Doctor Who: Language and Representation blog tasks

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 and we'll also post a Google document of class notes too (you'll need your GHS Google login). 

Camerawork and sound: The music she was listening to was scary and had dramatic sounds. graphics and screen time title of show and theres a need for improvement on the camera work. 

Mise-en-scene: sussan was first introduced as dancing and dressed as 1960s typical teenager 

Narrative and genre: engima code - mystery of susan's home french revealing book. "i'll have it finished it" suggest time travel. 

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

Todorov's Equilibrium:  Todorov suggested that all narratives follow a three part structure.

They begin with equilibrium, where everything is balanced, progress as something comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, and finally reach a resolution, when a new equilibrium is restored.

Propp's character theory:  Vladimir Propp stated that there were seven basic character roles when he analysed classic fairy tales and that these were present in most narratives. Media products still use these recognisable character types today:

Hero, Villain, Heroine/Princess, Father, Donor, Helper/Sidekick, False Hero

 Barthes's enigma and action codes:anything that suggests something dramatic is about to happen. E.g. when the TARDIS begins to take off or when the shadow appears in the final shot of the episode. 

 a narrative code that creates mystery and gives the audience questions to keep them watching e.g. who is the Doctor and where is he taking them?Levi-Strauss's binary opposition: Binary opposition is a theory that all narratives are driven by conflict of a series of opposing forces. There are many examples that can be found in this Doctor Who episode  

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

i personally think the most important scene was when Ian and Barbara walked into the TARDIS and they were shocked and confused they didn't know what was happening. 

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

An unearthly child is science fiction "that hasn't happened to you yet" shoes time travel. 

5) How does An Unearthly Child reflect the social and historical contexts of the 1960s?

irst episode: Saturday, November 23rd,  1963 on the BBC. The plot was a narrative arc (a story over several episodes) involving the Doctor and his companions voyaging 100,000 years into Earth’s past to help some cavemen discover fire. 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.

Jodie Whittaker took over the role as the Thirteenth Doctor in 2018 and is the first woman to be cast as a character.

Representations

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

The men act like they have all the power and are in control for example the doctor completely ignored Barbara when she was talking.

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

Women have no control over men and they don't have a say in hardly anything they're living life as if the male people in the show control them. 

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 old people cared for the young for example how Ian and Barbara cared for Susan that's why they were looking for her and showed up to her house to see if she is okay. 

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 show only had white people which shows they didn't want and other people from any different race or ethnicity. 

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 ass men being the leaders and are dominant this is shown when the doctor pulls aside Ian to talk to him. Everyone in that show was white this shows that at the time and people of colour were treated different to the people that are white.