Doctor Who: Language and Representation

 

 

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: 

From 10 mins to 13 the episode includes sound effects and music that connotes something bad will happen during the clip/ rest of the episode.

Character: 

In the same scene i stated on the narrative section the Doctor seems very mysterious as he doesnt allow Barbara and Ian into the phone box and he also mutters to himself that the teachers were not the police which suggests he may be a criminal or is wanted by the police.

Iconography: 

During the same scene Ian says that the police box is alive which connotes sci-fi  also the use of gender representation in the episode shows that women were still not acknowledged during the 1960s as the doctor ignored Barbara and only replys to Ian when talking. 

Setting: 

In the same scene the only setting we have is the junkyard which is dark, foggy, dangerous, and cold be a threat .

 

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 first disequilibrium in the episode is when the teachers are looking for Susan  and the new equilibrium is when they find Susan in the TARDIS but then they find themselves in a new disruption because they are stuck in the tardis and need to escape.

 

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

Susan is the princess who needs to be saved by the Heroes the teachers and the villian is shows as the Doctor because he electocuted Ian and was rude and evil laughing.

 

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.)

At the end of the episode its left on a cliffhanger where a shadow of someone is shown this is an enigma code because the audience will be asking questions about where they are and who was outside the tardis.                   

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?

There is a age vs youth opposition as the doctor is older than susan and she listens to him. Also brawn vs intelligence with the doctor and teacher Ian as they argue, the Doctor seems to be outsmarting him.

Representations

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

First the main character is a man who is smarter than everyone and controls nearly everything and also the Doctor doesn't acknowledge Barbara when she talks to him this reinforces the stereotype that men were a higher class and had more power in the 1960s.

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

The rebelling teenagers stereotype is reinforced here as Susan has a tantrum about leaving the doctor but also Barbara seems so subvert some part of the stereotype that women were uneducated as she has a successful job as a teacher.

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? 

In 1963 older people were respected a lot and were seen to be wiser than the youth. And when the young people rebelled (which they didn't a lot) it was frowned upon. 

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 is no other race/ethnicity except for white people whereas now in Doctor who there are multiples races and also a woman doctor which shows how diverse the world is now.

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