Doctor Who: Language and Representation

 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-fiction - sets genre from beginning.

- Slow, clunky camera movement (due to technology in 1960s).

- Sound: hum of TARDIS (helps create science-fiction genre).

- As TARDIS takes off, close-up on each character cross-dissolved with time travel graphics. Shows each character’s reaction to the narrative development.

Mise-en-scene:

 -  Susan - first introduced dancing and dressed as 1960s teenager (costume). Seems to be both typical teenager and alien

- Costume and hair typical of 1960s.

- Setting - junkyard. Lighting - dark/shadows. Creates mysterious, tense atmosphere.

- Actor movement when TARDIS takes off - poor quality acting. Reflects basic nature of TV in 1960s/lack of CGI or effects.

Narrative and genre:

- Opening title sequence like a rocket taking off - sci-fi genre and links to 1960s space race.

- Levi-Strauss - binary opposition. Light/dark - lost torch.

- Propp character types: Doctor presented as villain.

- Enigma codes: Will the teachers get out? Why can’t the doctor go back to his home?

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

Todorov's Equilibrium:  

 

Equilibrium - Teachers are worried about Susan's home situation.

          Disequilibrium -  Teachers follow Susan as they are concerned about her.

         New equilibrium - Teachers find out what they needed to know about Susan and the     ,         misunderstanding is cleared 

Propp's character theory: 

Doctor presented as villain.

Barthes's enigma and action codes: 

Enigma codes: mystery of Susan’s home. French Revolution book - “I’ll have finished it” “That’s not right”... suggests time travel.  

Enigma code: Police Box / TARDIS. “It’s alive!"

Action code: some kind of conflict/threat linked to TARDIS.

          Levi-Strauss's binary opposition:

Light/dark - lost torch. 

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

The scene where the teachers enter the TARDIS as they have the same questions we have as an audience which can lure the audience into watching more to feed their curiosity.

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

The episode is sci-fi. This is shown multiple times throughout the episode as the Doctor says “One day we will return” which creates narrative arc for Doctor Who that still continues today. As well as the TARDIS taking off. which links to 1960s space race.

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

The episode links to the space race that occurred in the 1960s and was reflected on the episode by inputting key features of the sci-fi genre.


Representations

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

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

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

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.

Grade 8/9 extension tasks and reading

Read this Media Magazine article tracing the cultural impact of Doctor Who. What does it suggest regarding the importance of Doctor Who, representations and industry?

Read this Guardian feature on female characters in Doctor Who. What does it suggest regarding the representation of women over time in Doctor Who?

Consider representations of age in Doctor Who. How have representations of age changed over the 50-year history of the show?