The discussion seminars really helped in understanding the context in which Sherlock Holmes has been written and its implications in modern society. It’s interesting but also disappointing to see that the racial ideologies really impact an illustrator (and author’s) writing, but it makes sense. The fact that England had the whole desire of wanting exotic Eastern cultures but to keep them (and constantly remind them) of their “savagery” and “inferiority” to England really is something to research into. In regard to our own culture, it still plays heavily in the assumption of who is deemed the villain or the criminal—there’s a prejudice within the police system that paints BIPOC people as doing something “deviant” or indecent and therefore paint their whole image on trying to prove that bias. It’s sad to know that it had been a constant issue that hadn’t seemed to change much even as time progressed. The illustrations also helps, though, in understanding the way in which the reader comes to further develop their understanding of Holmes’ case. Sometimes, with the way Sherlock can deduce his reasonings behind the crime, I get the feeling of him speeding through the explanations a bit too fast, where something might’ve been missed (maybe that’s just me). But with the addition of the illustrations, it brings the case into something that I can visually see and follow along with the text. It provides grounds for being a part of Holmes' investigations, not just as a reader but (like from Watson's oberver perspective) seeing Holmes do his thing.