'CLAP IF YOU BELIEVE IN SHERLOCK

HOLMES': MASS CULTURE AND THE

RE-ENCHANTMENT OF MODERNITY,
c. 1890-c. 1940
MICHAEL SALER
University of California
 Identified thesis statement
• Reimagining Modernity: Sherlock Holmes
as a Catalyst for the Reconciliation of
Rationality and Enchantment in Western
Intellectual Discourse
 Analysis
Michael Saler's work "Clap If You Believe in Sherlock Holmes: Mass Culture and the Re-enchantment of Modernity, c. 1890-c. 1940" provides
valuable insights into how Sherlock Holmes serves as a catalyst for the re-enchantment of modernity. Drawing from Saler's arguments, here are
some key points in favor of the thesis statement:

• Holmes as a Modern Enchanter: Saler argues that Holmes embodies a modern form of enchantment that resonated with mass audiences
during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Unlike traditional magical figures, Holmes's enchantment stems from his rational
yet imaginative approach to problem-solving. This challenges Weber's notion that rationalization and enchantment are incompatible,
suggesting that modernity can accommodate enchanting narratives.

• Reconciliation of Reason and Imagination: Saler suggests that Holmes's character offers an alternative to narrow instrumental
rationality by embracing a more expansive understanding of reason. Through Holmes's deductive prowess and keen observation, readers are
invited to engage in a playful and imaginative exploration of mysteries. This reconciliation of reason and imagination undermines the
strict dichotomy between rationality and magic, fostering a re-enchantment of modernity.

• Cultural Impact and Audience Engagement: Saler highlights the phenomenon of adult readers pretending that Holmes was a real person,
demonstrating the profound impact of Holmes on popular culture. This playful engagement with Holmes blurs the boundaries between
reality and fiction, inviting readers to participate in the enchanting world of Baker Street. Such mass cultural engagement with Holmes
indicates a widespread desire for enchantment within modernity.

• Contrast with Doyle's Skepticism: Saler contrasts Doyle's personal skepticism towards spiritualism with the enduring appeal of Holmes. While
Doyle's reluctance to fully embrace spiritualism reflects a lingering attachment to premodern enchantment, Holmes represents a more
adaptive and inclusive form of enchantment that resonates with modern audiences. This contrast further underscores the transformative
potential of Holmes in reconciling modernity with enchantment.

• By drawing from Saler's analysis, these arguments support the thesis statement by demonstrating how Sherlock Holmes serves as a
paradigmatic example of the re-enchantment of modernity, challenging conventional notions of rationality and inviting readers to
embrace a more imaginative understanding of the world.
 Abstract ‘reimagined’
• In 1920, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's assertion of belief in fairies, backed by purported photographs, ignited discourse among intellectuals. Critics,

puzzled by Doyle's endorsement of such fantastical claims, questioned how the rationalist mind behind Sherlock Holmes could embrace such
credulity. This paradox reflects a broader tension in Western thought regarding the harmony of rationality and enchantment, as scrutinized by

scholars like Max Weber. While Weber argued that rationalization and bureaucratization clashed with the magical ethos of earlier eras, Doyle's belief
in fairies challenges this bleak perspective. Indeed, Sherlock Holmes emerges as a beacon of modern enchantment, offering an alternative to narrow

instrumental reason through deductive prowess. Moreover, adult readers' treatment of Holmes as a tangible figure exemplifies a playful engagement
with imagination that transcends modern rationality's confines. Nonetheless, Doyle's hesitation towards spiritualism suggests a lingering fondness for

premodern enchantment, complicating efforts to reconcile modernity with magical narratives. This study explores these intricacies through an
interdisciplinary lens, examining Doyle's beliefs, the reception of Sherlock Holmes, and broader intellectual discourse, to illuminate the nuanced

interplay between reason and enchantment in Western culture.

 Cont..
• Additionally, the pervasive presence of ironic imagination in mass culture complicates the
dichotomy between rationality and enchantment, offering a space where rational and
enchanted worlds coexist. Sherlock Holmes, as a fictional yet 'living' persona, embodies this
ironic imagination, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. Holmes's ability to enchant
the world, despite his fictional status, underscores the transformative potential of modern
enchantment. As cultural pessimists of the fin-de-siècle lamented the perceived
disenchantment of modernity, a countercurrent emerged within elite and popular cultures,
championing enchantment's enduring allure. Acknowledging the constructed nature of reality,
this perspective recognizes that 'real' and 'objective' are fluid concepts, subject to
interpretation. Sherlock Holmes, hailed as the epitome of modern enchantment, challenges the
dichotomy between reason and imagination, offering a pathway to embrace the enchanting
dimensions of the modern world.