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June 4, 2013 8:52 pm  #61


Re: Sherlock's habits

holmes23 wrote:

Quoting Moffat:

"There's a character detail in there that we've only ever really hinted at, as he checks out the mirror quite a lot. So while he says I'm above all such matters, he has the attitude that 'I have no interest in women, but by God they better have an interest in me'"

http://www.sherlockology.com/news/2013/6/2/crimefest-highlights-030613

I've been a bit surprised when reading this because I can't actually recall him doing that. It is obvious that his appereance matters to him, hence his dressing choices. And he has at least two mirrors in his own room and the one in the living room. But when do we actually see him look at a mirror? In TRF when he buttons his jacket and later requested by John ('the face') - but apart from that?

Or does 'we've only ever really hinted at' mean that it is implied without having it really shown on the show?

 


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June 5, 2013 8:34 am  #62


Re: Sherlock's habits

butterfly grl wrote:

He does take a mince pie from Mrs. Hudsons fridge and eat it (speaking with his mouth full!) while getting The Womans phone from her.

 1. Multitasking
Yes. This is obviously a habit: Doing several things simultaneously. Sending one text message to several recipients. Doing something with his right hand and something else with his left hand. Can be a useful habit.

2. Mirrors
Interesting that Mr Moffat talks about mirrors. I am not sure whether this little hint is only about Sherlock's outfit and his interest in his own appearance.  I share your opinion that Sherlock is aware of his perception. John makes fun of that in The Hounds when he mentions the coatcollar. In TBB after the fight with the swordsman Sherlock looks down and brushes his jacket.  

I am a bit suspicious that Mr Moffat talks about mirrors to give a clue and to hint towards Sherlock's awareness of his perception in general.
We see a lot of mirrors in "Sherlock". In almost every room we can find one. It is not something that is done accidentally, IMO. Especially when you consider the difficulties to film with mirrors in a room. 
Reflections and mirror images appear quite often. We even see through a mirror or a screen sometimes. In Scandal when Sherlock opens the safe we are at the other side of the mirror/safe or when John looks at his laptop and he looks at us.

This playing with mirrors and metaphors is something I like very much because the boundaries and limitations vanish and look interchangeable. This effect also appears when we see text on screen. When we see with Sherlock's eyes it appears as if we are suddenly Sherlock and the screen is totally gone. 





 

 

June 5, 2013 12:17 pm  #63


Re: Sherlock's habits

Lily wrote:

holmes23 wrote:

Quoting Moffat:

"There's a character detail in there that we've only ever really hinted at, as he checks out the mirror quite a lot. So while he says I'm above all such matters, he has the attitude that 'I have no interest in women, but by God they better have an interest in me'"

http://www.sherlockology.com/news/2013/6/2/crimefest-highlights-030613

I've been a bit surprised when reading this because I can't actually recall him doing that. It is obvious that his appereance matters to him, hence his dressing choices. And he has at least two mirrors in his own room and the one in the living room. But when do we actually see him look at a mirror? In TRF when he buttons his jacket and later requested by John ('the face') - but apart from that?

Or does 'we've only ever really hinted at' mean that it is implied without having it really shown on the show?

 

Funny. My feeling says he´s looking quite often into a mirror. Without checking that I just remember - besides that scene in TRF - the scene in TBB, when he straightens his jacket after the fight with that Indian man in the beginning. And, indirectly, when he choses his disguise for Irene Adler (we don´t see the mirror but obviously he is looking into one). But I never doubted about him being a somehow  vain character.

Last edited by anjaH_alias (June 5, 2013 12:18 pm)

 

June 5, 2013 4:17 pm  #64


Re: Sherlock's habits

I don't think he's vain at all, just neat and tidy.


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June 7, 2013 9:29 am  #65


Re: Sherlock's habits

He likes to be dramatic, to perform. He likes to have an audience. In canon Watson mentioned that Holmes can easily be flattered and he likes to hear compliments about his work.
I wouldn't go as far as to call it vain, but he is proud when he can win or solve a puzzle. IMO, vain is defined as character trait of a person who is excessively proud of one's appearance or accomplishments, but lacking substance

Sherlock knows that he can use his appearance and his acting skills. Perhaps you can compare it with an artist or an actor on stage. He does it because he knows he is good at it; he wants to impress (us/John) and he enjoys the moment.

 

June 7, 2013 11:07 am  #66


Re: Sherlock's habits

I think vanity is synonymous with conceit. It is possible to be vain, or conceited, with just cause. There is no requirement for it to be without substance. There are people who are very physically attractive/ highly accomplished who are also terribly vain (thinking of Carly Simon's song 'You're so Vain').

However, the use of the word 'vain' can also be used in another context e.g. 'it was a vain attempt to do something' as in it was futile or pointless.


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Don't make people into heroes John. Heroes don't exist and if they did I wouldn't be one of them.
 

June 7, 2013 11:54 am  #67


Re: Sherlock's habits

Davina wrote:

I think vanity is synonymous with conceit. It is possible to be vain, or conceited, with just cause. There is no requirement for it to be without substance. There are people who are very physically attractive/ highly accomplished who are also terribly vain (thinking of Carly Simon's song 'You're so Vain').

However, the use of the word 'vain' can also be used in another context e.g. 'it was a vain attempt to do something' as in it was futile or pointless.

I looked it up in the internet, obviously I have chosen the wrong word. Of course I am not talking about lacking substance or being superficial. I am just talking about somebody who is looking for his outer appearance (like also canon Holmes and not in an excessive way). I just rewatched the Reichenbach Falls two days ago and saw, that he is more than once watching himself in the mirror and checking his outfit (e.g. before John and him drive to the trial). The other word given to me from the dictionary is "pavonine" - maybe this fits better? Our German word "eitel" is of course not a real positive one, but also not soooo bad: somebody can be clever, a nice guy, skilful and a genius plus "eitel", too. It´s not a contradiction.

Last edited by anjaH_alias (June 7, 2013 12:00 pm)

 

June 7, 2013 1:34 pm  #68


Re: Sherlock's habits

Pavonine is used very rarely, so rarely in fact that I had never heard of it. It really relates to being a peacock so will suggest gaudiness as much as vanity. Certainly, in the past people would have referred to men as being like a peacock I.e. dressed gaudily etc. I feel that it is used much less nowadays.

Eitel  definitely has a more negative meaning that vain in English. To get the same meaning you would have to say something along the lines of: he is vain about his appearance. The word 'pretentious' gives a much better feel in English because it suggests that there is an unjustified arrogance or pride.


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Don't make people into heroes John. Heroes don't exist and if they did I wouldn't be one of them.
 

June 7, 2013 2:45 pm  #69


Re: Sherlock's habits

Davina wrote:

Pavonine is used very rarely, so rarely in fact that I had never heard of it. It really relates to being a peacock so will suggest gaudiness as much as vanity. Certainly, in the past people would have referred to men as being like a peacock I.e. dressed gaudily etc. I feel that it is used much less nowadays.

Eitel definitely has a more negative meaning that vain in English. To get the same meaning you would have to say something along the lines of: he is vain about his appearance. The word 'pretentious' gives a much better feel in English because it suggests that there is an unjustified arrogance or pride.

And so I've also learned something new. Thanks Davina! 
 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Falling is just like flying, except there’s a more permanent destination."

"Sherlock Holmes is a great man, and I think one day—if we’re very very lucky—he might even be a good one."

"Would you like to-"
"-have dinner?"
"-solve crimes?"
"Oh"



 

June 7, 2013 10:17 pm  #70


Re: Sherlock's habits

Snogging John when he finds a clue!

oh no, wait, that's just in my head.


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June 8, 2013 8:25 am  #71


Re: Sherlock's habits

Davina wrote:

Pavonine is used very rarely, so rarely in fact that I had never heard of it. It really relates to being a peacock so will suggest gaudiness as much as vanity. Certainly, in the past people would have referred to men as being like a peacock I.e. dressed gaudily etc. I feel that it is used much less nowadays.

Eitel definitely has a more negative meaning that vain in English. To get the same meaning you would have to say something along the lines of: he is vain about his appearance. The word 'pretentious' gives a much better feel in English because it suggests that there is an unjustified arrogance or pride.

Thanks for that, "pretentious" sounds good.

 

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