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Sherlock Holmes and Watson are another friendship that has had many adaptations over the years. Originally published by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887, the duo has changed a little bit over the years, but has for the most part stayed the same. Both Holmes and Watson are portrayed as brilliant, white men who are detectives in England. Should Sherlock Holmes have been portrayed as anything other than white when the novels were originally released, his creditability would have substantially fallen. He may have not even be friends/colleagues with Watson. In this case, race-bending the character affects the friendship based on the time period in which it was written.

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Rory and Lane from the show Gilmore Girls have been best friends since their birth. They both grew up in the same small town, but they have very different lives. Rory and her mom are very close and are able to talk about everything while Lane’s mom is very strict and takes their Korean identity very seriously. Lane feels like she has to hide herself from her mom and can only reveal her real self around Rory. If Lane and her mom were to be portrayed as white it could change the dynamic of Rory and Lane’s relationship because Lane would not only feel comfortable around Rory, but maybe she could express herself around her mom as well.

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The TV show Friends is completely surrounds different friendships between six people. Because they are constantly together, they do have some fights and struggles, but for the most part they are all close-knit. Although they are all portrayed as white men and women, if some of the characters were to be race bent, it would have no real effect on their relationship. Because they are so close and understanding of each other they would see no difference in changing the color of their skin. This maybe deals with the time period the show is set in and the characteristics of the six main characters.

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Blair and Serena from Gossip Girl are the definition of a complicated friendship. While sometimes they are very close, sometimes they are manipulative and quick to fight each other. The pair are very judgmental of each other and of pretty much everyone in their lives. If we were to race bend one of them I think that it would alter their relationship because most of their friendship is based upon the idea that they are both perfect. This is obviously not a healthy friendship if something as small as a person’s race could affect the way they see each other.

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Jughead and Archie are best friends that have recently fallen apart and come together again. They have overcome mistakes of their past to become friends again which is a sign that their friendship is genuine. If Jughead were to be portrayed as asexual, like he is meant to be in the original comic series, I truly do not think this would affect their friendship. Because the two are able to overcome past struggles in their relationship, it seems like they can overcome anything.

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Achilles and Patroclus were best friends before they developed any romantic attractions in Song of Achilles. Their relationship starts when Patroclus is forced to flee his country to escape execution for his accidental murder of a young boy. Patroclus is able to confide in Achilles which is what makes their friendship so strong. Had Achilles not returned feelings for him, I believe that they would still remain friends just because of their close connection.

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Noah and Jude from Jandy Nelson’s I’ll Give You the Sun are best friends and twin brother and sister. They would literally do anything for each other even though they fight about their relationships. In the book Noah is gay, and Jude accepts him for everything he is, even though he has a hard time coming out to his dad. Their relationship is admirable because they truly complete each other.

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Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are part of the most iconic friendships in literature. There have been many adaptations of the pair over time, but in every single one they are portrayed as two white, male friends. If Tom Sawyer were to be portrayed as African American, the dynamic of their friendship would change completely. Because of the social climate surrounding race at this time, many people, including Tom and Huck, were against African Americans because of the racist culture of the South. Obviously Tom and Huck and close in the book and movie adaptations, however their friendship would not be able to withstand the trials of interracial conflict.

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Harry and Ron’s friendship is the kind that many people strive to have with their best friends. They are always there for each other, even through the many struggles that Harry has with Voldemort and other dark wizards. Had Ron been cast as African American, there is not doubt that this would in no way effect his friendship with Harry. Although it may affect the way other characters in the novels, like Draco Malfoy, see him, Harry would still be by his side. At one point in the series, “Sirius Black bellows, “Then you should have died”...”Died rather than betray your friend, as we would have done for you!” Harry would have died for Ron, just as Ron would have died for Harry, no matter the color of his skin.

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Hannibal

The Hannibal franchise delves into the psychological and physical terrors of its main character Hannibal Lector. Throughout the book, the movie, and the television adaptation, Hannibal constantly is messing with the psychological imbalances of every character around him. His deception allows for good television and the pure evil on the screen is what draws people back for more. I have always wondered what makes people love horror movies? (As I am not the biggest fan). But I think I see now that the mixture of eerie music and thought-provoking visuals makes for an entertaining experience. I think that people watch shows like Hannibal to reinforce the fact that they are not evil. In a sense, seeing people act disgustingly like that makes us feel better about ourselves. Although I will never be a fan of the gore and frightening scenes in horror movies like Hannibal, I can now appreciate the cinematic experience that going to a horror movie brings to the viewer.

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I agree that comics tend to be looked down upon in modern media. Before this class, I would never have considered comics to be a real kind of literature or expression, but after learning more about the deeper meanings behind them I am reconsidering my position on comics. I like how all of the direct characterization is through images rather than words. The images really do help connect the reader to what is going on in the current situation. The contemporary references are very important to comics.

Contemporary Comics

Comics in general tend to be looked down upon in popular media.  Whether this is with the idea of a person who reads and keeps up with comics is a “nerd” or the idea that comics don’t have as much “writing skill”, comics are seen as lesser.  Comics, though, should never have to compete with other types of writing because they are so uniquely there own.  A good novel is one that is timeless, when you pick it up, it feels as though no time has passed.  Comics, on the other hand, are very much a contemporary piece of writing.  They exist in the time they are written and for that time only.  Comics, especially superhero comics, are happening in this world, in this time.  They make current world references to make the reader feel as though they have the same understandings the characters do. Comics seems to be a much more real representation and commentary on the world than other types of writing.  Through these contemporary references, the reader feels so much more connected with the text and what is happening in the comic.  Comics were never trying to compete with other types of writing and therefore should not be seen as lesser.  Comics are not worse or better, they are just different and may form better connections with the real world than other forms of writing.

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I agree that Carry On could be an adaptation of Harry Potter because of the many parallels between the two novels. Your example of Baz is very true because both are portrayed as dark and brooding all the time, and are the antagonist of the story. In Carry On, however, Baz falls in love with Simon, the protagonist, a drastically different ending from the relationship between Draco and Harry in Harry Potter.

“Carry On” by Rainbow Rowell

“Carry On” by Rainbow Rowell is a story very similar to “Harry Potter” with lots of parallels, but also with its differences. It could be debated as fan fiction or an original story. Some of the parallels between “Carry On” and “Harry Potter” are the presence of a chosen one, a magical school; lots of the characters are carried over with slight changes. An example is Baz who is the Draco of “Carry On” and he was queer bent. He is not only roommates with Simon Snow but also in love with him which was not present in the “Harry Potter” series. I do find it to be a very interesting and engaging book that is very easy to read. The prose is not overly complicated and all of the changes and twists make it easy to read a lot at once. It is a pretty long book for the story being told because there is a lot of stuff not essential to the story but still relevant. My opinion is that “Carry On” is a work of fan fiction.

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Le Fanu’s novel Carmilla has really lasted a long time for a novel written during the 19th century. It set the standard for all vampire novels and movies that came after it. I agree that the simple writing allowed for adaptation and longevity of the novel. The blog/video diary adaptation is a great example of the ease with which Carmilla can relate to our present day.

First Vampire Tale…

Carmilla was published in 1872 by Le Fanu which makes it one of the first novels about vampires, even before Dracula was published which means that Stoker may have based aspects of his novel on Carmilla. Carmilla embodies many aspects of classic gothic writing with Laura who lives an isolated life in a castle in the countryside with the nearest inhabited village twenty miles away and the theme of good versus evil. In this case, the evil is attempting to destroy the good but in the end the truth is found and Millarca/Carmilla is destroyed.

Le Fanu wrote the novel in a simple manner so that it is easy to understand and still able to read in today’s day and age. This aspect of the work aids to the mystery of what Carmilla is hiding and keeping a secret from Laura and her father. This manner also hints at a sense of desire or passion that Carmilla has for Laura. Le Fanu is able to bring up homosexuality without blatantly stating it.

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I agree that society has an absurd obsession with disgusting topics like cannibalism. I think that the television adaptation of Hannibal allows the audience to see a wide range of societal ills like murder, rape, and addiction. It makes the show all the more scarier that Hannibal is cunning and smart because it makes us think about all the people around us and who could or could not be thinking those things as well. Overall I think people like watching these shows because they are such a different version of reality from our own.

Hannibal Lecter: Character Portrayal in the Show

Undoubtedly, society’s fascination with horror and cannibalism within fiction boils down to one main character: Hannibal Lecter. This character is takes the stage in terms of cannibalism in today’s pop culture. Because of this, he has been portrayed in many different ways within the media, one of which is the new show called Hannibal. Hannibal Lecter is shown in a much freer light, as the show gives him much more freedom than he is given in other media such as Silence of the Lambs. Hannibal is shown with much more free time and, consequently, the ability to show the audience more of his gruesome tendencies, such as eating his victims. Until the show, viewers did not see much of his cannibalistic tendencies, rather, they were few and far between. Showing more of this allows the audience to understand that Hannibal has a huge influence on those around him and his power is constantly being exerted on all of the other characters in the show. The audience watches as he consistently slips between the cracks of detectives and outsmarts all of those around him. He capitalizes off of the ignorance of others and essentially hides in plain sight. Watching him consume “long pig” so casually gives viewers the sense that while he is a serial killer, he is very much smart and composed around others and enough so in order to get away with it time and time again. The Lecter portrayed in this show is cunning, hyper intelligent, and charming, which allows him to get away with his murderous desires.

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But this, this is what you’re really addicted to.

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Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes has always been the epitome of intelligence and class. He is always portrayed in media as a white male who smokes a pipe and is British. All of these things are associated with the audience’s perception of his intelligence and cool nature. What the author of the Sherlock Holmes franchise and many people who portray Sherlock choose to leave out of the narrative is the lack of humanity seen in his character. Sherlock is known by the audience to be an addict and is never seen with a woman or with a family. Maybe all of these factors are a part of his masculinity, but it causes the audience to question whether or not readers/viewers would treat Sherlock the same way if he was a woman. In my opinion, if Sherlock Holmes was a woman, the audience would have an entirely different reaction to the negative aspects of his personal life.