"The idea that science is a separate social realm, dedicated to discovering laws of nature unaffected by ideologies or politics, has been a myth surrounding the hard sciences" (Struken/Cartwright).
Sherlock Holmes is briefly mentioned in this chapter so I thought about investigation stories and popular culture detective genre. As such, detective stories have social commentary ranging from having a strong emphasis on scientific evolution, such as in the stories of Sherlock Holmes, to the moral decay and hopelessness of the times as portrayed in later works of "The Maltese Falcon" or "farewell My Lovely."
Sherlock Holmes exalts in solving the unknown crime and as scientific genius finds resolution, involved in an ambiguous game of science and knowledge. He is respected by Scotland Yard, and reflects the optimism of budding scientific discoveries, such as the finger print. To solve crimes he relies heavily on science, however limited it seems by comparison to present day shows like CSI, Bones and the like. But it is more interesting to me how according to Sturken and Cartwright, "Scientific looking does not occur in isolation from other social context although society may have some stake in seeing science as a separate social realm"
In original stories/films of Sherlock Holmes, there is a strong emphasis on scientific evolution whereas the new Guy Richie Sherlock Holmes has an emphasis on technology and digital imagery. Based on the trailer it would appear that this movie is less about science and more about turning a scientific genius into a swash buckling ham, having very little to do with scientific skills. What reflection on the times does this film cast now in comparison to the "you have less frontal development than I expected" turn of the century? It seems to me the latter celebrates our era of technology and computer generated enhancements, suspense of disbelief, and an ideology of the hero will save the day. Without having seen it, it is hard to say, but what I did see in the trailer is enough to recognize a very different social point of view. I'll be curious to see if this Sherlock Holmes does cocaine and locks himself away in the world of the 'other' as he did in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle brilliant original depiction.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUQbmFAE5WI New Version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOyKEZUyiDc Older Version (full film)
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