of artistic styles which stick to the original texts. Critics of Elementary question the extents to which this work tackles the stories of Doyle Conan. According to Polasek (385), Elementary undergoes “over-modernization” based on the obscure illusions used in most of the sections by allowing room for new stories to be embraced. However, the proponents of modernized film uphold the fact that use of such illusions goes a long way in ensuring that an alluring Homelesian environment is created. Further, adoption of characters like Langdale Pike who were available in the original stories but forgotten in previous series plays a significant role in bringing out the prime nature of Elementary. In the earliest versions like Miller’s Holmes, Pike is referred to as the Trafalgar Square’s CCTV operator. Similarly, the 21st century Pike prefers to remain unnoticed like his 19th century counterpart. While Irene Alder of Elementary appears to be highly disconcerted than that of previous series like Sherlock, the choice of identifying Charles Augustus Milverton plays a unifying role. In Sherlock, Charles Augustus Milverton is renamed as Magnussen and is recast into a newspaper magnate of Danish origin bearing all the dirty secrets of the world. On the other hand, Elementary portrays this character as a filthy character and blackmailer who constantly moves to reach sticky ends through blackmailing.

Despite the high levels of consistency maintained by writers in different series of Sherlock Holmes, modern versions like Elementary twist the original environment to ensure that it fits into the prevailing situations of the 21st century. According to Poore (159), adoption of modern transport and communication infrastructure like smartphones, well framed public means of carriage and other fast moving technologies goes a long way in revealing the adaptive differences between the two worlds. According to Polasek (389), Elementary went a long way in whittling a niche for itself based on the sleuth it adopts as one of the highly distinctive features. On the other hand, critics of Elementary as a production of the 21st century reveal massive disappointments particularly on the deliberate choice to make use of modern infrastructure. For instance, Poore (164) explains that while people in the 21st century make use of smartphones to ensure that communication is efficient in different locales, the fact that Holmes possesses this gadget in Elementary makes no sense. In this series, Holmes is meant to take the roles of a character whose speed of thinking is highly enabled; an aspect that makes him look like a humanized computer. On the other hand, characters like Moriarty use these communication technologies to suit their day to day needs. Further, adoption of modernized surveillance cameras in Elementary depicts the detrimental effects of the 21st century technologies when Moriarty uses his iPhone to cause mayhems in the security sector.

Elementary plays an artistic role in institutionalizing changes to adopt highly appreciated characters of the 21st century. The investigative nature of this work of literature makes it easy to incorporate well-loved chaps. For instance, Sherlock distinguishes himself as a sociopath that is highly functional. However, Poore (163) explains that can only increase his levels of abrasiveness based on his callous and neglectful nature even when referring to those who truly care. On the other hand, Polasek (390) explains that the character of Sherlock is not only informed by Canon Doyle’s optimal detective characteristics but also his fictional inheritors like Gregory House in his gibes. As a matter of fact, Dr. Watson is meant to recall one of the memorable instances in which Spock is depicted as a 21st century character revealing higher levels of logic.

Social conventions are used in Elementary to bring out different propositions. For instance, family issues are brought out from a different perspective in Miller’s Holmes. The critical aspect of dysfunctional families which dominate the 21st century are highly represented in Elementary as an adaptation of Sherlock Holmes by the inclusion of Spock who portrays a new era definition. Despite the awkward façade, Elementary reveals high levels of generosity and empathy. For instance, one of the scenes in Elementary gives the definition of the Holmes’ state of social affairs through deliberate inclusion of his Narcotics Anonymous assemblages. According to Poore (159), Holmes experiences massive difficulties despite the immense powers of observation he bears; an aspect that makes the neurological sense of modern life almost unbearable. The controversies of time and modernity make it difficult for Holmes to adapt to the complicated situations. According to Polasek (387), Holmes needed to nave been born in another simpler era.

Despite the fish-out-of-water displacements revealed in Elementary as a 21st century adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, it plays a critical role in retaining the desired irresistible enticements. According to Poore (159), the voluminous thoughtful deductions employed in Elementary will always find welcoming audiences. One of the surrendering appeals adopted by Elementary is the unbreakable bond established between Holmes and Dr. Watson who go a long way in enduring the prevailing conditions.

Conclusion

CBS’s Elementary is the newest version of Sherlock Holmes which plays a crucial role in embracing the 21st century aspects of life even after receiving massive criticism from the audiences of previous series like Sherlock. Despite the initial fears that this new work would retread previous totals Elementary goes a long way in reworking the original material in ways that are subtly different. Further, Elementary makes use of current features like use of modern technologies to ensure that its characters fit into the 21st century world of art. Despite the changes in time, characters are suitably chosen to ensure that they adapt to the desired levels of consistency in the original storyline.







Works Cited

Polasek, Ashley D. "Surveying the post-millennial Sherlock Holmes: a case for the great detective as a man of our times." Adaptation 6.3 (2013): 384-393.

Poore, Benjamin. "Sherlock Holmes and the Leap of Faith: The Forces of Fandom and Convergence in Adaptations of the Holmes and Watson Stories." Adaptation 6.2 (2012): 158-171.