CONTEXTUAL STUDIES: 500 CRTICIAL REVIEW - SHERLOCK

The BBC's modern adaptation of Sherlock, uses a range of different codes and conventions to appeal to its audience. Examples of cinematography, mis en scene, sound and editing can be identified as to portray how this adaptation is effective. Sherlock is a crime drama television series broadcast by the BBC, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. A lot of the different conventions that are used are widely connected to the crime drama genre.

The editing of the show is very fast paced. For example within the first episode, when Sherlock is rushing to get somewhere to meet a killer, a range of different shots are used that a tightly edited together to reinforce the rush that the character is in. There is also an idea that the fast paced editing reflects the personality of the main character Sherlock. Sherlock as a character in this adaptation is an extremely quirky character; who acts, talks and thinks extremely fast, this paired with the fast paced editing that we see, establishes the fast paced narrative of the show as a whole and sets the pace for the series as a whole.

In terms of the cinematography, Sherlock uses a range of different abstract camera shots, this instils a sense of difference for this show. Sherlock is a widely known brand and there have been countless adaptations of it; in both film and TV. Creator Steven Moffat wanted this to be different and shine a new light on an extremely well known character, the abstract camera shots reinforce this idea of difference. For example, a low angled shot of Sherlock looking into a magnifying glass illustrates the characters intrusive nature and directs conveys this to the audience, through the fact he is staring directly at them. Many critics of the show highlight the Sherlock's child like nature and some of this can be directed toward the cinematography. For example, a long shot of him standing in front of a fire denotes a sense of danger 

There is mainly diegetic sound within Sherlock, as everything that we see is implied. We hear gun shots and explosions but we see these on screen so the sound itself is implied and fully expected by the audience. The non diegetic sound wouldn't be something the audience expects within Sherlock as everything is mainly socially realistic. 

The Mis En Scene within Sherlock is very important to the audience. As discussed, this adaption is a merge of the old brand and ideas of Sherlock, with more modern concepts, therefore it is important for the audience that they see both old and new iconographies. Firstly, there are two things that we see on screen that could be described as old iconographies of Sherlock, the hat that we see him wearing is a significant part of all Sherlock adaptations and seeing him wear it will make the audience instantly recognise who and what they are watching. Furthermore, the flat that Sherlock lives in looks the same in this adaptation as in them all, when we see long shots of the flat we see recognisable features, such as a brown arm chair and a very cluttered living room. Part of the Mis En Scene, the location of which the programme is set, stays the same, London. However the modern concepts comes from the establishing shots we see of the more modern London buildings, such as the gherkin and canary wharf.