Talk:Dick Webster

A quick note. This is a matter, imo, of QSS rather than QAA because the idea is for Dick Webster to be an international icon, a cross-cultural archetype a la Superman, Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula. Zahir 07:39, 12 July 2006 (PDT)

From my point of view, we should be careful about assuming that a given work would be internationaly famous. part of it due to different culture influences and another part is that there is more "cultural spheres" then *here*. I doubt anglo-saxon work of fictions would have the same possibilities for international success as they do *here*. --Marc Pasquin 05:32, 13 July 2006 (PDT)

Good point. I was framing Dick Webster around two thoughts: (1) That detective fiction is an internationally popular *there* as *here* with the various archetypes--police procedural, locked door, etc. and (2) That a certain flavor of writing would strike a chord. I should also note my presumption that IB seems a more literate place that our own world, not least because there are more languages to learn. My real question, though, would be whether Dick Webster passes muster for an international icon, and if so, to what extent? Zahir 07:26, 13 July 2006 (PDT)

There is something quintessentially "Dick Tracy" about him anyway. I've never really been interested in that kind of detective story (I prefer Sherlock Holmes, Poiroit, Miss Marple etc. myself), but it is interesting nevertheless. Keep up the good work David. --Sikulu 07:33, 13 July 2006 (PDT)

Regardy the detective fiction popularity, while you might nowaday find that sort of novel written in other cultures, it has been largely inspired by the anglo-saxon type due to it's current cultural influence. For example, the most popular crime novels of years past in the french speaking world dealt not with a private eye as the main character but with a *criminal genius* (Arsene Lupin, Fantomas, Rocambole, etc...) as the protagonist.

So to put it another way, many of what you might consider international archetypes *here* might not reasonate that much outside of their cultural sphere *there*. --Marc Pasquin 06:53, 14 July 2006 (PDT)

That brings up a good point. How prevelant are detective/mystery in popular fiction within the various cultural "spheres" of IB? Methinks we need to hear from several folks on that point. Zahir 11:17, 14 July 2006 (PDT)

Louisianne would follow very close to France, but there would be some influence from the NAL, creating a niche market for that sort of thing, at least until the most recent years. BoArthur 11:31, 14 July 2006 (PDT)

My impression (for whatever that is worth <g> ) was that Louisianne was more likely to go its own way and find a cultural identity than New Francy, which (again IMO) seems to be trying to be more French than the French.

Along those lines, I strongly suspect that detective fiction would be popular in Romania, with the older generation probably preferring Inspector Watson.

The above reference to Superman and Dracula, btw, please consider a form of hyperbole. I wasn't really aiming for that kind of fame. Dick Webster would be, in my mind, more akin to *our* Sam Spade. Zahir 19:10, 14 July 2006 (PDT)

Would they even have private detective in Romania ? (and no, its not a dig) In many cultures, the notion of a "non-governmental policeman" (so to speak) would be an odd one. --Marc Pasquin 19:16, 14 July 2006 (PDT)

Well, Inspector Watson is a police officer remember (unlike Sherlock Holmes *here*). And while *here* such eccentric P.I.s as Lord Peter Whimsey and Hercule Poirot became popular, I suspect that *there* more heroes in detective stories are actual police officers (like Inspector Monk--at first--and M. Maigret). That is just my impression, because IB seems in some ways politically more conservative in terms of maintaining (and respecting) institutions.

Zahir 19:33, 14 July 2006 (PDT)

You could be right in regard to a prevalence of detective stories having an actual policeman has protagonist. Simply from a quick search, most non-us detectives I could find seem to be that way. Considering all the small countries and condominium, many fictional detectives could also be part of Interpol, thus allowing them a greater range of adventure. --Marc Pasquin 09:07, 15 July 2006 (PDT)

As for New Francy, the francien tend to keep up the *appearances* of pre-republican france. The laurentians however tend to base their culture on local reality. --Marc Pasquin 19:20, 14 July 2006 (PDT)

I stand corrected. Along those lines, I suspect (that word again) that Dick Webster would be more popular in Tejas than Inspector Watson. Tejas, it seems to me, is more of a frontier in many ways. The idea of having to count upon oneself in a corrupt system would probably find a receptive audience there. IMHO.

You see, now I'm hoping someone comes up with the French criminal detective (or mastermind) icon for IB! Heh heh heh... Zahir 19:33, 14 July 2006 (PDT)

Tejas might not be big on that kind of novel at all. My knowledge of hispanic litterature is a bit limited but off the top of my head, I can't think of an equivalent. Regarding the French criminal mastermind, I might try my hand at that.--Marc Pasquin 09:07, 15 July 2006 (PDT)