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.)
An Unearthly Child
Narrative:
Doctor who;the unearthly child is about a timelord(alien) who has a grandaughter(susan) who goes to a school on earth and the teachers suspect something. They then see her go into a junkyard and believe that the doctor has kidnapped their student Susan. When they all enter the TARDIS ( Time And Relative Dimensions In Space)there is a use of dialogue to create a division between the Doctor and Susan.
Character:
There are only 4 named characters in this episode: Doctor Who, an alien scientist who looks like a human, Susan the alien scientist's granddaughter who also looks like a human, Ian a human scientist teacher and Barbara a human history teacher. In this episode Doctor Who seems to be the anti-hero as he is shown to deliberately harm the teacher and is thought by the teachers to have kidnapped Susan.Iconography:
Setting:
The beginning of the episode is set in a normal school but then moves into a junkyard as this is possibly a reference to the horror genre. Most of the scenes in the school were set in the science lab which is a feature of sci-fi.
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.
Equilibrium- In school normality is evident with normal teachers and a brilliant student
Disruption- When the teachers the Doctor and it seems as though Susan has been kidnapped
Recognition-When the teachers realize that Susan is in the TARDIS in the junkyard
Reparation-When the teachers enter the TARDIS and realize it is not a kidnapping
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.
In this episode, the Doctor is an anti-hero character because he is made unlikable by not co-operating with other characters.Futhermore susan is the princess as the teachers believe she is being kidnapped. The teachers are both the heroes.
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.)
Susan has a shiny silver vest and trousers, this shows that she is from the future.When the doctor is introduced, there are low angled shots to make him seem more powerful.
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?
Young and old is an example of binary opposition in Doctor Who. Another example of this is gender. Male and female are shown by Barbara and Ian.
Representations
1) What stereotypes of men are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?
The typical stereotype of men being the heroes in a narrative is reinforced in this episode because the ian is shown to be the saviour of susan.
2) What stereotypes of women/girls are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?
The characters of Barbara and Susan are treated as though they were inferior. The Doctor only refers to Ian, using the term 'young man' to show that he didn't even consider Barbara as being a threat
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?
The stereotype of younger people listening to music and dressing a certain way is shown in this as the typical younger person in the 1950s/60s4) 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?
Gender roles are very binary as Ian is the main hero and Barbara just helps him and is sidelined.
5) How is social class represented in An Unearthly Child? Think about how education and knowledge is presented in the episode.Education is an important middle-class value, the fact that Susan dreams of an education when her grandfather tries to stop her from going.
Audience
1) Who is the target audience for Doctor Who? Has it changed since 1963?
The target audience is mainly families and younger children as it is very family friendly.2) What audience psychographic groups might particularly enjoy Doctor Who?
Mainstreamers, as it can be watched by the entire family and explorers because in the 60s Science Fiction was a relatively new genre.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.
A normal school setting is used because everyone is either experiencing or has experienced school life.Personal Relationships:
Relationship with susan as she is like a typical schoolgirl.Diversion (Escapism):
The TARDIS and travelling to another dimension.Surveillance (Information / Facts):
The decimal system is mentioned.4) What additional Uses and Gratifications would this episode provide to a modern 2018 audience?
Nostalgia as older people could remember the music and how school was like.5) Thinking of the 3 Vs audience pleasures (Visceral, Vicarious and Voyeuristic pleasures), which of these can be applied to An Unearthly Child?
Vicarious pleasures can be applied to Doctor Who because the audience can imagine that they are travelling through space in time through the characters of the Doctor and Susan.
Industries
1) What was the television industry like in 1963? How many channels were there?
There were only 2 channels. BBC and ITV.2) Why is Doctor Who such an important franchise for the BBC?
Because it is one of the biggest attractions for the BBC and is known worldwide.3) How does Doctor Who meet the BBC's mission statement to 'inform, educate and entertain'?
It mainly entertains however sometimes, for example the current season, has links to things that coccured in history.4) How is the BBC funded?
By the government.5) Who regulates the BBC and what is the watershed?
The BBC was self-regulated until 2017 when OffCom started regulating it.
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