Doctor Who : An Unearthly Child blog tasks
Language and close-textual analysis
1) Write an NCIS analysis for the episode- using notes from the screening in class. Make specific, detailed reference to moments in the text using media terminology (e.g. media language - camera shots, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, mise-en-scene etc.)
Narrative:
1) Write an NCIS analysis for the episode- using notes from the screening in class. Make specific, detailed reference to moments in the text using media terminology (e.g. media language - camera shots, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, mise-en-scene etc.)
Narrative:
- Disequilibrium is Susan's home not existing
- Policeman in junkyard
- Flashbacks
- Tardis - 'The tardis can go anywhere'
- Episode ends with shadow approaching
- Tardis-danger-cliff hanger
- Doctor who narrative arc - 'One day we will get back to our planet
- Teacher trapped
- Barbara Wright - History teacher
- Ian Chesterton - Science teacher
- Susan Foreman -15 year old , typical teen,'she is a genius'
- developing of Susan- 'decimal system', 'Dimensions-Space + time'
- Doctor Who(grandfather) - anti hero, almost a villain , won't let the teachers leave,electrocutes Ian Chesterton , Laughs at them for and patronised the teachers and Susan.
- Susan Foreman - First companion , childish
- classrooms(blackboard)
- costume - Susan's dress is a typical 1960s teenager
- Police +fog - mystery/danger
- central console/controls
- walls
- bright light-white
- Tardis take off - visual effects , white swirls of light , rocket launch , 1960's space race
Setting:
- yunkyard
- school - family audience
- classroom flashbacks
- Tardis - Technology SFX, door closing , Futuristic , Launch of Tardis , Hum background noise, Space
- Earth in cave man times
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.
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.
Hero:
Ian Chesterton - This is because he's the one Barbara Wright goes to for help and he's the one that the audience get to follow and explore Susan's Life with.
The Doctor - He is more of an anti hero in the first episode.
Princess:
Barbara Wright - She is the one that goes for the 'Hero' ( Ian Chesterton ) for help and also she becomes trapped in the Tardis in need of saving from a man.
Helper:
Barbara Wright - She is just accompanying Ian while discovering the Tardis and also because she is just there and doesn't get as much screen time as the other more important characters.
Susan Foreman - She is the Doctor's grandfather and also help him out in the Tardis .
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.)
Costume:
- Susan Foreman is wearing typical teenage clothes trying to fit in with others , so that she doesn't reveal who she really is.
- Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright and dressed professionally for the jobs for people in the 1960s
- The Doctor is wearing normal clothes that would have been worn in the 1960s.
Lighting:
- Junkyard - Inside the junkyard the lighting is extremely dark to connote danger / mystery.
- Tardis - Inside the Tardis it is extremely bright to connote the high level of technology which is contrast to the junkyard
Setting:
- At the beginning of the episode , the first scene is in the High School , specifically in the classroom when Barbara goes to Ian to discuss about how Susan's house isn't where it is supposed to be
- Later on , the setting changes to the Junkyard when the teachers go and try discover where Susan lives
- After they go into the Tardis where the teachers get to understand what really is happening yet they don't believe in it.
5) What examples of binary opposition (Levi-Strauss) can you find in An Unearthly Child? How do these create narrative or drama for the audience?
Old & Young
Alien&Humans
Representation
1) What stereotypes of men are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?
Men are stereo typically reinforced as Ian Chesterton is presented as very confident and quarrelsome .However it is subverted when the Doctor is presented as passive aggressive and refuses to help out Ian and Barbara.
2) What stereotypes of women/girls are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?
Women are presented to be stereotypical princesses (Propp) and are saved by the hero.This is show by Barbara as she let Ian do all the work while she stood back.
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)? Has this changed in more recent series of Doctor Who?
Most people were typically presented as kind and helpful in the 1960 however the doctor subverts it as he comes off as rude and unpleasant.Ian and Barbara reinforce it by being helpful to Susan and caring about Susan's life.
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 ethnicity that is predominant in Doctor Who is white .However in the 21st century it is more diverse but there is yet to be a Doctor who isn't white.
5) How is social class represented in An Unearthly Child? Think about how education and knowledge is presented in the episode.
Social class is represented as important and the episode mainly has middle class character roles.
Audience
1) Who is the target audience for Doctor Who? Has it changed since 1963?
The target audience for Doctor Who has remained for families but you could argue it for children a bit older than 7 because it could be scary for them.
2) What audience psychographic groups might particularly enjoy Doctor Who?
Main stream because it was one of the first channel's to have been made
3) What audience pleasures are offered by An Unearthly Child? Apply Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory to the episode. Make sure you provide specific examples from the episode to support your ideas.
Personal Identity:Teenagers could relate with Susan as she is also a student however they won't be able to relate to the idea of space travel
Personal Relationships:The audience would feel close to the teachers as they are both humans and being humans ourselves we would want them to be safe.
Diversion (Escapism):It involves leaving earth therefore it gives the audience an experience out of this world.
Surveillance (Information / Facts):It talks about different planets so information is given on those planets
4) What additional Uses and Gratifications would this episode provide to a modern 2018 audience?
Diversion because it allows the audience to escape out of realism
5) Thinking of the 3 Vs audience pleasures (Visceral, Vicarious and Voyeuristic pleasures), which of these can be applied to An Unearthly Child?
Visceral pleasure some scenes could race someones's heart beat due to cliff hangers.
Industries
1) What was the television industry like in 1963? How many channels were there?
The television industry was really small and only contained 3 channels.
2) Why is Doctor Who such an important franchise for the BBC?
Doctor Who is a main stream franchise therefore they profit from it because they get a lot of money
3) How does Doctor Who meet the BBC's mission statement to 'inform, educate and entertain'?
It educates the audience by speaking about time travel and space while entertaining them with the villans.
4) How is the BBC funded?
The BBC is funded by TV License , a License people need to pay so that they can watch BBC shows.
5) Who regulates the BBC and what is the watershed?
BBC is regulated by OfCOM .OfCOM created a code of conduct all TV shows must follow and give penalties to companies that it regulates, who does not follow the code of conduct.
Social and Historical context
1) How does An Unearthly Child reflect the social and historical contexts of the 1960s?
Despite the fact that Susan is an alien , as a teenage girl she still respects authority and listens to elders.
2) How might audiences have felt towards science fiction in the 1960s?
They were very interested in science fiction because that is when the space race was happening.
Old & Young
Alien&Humans
Representation
1) What stereotypes of men are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?
Men are stereo typically reinforced as Ian Chesterton is presented as very confident and quarrelsome .However it is subverted when the Doctor is presented as passive aggressive and refuses to help out Ian and Barbara.
2) What stereotypes of women/girls are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?
Women are presented to be stereotypical princesses (Propp) and are saved by the hero.This is show by Barbara as she let Ian do all the work while she stood back.
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)? Has this changed in more recent series of Doctor Who?
Most people were typically presented as kind and helpful in the 1960 however the doctor subverts it as he comes off as rude and unpleasant.Ian and Barbara reinforce it by being helpful to Susan and caring about Susan's life.
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 ethnicity that is predominant in Doctor Who is white .However in the 21st century it is more diverse but there is yet to be a Doctor who isn't white.
Social class is represented as important and the episode mainly has middle class character roles.
1) Who is the target audience for Doctor Who? Has it changed since 1963?
The target audience for Doctor Who has remained for families but you could argue it for children a bit older than 7 because it could be scary for them.
2) What audience psychographic groups might particularly enjoy Doctor Who?
Main stream because it was one of the first channel's to have been made
3) What audience pleasures are offered by An Unearthly Child? Apply Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory to the episode. Make sure you provide specific examples from the episode to support your ideas.
Personal Relationships:The audience would feel close to the teachers as they are both humans and being humans ourselves we would want them to be safe.
Diversion (Escapism):It involves leaving earth therefore it gives the audience an experience out of this world.
Surveillance (Information / Facts):It talks about different planets so information is given on those planets
4) What additional Uses and Gratifications would this episode provide to a modern 2018 audience?
Diversion because it allows the audience to escape out of realism
5) Thinking of the 3 Vs audience pleasures (Visceral, Vicarious and Voyeuristic pleasures), which of these can be applied to An Unearthly Child?
Visceral pleasure some scenes could race someones's heart beat due to cliff hangers.
Industries
1) What was the television industry like in 1963? How many channels were there?
The television industry was really small and only contained 3 channels.
2) Why is Doctor Who such an important franchise for the BBC?
Doctor Who is a main stream franchise therefore they profit from it because they get a lot of money
3) How does Doctor Who meet the BBC's mission statement to 'inform, educate and entertain'?
It educates the audience by speaking about time travel and space while entertaining them with the villans.
4) How is the BBC funded?
The BBC is funded by TV License , a License people need to pay so that they can watch BBC shows.
5) Who regulates the BBC and what is the watershed?
BBC is regulated by OfCOM .OfCOM created a code of conduct all TV shows must follow and give penalties to companies that it regulates, who does not follow the code of conduct.
Social and Historical context
1) How does An Unearthly Child reflect the social and historical contexts of the 1960s?
Despite the fact that Susan is an alien , as a teenage girl she still respects authority and listens to elders.
2) How might audiences have felt towards science fiction in the 1960s?
They were very interested in science fiction because that is when the space race was happening.
Comments
Post a Comment