Dr who Language and Representations

 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: non-diegetic music, clunky camera work, Tardis hum to create suspense, different camera angles. 

Mise-en-scene: susan is a typical teenager wearing typical 60s clothes and listening to music on a mix tape. setting is a junkyard. Lighting - dark/shadows. Creates mysterious, tense atmosphere. 

Narrative and genre:  Opening title sequence like a rocket taking off - sci-fi genre and links to 1960s space race. Enigma code: Police Box / TARDIS. “It’s alive!” Action code: some kind of conflict/threat linked to TARDIS.

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

Todorov's Equilibrium: everything was fine at the beginning of the episode before they met the doctor and blasted out of earth.

Propp's character theory: the doctor is the villain and Ian is a false hero because he fails to save Susan

Barthes's enigma and action codes: there is an enigma code at the end when the Tardis takes of and the audience is left in suspense to find out where they went and an action code when the teachers go inside the junkyard.

Levi-Strauss's binary opposition: old v young, light v dark, alien v human 

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

the most important scene in the episode is when Susan and the doctor talk about time travel because it confirms the teachers suspicions of Susan being abnormal.

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

An unearthly child is a sci-fi. The genre is reinforced through things like the non-diagetic music that plays when the doctor is around or when the TARDIS is on camera. 

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

Susanne is wearing a typical outfit a girl in the 60s would wear. The TARDIS is also a police box which is appropriate for the time considering how common they were in that era. The acting and camera work in the episode is quite choppy and bad. It shows how low budget the show is representing what it was like to make shows in the 60s

Representations

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

 men are represented as strong and dominant where they take control over situations and handle them. This is clearly shown when the doctor dismisses Barbara and speaks to Ian instead. It’s also shown when they’re driving to Susan’s house and Ian is in the drivers seat which is an old represents an old stereotype that men should be the ones to drive. However in the episode its shown that Susanne is smarter than Ian which comes as a surprise considering that in those times women were less knowledgeable.

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

Susan subverts the stereotype that men are smarter than Walden but the idea that women are weak and need to rely on men is consistently reinforced. It’s clearly shown where in the junkyard Ian protects barbra and Barbara is constantly seeking reassurance from Ian. She’s also perceived as very emotional where Ian is more careless and unbothered. 

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

In the 60s when describing what a grandfather was most people would say a grumpy old man which is exactly what the doctor is made to be in the first episode. Children were also represented as less clever and immature. The teachers also call Susan childish along with her grandfather who tells her to stop acting like a child. 

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?

In the episode there is no sign of any person of colour. This is very unsurprising considering the 1960s was a time where racism was very common. However as the series has progressed they have introduced Ncuti Gatwa as the first Black Doctor. This shows the show is moving forward when it comes to inclusivity.

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

The education looks to be normal as Susan is given homework and borrows books from teachers like a normal student would. Everyone is also middle-class which represents the economy in the 1960s.