I've always known who Holmes is, I would suspect the vast majority of young people do. Same thing with Robin Hood and King Arthur, though I've had more exposure to them because of having seen movies/read books on them in school.
Question about Sherlock Holmes
- Thread starter Miss Chicken
- Start date
Sadly, that state isn't limited to just kids in this day and age. It's the vast majority of the population.
^True indeed. Cultural literacy is a thing of the past, I fear.
I first came to know Sherlock Holmes from watching the old Basil Rathbone movies that came on Saturday afternoons. Then, when I was a bit older, I turned to the books. I LOVED them. When I was in my late teens, Jeremy Brett's Holmes came on PBS, and I went batty for it. He will always be my favorite. But after him, I turned to the "newer" incarnations, like "The Seven Percent Solution" by Nicholas Meyer and "Prisoner of the Devil" by Michael Hardwicke. I love Holmes, and hope he continues to inspire people for years to come.
I first came to know Sherlock Holmes from watching the old Basil Rathbone movies that came on Saturday afternoons. Then, when I was a bit older, I turned to the books. I LOVED them. When I was in my late teens, Jeremy Brett's Holmes came on PBS, and I went batty for it. He will always be my favorite. But after him, I turned to the "newer" incarnations, like "The Seven Percent Solution" by Nicholas Meyer and "Prisoner of the Devil" by Michael Hardwicke. I love Holmes, and hope he continues to inspire people for years to come.
By the way, in case anybody is interested, Strand magazine publishes new Holmes fiction in every issue. Not canon, of course, but still usually good.
It's tragic. Kids don't read at all anymore. Even when i was in school, my friend would brag that he never read a book cover to cover. I found that to be so sad.
For this reason, if I ever have kids, they will never have TVs or computers in their room (at least not until later in high school when they might need them for writing papers). They need something to do in their rooms before bed? They can read a book.
This is an interesting thread and generational divisions. However, I would at the very least expect that kids today would know of Sherlock Holmes, if only to associate the name with detective work. I heard a young kid say "No shit, Sherlock" not too long ago-- but it's very likely he had no idea why he was saying it.
I'm 25. I grew up with "Young Sherlock Holmes" (a fairly decent 1985 movie that while side-stepping Conan Doyle's canon puts together a really nice story). Also, being a Star Trek fan I've always associated the world with Data, which inspired me to actually read some of the books. I thought the new movie was excellent.
Having said all that, I think that as a teenager you would have to live under an intellectual rock to have never "heard" of Sherlock Holmes.
I'm 25. I grew up with "Young Sherlock Holmes" (a fairly decent 1985 movie that while side-stepping Conan Doyle's canon puts together a really nice story). Also, being a Star Trek fan I've always associated the world with Data, which inspired me to actually read some of the books. I thought the new movie was excellent.
Having said all that, I think that as a teenager you would have to live under an intellectual rock to have never "heard" of Sherlock Holmes.
People keep saying things like this, but I haven't found it to necessarily be true. My little sisters (13, 17, and 21) read books all the time, even when they don't have to. I'm only 24 and when I was a small child I loved reading, it's how I spent most of my time. Most of my friends loved reading. Most people I know in general enjoy reading. The types of books vary widely but most everyone enjoys some part of it. I can only think of maybe 2 people in my life who have told me that they disliked reading. Now, maybe people are reading less "classics" and more pop culture type books but I think that people are still reading a great deal. Just look at how well Amazon is doing at selling books, it's amazing how large the industry is.
It's not that kids don't read anymore, it's that they read crap. Case in point, Twilight.
Nope, sorry. I won't speak for other countries, but if you live in the US, are older than 12 or so and have no idea who/what Holmes is, or how to spell or pronounce his name, you've got some serious cultural catching up to do.
Btw, Holmes survives not because of nostalgia alone, but quality also.
