Many of the posts here look at how far the detective genre has been adapted and changed to fit society. We have discussed at length the many travesties of certain "detective" fiction, particularly television representations of detectives. Many are the shows and modern detective novels who violate the sacred Van Dine's rules, but there is a beacon of hope for die-hard detective purists, if only you look close enough. many people consider Sherlock Holmes, and to a lesser extent Auguste Dupin, to be the very paramount of detective fiction. They are renowned for their deductive abilities, keen observations, and even their many frequently dangerous vices. Many of these characteristics have been lost in translation to modern audiences and result in frequently violent, "cop dramas" as discussed earlier, as well as numerous other shows that border more closely with an action/adventure genre than detective fiction. But a few shows have done a very good job of reviving the highly intellectual, non-combatant detective character.
The popular Fox detective drama Bones is a primary example of the return of the borderline misanthropic, calculating detective. Of course Temperance Brennan, the main character of the show, does more thinking and solving over a table full of skeletons than the traditional high backed leather armchair, but she still shows most of the characteristics of Dupin and Holmes. She demonstrates an almost debilitating lack of social skills, a keen intellect, and although most frequently a non-combatant problem solver, is more than capable of springing to action when the need arises. This program also sees the return of the traditional Watsonian sidekick role, in the form of FBI agent Seeley Booth. Booth is by far the best example of a modern Watson-like character. His role is primarily to protect and assist Temperance, frequently keeping her out of trouble and saving her life in many cases.
Another example of the intelligent non-violent detective is The Pretender, a show that aired from 1996-2000 on NBC. The pretender himself, a man name Jarod, was unique in his ability to flawlessly become anyone he chose to be, impersonating everything from attorneys to virologists and officers in the armed services. Jarod was kidnapped as a child by a shady corporation known as The Centre, which used his genius to develop their interests. When in his early 30s, jarod escapes The Centre, running away to discover who he really is. as he tries fervently to hunt down his family, he impersonates many careers while using his genius to solve various crimes and societal wrongs along the way. he is a prime example of the socially challenged loner detective. Due to his captivity in The Centre, he was not aware of many societal norms or conventions, which we see him learn throughout the series. His method of solving crimes usually involves elaborate schemes that only he is privy to, very reminiscent to much of Dupin's work.
What do these shows tell us about the evolution of the detective genre? I believe it shows that no matter the societal norms we are presented with today, we will always enjoy competing against someone who is presented as so blatantly more intelligent than ourselves. We want to outsmart someone known to be smarter than us. I also believe that the recurrence of this type of program marks a small renaissance in detective fiction. These shows incorporate the very best of classical detective fiction in a modern, easy to market package.
Do I think we will suddenly see a resurgence of classical detective fiction such as the programs outlined above? No. I believe that a return to the old style of detection is impossible with today's audiences. However, a few networks will occasionally bring forth from the musty stacks of time a new character with a very old style. These are the characters we love and remember. These are the characters that keep detection in the minds of the people. these are the characters that keep Van Dine from rolling in the grave.
Works Cited
Van Dine, S.S. Twenty rules for writing detective stories. September 1928. 12 December 2012 <http://gaslight.mtroyal.ca/vandine.htm>.
Bones. 2005-. IMDB. 12 December 2012. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460627/.
The Pretender. 1996-2000. IMDB. 12 December 2012. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115320/.
Chalen,
ReplyDeleteI was really looking forward to your post because most of us chose to write about current detectives and their deviations from the classic character, and you’ve always been a Sherlock Holmes aficionado, the most classic detective of all. Your connections to Bones and The Pretender to classic detection because of their high intellect were very accurate and interesting. I also liked that you pointed out the non-violent aspects of those shows. The line between an action or adventure story and a detective one, in my opinion, is often this violence. I think it’s notable that a truly intellect-driven show or character would avoid this violence, at least for the most part. I like that you pointed out that this intellectual focus will continue in at least some detective regenerations because we as viewers like the idea of competing against someone who is supposed to be smarter than us. However, you mentioned that these extremely intelligent characters are also socially awkward, so perhaps it serves as a comfort to viewers that though they may not be able to outsmart these detectives, they can fit in to and navigate the world more smoothly.
I definitely agree with Sarah, your blog post was one I was looking forward to Chalen. I really liked how you connected the early detective works to the shows we're seeing today. I do agree that there has been somewhat of a renaissance in the detective genre in recent years with some of the more old fashioned detective shows (Monk, Elementary,etc). I really like your idea regarding the desire to outsmart the detective, those motives certainly fuel the genre and makes it very exciting as a reader.
ReplyDelete