Quick rec: Anomie (vid, Sherlock)
Oct. 21st, 2010 11:41 pmOne of the attractions of the mystery for me has always been the way it addresses the contrast between the wild and violent and unknowable (the villain, the metropolis, the human heart) and the logic and order of deduction. The best mysteries aim for the difficult compromise--too much left unknown, and the solution is unsatisfying; too much mastery or logic or too contrived a solution, and it degenerates into formula, deprived of its emotional impact.
[Lengthy and dull critique of where Sherlock went wrong on this front has been redacted, for your reading pleasure. Also because I don't want to lose all my internet friends due to my sheer inability to say something positive about a cultural text. Moving on!]
But but but! I love it when smart fanworks comment on themes and problems like this one. Want to remember what was frightening and unknowable about the BBC series? Go. Watch this vid: Anomie (link to vidder's DW post, work-safe, gen, 3:12 min.). Summary: A faceless city where everyone is a stranger. Clever in concept, beautifully edited, and thoughtful in its reconstruction of some of the series' themes. Also, Durkheim! How can you not click? (Er, even if you don't know or care about Durkheim, click! It's that good.)
ETA: Thanks to![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sasha_davidovna for pointing this one out!
ETA2: Okay, I'm breaking my promise not to say anything negative here, but I can't help myself. SERIOUSLY, OBAMA? (youtube video, work-safe, 3:08 min.) Is this a joke? A vague, non-committal "It gets better?" message for us? Don't blame yourselves? Who do you think has the power to begin addressing systemic issues of inequality in this country? Gah!
[Lengthy and dull critique of where Sherlock went wrong on this front has been redacted, for your reading pleasure. Also because I don't want to lose all my internet friends due to my sheer inability to say something positive about a cultural text. Moving on!]
But but but! I love it when smart fanworks comment on themes and problems like this one. Want to remember what was frightening and unknowable about the BBC series? Go. Watch this vid: Anomie (link to vidder's DW post, work-safe, gen, 3:12 min.). Summary: A faceless city where everyone is a stranger. Clever in concept, beautifully edited, and thoughtful in its reconstruction of some of the series' themes. Also, Durkheim! How can you not click? (Er, even if you don't know or care about Durkheim, click! It's that good.)
ETA: Thanks to
sasha_davidovna for pointing this one out!ETA2: Okay, I'm breaking my promise not to say anything negative here, but I can't help myself. SERIOUSLY, OBAMA? (youtube video, work-safe, 3:08 min.) Is this a joke? A vague, non-committal "It gets better?" message for us? Don't blame yourselves? Who do you think has the power to begin addressing systemic issues of inequality in this country? Gah!
