The Immortal Sherlock Holmes - From relic to a modernised retelling
Author
Nielsen, Nadia Emilie von Rummell
Term
2. Term (Master)
Education
Publication year
2020
Submitted on
2020-02-07
Abstract
This thesis examines how the BBC series Sherlock, with a particular focus on the episode The Reichenbach Fall, reimagines Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s short story The Final Problem for a contemporary audience. The aim is to identify the strategies employed by showrunners Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss to balance fidelity to the source with a modernized retelling. The study adopts a structuralist approach, concentrating on the narrative engine through cardinal functions and character functions, and is framed by adaptation theory from Brian McFarlane (Novel to Film, 2004) and Linda Hutcheon (A Theory of Adaptation, 2006). It combines cross-media comparison of literature and television with consideration of fan-created paratexts and forensic fandom. Findings indicate that Sherlock Holmes can be made relevant to the 21st century without compromising the integrity of the original: updated plot and character functions preserve the narrative core while contemporary settings enhance accessibility. Ongoing fan debate, speculation, and theory-building further support the character’s enduring cultural resonance. Rather than an in-depth thematic reading, the thesis offers a general account of how the adaptation’s structures work.
Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan BBC-seriens Sherlock, med særligt fokus på afsnittet The Reichenbach Fall, gentænker Sir Arthur Conan Doyles novelle The Final Problem i en nutidig kontekst. Formålet er at identificere de strategier, som serieskaberne Steven Moffat og Mark Gatiss anvender for at forene trofasthed mod forlægget med en moderniseret fortælling. Undersøgelsen er strukturalistisk og koncentrerer sig om narrativt maskinrum via kernefunktioner (cardinal functions) og karakterfunktioner. Analysen forankres i adaptationsteori hos Brian McFarlane (Novel to Film, 2004) og Linda Hutcheon (A Theory of Adaptation, 2006) og ledsages af en mediekomparation mellem litteratur og tv samt inddragelse af fanskabte paratekster og såkaldt forensic fandom. Resultaterne peger på, at Sherlock Holmes kan aktualiseres i det 21. århundrede uden at gå på kompromis med forlæggets integritet: opdaterede plot- og karakterfunktioner bevarer den narrative kerne, mens nutidige rammer gør fortællingen relevant for nye publika. At fans fortsat debatterer, spekulerer og deler teorier, understøtter konklusionen om figurens vedvarende gennemslagskraft. Specialet er ikke en dybdegående temaanalyse, men en overordnet gennemgang af, hvordan adaptationens strukturer fungerer.
[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]