Doctor Who: Language and Representations

 

Language and contexts

1) Write a summary of the notes from our in-class analysis of the episode. You can use your own notes from the screening in class or this Google document of class notes (you'll need your GHS Google login). 

Camerawork and sound: 

 Doctor Who has used music and and graphics to set a theme of Sci-fi (genre) right at the beginning without any straightforward verbal introduction, the slow camera movement is caused by thatch in 1960s. There are few flashbacks that show Susan's misunderstanding, which gives insight what she is thinking. Medium shot of Doctor holding a vase with the teachers faces makes him appear evil. there are shots of the TARDIS making sounds and Barbara entering the TARDIS which also builds on 

Mise-en-scene: 

Susan-first introduced dancing and dressed as 1960's teenager seems to be both typical teenager and alien. sound effects link to sci-fi genre heightens action. setting junkyard lighting dark/shadows creates mysterious ,tense atmosphere. setting in the TARDIS central control console white walls with circle design TARDIS much bigger on inside than out.

Narrative and genre: opening title sequence like a rocket taking off sci-fi genre and links to 1960's space race. enigma code: some kind of conflict/threat linked to TARDIS. narrative background- "I was born in another world". doctor says "one day we will return". creates narrative arc for doctor who that still continues today genre mise-en-scene/TARDIS 

2) How can we apply narrative theories to this episode of  Doctor Who? 

Todorov's Equilibrium: 

Susan was not having a proper house and then the disequilibrium was that the doctor took them in the TARDIS. 

Propp's character theory: The heroes are the teachers the villain is the doctor the princess was Susan who needed saving

Barthes's enigma and action codes: Why can't the doctor go back to his home? Will the teachers get out?

Levi-Strauss's binary opposition:   Light/Dark-lost torch

3) In your opinion, what is the most important scene in the episode and why?

In y opinion the most important scene is when they are outside the TARDIS because it shows how small it is and you can see that IAN walked around it but when you go inside its massive which shows how this defies the laws of science. 

4) What genre is An Unearthly Child and how can you tell? Make specific reference to aspects of the episode.

The genre An Unearthly Child is sci-fi because it is a science fiction as a lot of it is about science and it is fiction as it is a story and cannot do this or make it happen in real life like how the TARDIS travels through time.

5) How does An Unearthly Child reflect the social and historical contexts of the 1960s?

It reflects the social and historical contexts by its depiction of a post-war, technologically optimistic yet uncertain society, its treatment of gender roles, and its exploration of the cold war era.

Representations

1) What stereotypes of men are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?

One stereotype of men being subverted is them being reinforced is that men are in charge this is shown by Ian taking charge and The doctor being male. One stereotype being subverted is of men being in charge as Ian is helping Barbara not the other way around.

2) What stereotypes of women/girls are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?

A stereotype of woman being reinforced is that woman are very emotional this is shown at Susan's over reactions and outbursts. A stereotype of woman being subverted is them being sidekicks or "cheerleaders" this is shown by Barbara asking Ian for help making Ian the sidekick.

3) How do the representations of young people and old people in An Unearthly Child reflect the social and historical context of the 1960s? 

One stereotype of old people being reinforced is them being angry, miserable and grumpy all the time this is shown when we meet The doctor who is introduced as grumpy and spiteful. Another stereotype being reinforced is that teenagers dating this is shown when Ian and Barbara are seen in the car at the dump where they suggest that it would be normal for Susan to be meeting a boy.

4) What representations of race/ethnicity can be found in Doctor Who: An Earthly Child? Is this surprising or not? Give reasons for your answer and consider historical / cultural context (the 1960s). Has this changed in more recent series of Doctor Who?

The representations of ethnicity in the episode is that white people are the dominate race this is shown by there being a white cast and that there was no there race in the episode this is not surprising because the Human Rights act was only passed down in the UK in the year 1998.

5) How is social class represented in An Unearthly Child? Think about how education and knowledge is presented in the episode.

In the episode having a higher intelligence is represented as strange and suspicious this is shown by the teachers suspicion of Susan.