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: 

• Music - theme tune to Doctor Who. Very science-fiction - sets genre from beginning.

• Graphics on screen: title of show and episode. Simple text/font. 

• Sound: hum of TARDIS (helps create science-fiction genre).

Mise-en-scene:

 

• Susan - first introduced dancing and dressed as 1960s teenager (costume). Seems to be both typical teenager and alien.

• Costume and hair typical of 1960s.

 

Narrative and genre:

 

• Opening title sequence like a rocket taking off - sci-fi genre and links to 1960s space race.

• Enigma codes: mystery of Susan’s home. French Revolution book - “I’ll have finished it” “That’s not right”... suggests time travel.

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

Todorov's Equilibrium: everything is going fine until the teachers follow Susan and go into the TARDIS

Propp's character theory: Male teacher - hero, Female teacher - Heroine, Doctor - Villian

Barthes's enigma and action codes: When the teachers follow Susan to where she lives (action codes) In the end the characters end up in a different planet (Enigma code)

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

The end scene as it is interestingly left in a cliff-hanger where the characters were left in a different planet as they had entered the TARDIS

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

Science fiction (Sci-fi) as it takes the characters through time travel and space and brings them into another planet by TARDIS

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

Susan is dressed up as a typical 1960s teenager

Historical references to a revolution

Old technology in 1960s
Clucky black and white cameras

Representations

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

The 1960s stereotypes are reinforced as the male teacher is seen or displayed as brave, strong and a hero of the female teacher and Susan

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

The female teacher and Susan needed saving from the other teacher and this reinforces the stereotypes as they are seen as inferior.

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

In the 1960s, young people are seen as less rebellious as they are seen today and old people like the doctor is seen as a bit more arrogant than young people in the 1960s.


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?

There seems to be less diversity in British films back in the 1960s as there are only either Americans or British actors in the cast. Nowadays there is more diversity in race and ethnicity in British films as there are actors from anywhere around the world in the casts.

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

Susan may be seen or represented as a social class as she seems to live in a junkyard with her grand father AKA the doctor and she also seems to know more about history as she says 'that's not right..' when looking at the French revolution book so she may have more education than a typical 1960s social class teenagers..