DOCTOR WHO: LANGUAGE AND REPRESENTATION

 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:  

• Very science fictions- sets genre form the beginning.   
• Slow, cunky camera movement (due to the technology in 1960's)
• Sound: hum of the TARDIS to create a scienctific sound.
•  Flashback scenes: close-ups of Susan to show her emotion and misunderstanding.
• Medium shot of the Doctor holding the vase with teachers on the background - makes the Doctor to look evil. 

 Mise-en-scene: 

• Susan - first introduced dancing and dresses as a 1960s teenager. Seems to be typical teenager and an alien.
•  Setting - junkyard. Lighting - dark atmosphere, mysterious, thrilling atmoshpere.
• Lighting - TARDIS is bright white (sci-fi connotations). Also contrasts with shadow outside (binary composition).
• New setting - new time/planet. Sets up next episode. 

Narrative and genre:

•  Opening title sequence like a rocket taking off makes a sci-fi genre and link to 1960s space race.
• Enigma codes - mystery of Susan's home. French revolution - "I'll have finished it" "That's not right"... suggests time travel. 

• Science fiction - "That hasn't happened yet" - time travel.

• Dimensions - Time and space
• Levi-Strauss - binary opposition. Light/Dark - lost torch.  
• Enigma code - Police Box/TARDIS. "It's alive!"  
• Propp's characters - Doctor presented as villain. 
• Enigma codes - Will the teachers come out? 

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

Todorov's Equilibrium: 

At the equilibrium it shows a normality that Susan is in school, while her teachers are worried about her as she's lying to them about where she lives. The disequilibrium is when the teachers followed Susan and they were kidnapped by the doctor.

Propp's character theory: 

-The heroine was Susan as the teachers tried to follow her as they were concerned for her.

-The villain was Doctor Who as he kidnapped the teachers who were just concerned for Susan and he also didn't give Susan what she wanted, which is to stay on earth and go to school.

-The false hero are the teachers as they followed Susan, trying to find a sign that she's in danger and tried to make sure that she is fine, that nothing's wrong. 

Barthes's enigma and action codes:

Enigma codes- When the Doctor reveals himself to the two teachers while they're in the garage and tries to fight them of 

Action codes- When the teacher tries to help themselves by pushing on different buttons just to help them get out of the TARDIS.

 

Levi-Strauss's binary opposition:  

One Levi-Strauss's binary opposition is when the Doctor only thinks for himself and the safety of their secret as he's already old, he doesn't care that Susan wants to stay on earth and go to school. However, Susan wants to stay and goes to school, she cares about the teachers and tries to make sure that they're secrets are kept. This shows old vs young.

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

In my opinion, the most important scene in the episode is when the Doctor kidnaps the teachers and teleported on another place, as this is where the problem starts and makes it more mysterious as to what's gonna happen to the teachers.

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

The genre of An Unearthly Child is mystery as the episode is full of secrets and shows some strange things on some parts of the story like, why is Susan so intelligent compared to the teachers. It also has a sci-fi genre as it shows how they travelled to one place and another.

5) How does An Unearthly Child reflect the social and historical contexts of the 1960s?
An Unearthly Child reflects the social context as it shows that even though Susan seems a bit strange than other teenagers and made the teachers feel like they aren't doing a good job in their subject, it still shows how the teachers care for the safety of Susan. This also shows historical context as it shows that in their generation Susan is shown as the odd one out, whereas in this generation it is more modern and people are more understanding to what other peoples personality are and how they show their identity.

Representations

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

-The reinforced stereotypes of men are that they are shown as strong and dominant. Ian is more dominant when he wanted to get the answers that he wanted. This is subverted by showing men as un-gentleman and talks more informally with women. Ian talks to Barbara informally as if they're really close with each other.

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

-The reinforced stereotypes of women are that they are worried, emotional and always right. Barbara is shown that she is worried for Susan and tries to convince Ian that there's something wrong. This is subverted by showing women as independent and confident. Susan wants to walk in the dark just by herself.

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

-Representations of young people reflect the social context as they follow what older people say and also shows a conflict with older people. In historical context it shows that young people are weak as it shows that Susan couldn't do anything when her grandad starts the TARDIS. Representations of old people reflect the social context as it shows that the Doctor only talks to Ian when they met. In historical context it shows that they act more mature as they are more experienced.

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 race/ethnicity that can be found in Doctor Who is white people. This is not really surprising as it is from the 1960's and it shows that more white people are always together. This changes in the more recent series of Doctor Who as the characters became more diverse.

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 in An Unearthly Child by showing a middle class with teachers. In this episode the characters seems more keen about Susan, that there's something wrong.