Dirk ex Machina: Douglas Adams’ Saga and Holistic Detection as Religious Satire

Douglas Adams, in his Dirk Gently series, presents his protagonist as a “holistic detective”. Following in the tradition of Sherlock Holmes, the detective bases his claims on scientific evidence and always succeeds in his enquiries. However, the mechanics of his comically random detecting behavior c...

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Autor principal:	Emilio Gianotti
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN ES FR IT
Publicado:	LED - Edizioni Universitarie di Lettere Economia Diritto 2021
Materias:	dirk gently holism deus ex machina satire religion. Philology. Linguistics P1-1091
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/a7000bded79a442d977da7669447482b
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id	oai:doaj.org-article:a7000bded79a442d977da7669447482b
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:a7000bded79a442d977da7669447482b2021-11-16T14:54:33ZDirk ex Machina: Douglas Adams’ Saga and Holistic Detection as Religious Satire2281-89521724-869810.7358/ling-2021-002-gianhttps://doaj.org/article/a7000bded79a442d977da7669447482b2021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.ledonline.it/index.php/linguae/article/view/2426https://doaj.org/toc/2281-8952https://doaj.org/toc/1724-8698Douglas Adams, in his Dirk Gently series, presents his protagonist as a “holistic detective”. Following in the tradition of Sherlock Holmes, the detective bases his claims on scientific evidence and always succeeds in his enquiries. However, the mechanics of his comically random detecting behavior clash with the conclusiveness of the plot, casting doubt on the control of the protagonist over his method. A study of these mechanics as inherently computer-like elicits an interplay between the openness of a holistic postmodern pastiche and the reassuring closure granted by the appeal to science. An analysis of these core concepts, and of the influence of the New Atheist movement on the author, leads to an underlining of the satiric elements of the series. As satires of religion, these novels attack false systems of belief in favor of an enjoyment of uncertainty that waits for the answers of science.Emilio GianottiLED - Edizioni Universitarie di Lettere Economia Diritto articledirk gentlyholismdeus ex machinasatirereligion.Philology. LinguisticsP1-1091ENESFRITLinguae &. Rivista di Lingue e Culture Moderne, Vol 20, Iss 2, Pp 25-47 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN ES FR IT
topic	dirk gently holism deus ex machina satire religion. Philology. Linguistics P1-1091
spellingShingle	dirk gently holism deus ex machina satire religion. Philology. Linguistics P1-1091 Emilio Gianotti Dirk ex Machina: Douglas Adams’ Saga and Holistic Detection as Religious Satire
description	Douglas Adams, in his Dirk Gently series, presents his protagonist as a “holistic detective”. Following in the tradition of Sherlock Holmes, the detective bases his claims on scientific evidence and always succeeds in his enquiries. However, the mechanics of his comically random detecting behavior clash with the conclusiveness of the plot, casting doubt on the control of the protagonist over his method. A study of these mechanics as inherently computer-like elicits an interplay between the openness of a holistic postmodern pastiche and the reassuring closure granted by the appeal to science. An analysis of these core concepts, and of the influence of the New Atheist movement on the author, leads to an underlining of the satiric elements of the series. As satires of religion, these novels attack false systems of belief in favor of an enjoyment of uncertainty that waits for the answers of science.
format	article
author	Emilio Gianotti
author_facet	Emilio Gianotti
author_sort	Emilio Gianotti
title	Dirk ex Machina: Douglas Adams’ Saga and Holistic Detection as Religious Satire
title_short	Dirk ex Machina: Douglas Adams’ Saga and Holistic Detection as Religious Satire
title_full	Dirk ex Machina: Douglas Adams’ Saga and Holistic Detection as Religious Satire
title_fullStr	Dirk ex Machina: Douglas Adams’ Saga and Holistic Detection as Religious Satire
title_full_unstemmed	Dirk ex Machina: Douglas Adams’ Saga and Holistic Detection as Religious Satire
title_sort	dirk ex machina: douglas adams’ saga and holistic detection as religious satire
publisher	LED - Edizioni Universitarie di Lettere Economia Diritto
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/a7000bded79a442d977da7669447482b
work_keys_str_mv	AT emiliogianotti dirkexmachinadouglasadamssagaandholisticdetectionasreligioussatire
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Dirk ex Machina: Douglas Adams’ Saga and Holistic Detection as Religious Satire

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