Doctor Who : Language and Representation blog task

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: The shots and camerwork seems to show the audience that there is a lack of understanding or the tardis, it also seems to make the doctor seem like the villain as he is portrayed in an evil manner. 

Mise-en-scene: The characters introduced are Susan, the doctor, the teachers and the tardis firstly seems to be shown as a mysterious and dark area at first however it is then shown to be a scientific larger lab room

Narrative and genre: There are lots of science related quotes used in the play emphasising the genre of science fiction.

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

Todorov's Equilibrium: Equilibrium - Susan is a high school student who is extremely smart and has a close relationship with her teachers. Disequalibrium - Susan's teachers become intrigued by her home life so they follow her to find out however they end up finding her grandfather which then leads them to finding the tardis which leaves them startled. New equalibrium - They end up getting trapped in the tardis by his grandfather and end up in a new dimension in the past.

Propp's character theory: Hero-Ian ,Sidekick -Barbra, Heroine-Susan, Villain-Grandfather , Donor- TARDIS 

Barthes's enigma and action codes: Action code - when the TARDIS begins to take off or when the shadow appears in the final shot of the episode. Enigma code - who is the Doctor and where is he taking them? Will the teachers get home? What is the mysterious shadow in the final scene?

Levi-Strauss's binary opposition: The teachers vs The Grandfather ; Susan vs Her Grandfather; Everyone on the tardis v The shadow seen at the end; dark v light 

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

I think the most important scene in the episode is when the teachers ran into the tardis because they heard susans voice from inside. This is because the tardis was first introduced here and would have given a great shock to the audience. Also the entire show revolves around the tardis moving them places so its a very important prop in the play.

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

The episode is a Sci-Fi genre and that can be shown by the music played at the introduction before the episode began. There is also a constatnt reference t time, space and dimensions, for example when Susan says 'that hasnt happened yet'.

5) How does An Unearthly Child reflect the social and historical contexts of the 1960s?
The episode refers to social contexts as William Hartnell was the first Doctor, as an anti-hero who frequently put his companions in jeopardy for his own curiosity. Daleks made an appearance in the first series, as the arch enemies of the Doctor. It refers to historical contexts as 1961: First man in space – Russian Yuri Gagarin and tardis travels through time and space.

Representations

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

In the first clip gender stereo types are reinforced as you can see two boys harassing with two other girls in the corridors. Once they encounter the grandfather he only take most account towards Ian and ignore the woman Barbara presumably because he thinks that the man would understand better as he was more educated and mature.

2) What stereotypes of women/girls are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?
Gender stereo types are subverted as Susan is shown as cleverer than the teachers but then reinforced when they enter the junk yard and Barbara the female teacher says 'I feel frightened' showing women are weaker ad more fragile as they are easily frightened.Once they encounter the grandfather he only take most account towards Ian and ignore the woman Barbara presumably because he thinks she wouldn't understand or he doesn't feel the need to explain to a girl. He may have assumed that he would just follow along with the man so if thr grandfather could influence the father to leave than then Barbera would go as well.

3) How do the representations of young people and old people in An Unearthly Child reflect the social and historical context of the 1960s? 
The Grandfather who is the oldest character shown yet is shown as incapable of understanding as he just wanted to lock the teachers up in case they said anything to anyone else however Susan seemed more emotional and wanted them to be able to leave and trusted them. The grandfather also seemed to be more educated than all the characters as the teachers were struggling to comprehend what was happening in the tardis.

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?

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