Doctor Who: Language and Representation blog tasks

 Social and Historical context

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

The historical setting is demonstrated by Susan's usage of a cassette player to listen to music, which is old and in today's age we would use phones. Furthermore, higher intelligence was strange as Susan was investigated by her teachers.

2) How might audiences have felt towards science fiction in the 1960s?

When doctor who was released, it was the first of its genre, as no other show had covered sci fi ever before. During the time that doctor who was released, the space was ongoing, which intrigued others to learn about science fiction.ds

Language and close-textual analysis

1) Choose three key moments in the episode and write an NCIS analysis for those clips. You can use your notes from the screening in class. Make specific, detailed references using media terminology (e.g. media language - camera shots, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, mise-en-scene etc.)

An Unearthly Child scene analysis

Narrative: Teachers discover a student's backstory

Character: History teacher, Science teacher and student

Iconography: Police box (TARDIS) Eerie sounds (doctor who theme)

Setting: Classroom and junkyard

2) How does Todorov's theory of equilibrium apply to An Unearthly Child? Try and use the expanded version of Todorov's theory: Equilibrium - Disruption - Recognition - Reparation - New equilibrium.

The previous equilibrium is before Susan came to the school,the problem is Susan struggling in certain classes,the resolution is finding out that Susan and her grandfather are both exiled aliens but then the new equilibrium is that they all land on a alien planet.

3) Applying Propp's character theory, what character roles do each of the main characters in An Unearthly Child fit into? Alternatively, you may wish to discuss how characters do not fit Propp's character types.

Ian is a hero and Barbara is a helper but the doctor is the villain

4) What enigma and action codes (Barthes) can you find in An Unearthly Child? Make specific, detailed reference to the text using media terminology (e.g. media language - camera shots, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, mise-en-scene etc.)

An enigma could be Susan's strange actions such as being rebellious and her dancing

Representations

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

Ian is a hero so the sterotypes are reinforced

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

Susan reinforces sterotypes because of her traditional hairstyle but subverts them because she is rebellious

3) What are common media stereotypes of young people and old people? Do any of the characters or scenarios reinforce or subvert these conventional stereotypes (consider this was 1963)? 

Young people are seen as rebellious but old people are seen as more wise who can make better decisions and save other people.

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?

Most if not all characters were white however nowadays there are a mix of races

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

Most people are white middle class in the episode which shows a superiority of race