Language
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: The episode starts at the end of a school day where we see a female teacher, Barbara Wright, talk to a fellow teacher, Ian Chesterton. Barbara expresses concerns over a student that both of the teachers teach, Susan Foreman, and in particular, her odd and unnatural behavioural tendencies. The teachers, after Barbara expressed her concern for the lack of an address for Susan, decide to follow Susan home, to get a clue on her home life. Upon observing her home, the teachers find Susan walking into a junkyard. TO satisfy Barbara's uneasiness of this extremely abnormal behaviour, Ian and Barbara decide to venture into the junkyard. There they find no Susan and instead see a large police box that is thrumming. Later a man, The Doctor, walks into the junkyard, and the teachers - suspicious of his reasoning for being there - argue with him to come with them to the police. Eventually, the door of the TARDIS is opened, and Susan realises that she has let both of her teachers in with the Doctor. The Doctor, afraid that the teachers will reveal his secret attempts to leave Earth, but Susan argues, and eventually, the teachers, Susan and the Doctor are all transported to an unknown location.
Character: Susan is a young, intelligent teenage girl. In this show, she is the Doctor's granddaughter and the first of his companions. This episode depicts Susan as both independent and intelligent yet weak. Barbara Wright is a worrisome, 'typical' female teacher. She is a History teacher and is portrayed as anxious, vulnerable and reliant. Ian Chesterton is a Science teacher at Coal Hill and is represented as independent, intelligent and robust. The Doctor is a time-travelling timelord who is the Grandfather of Susan. The Doctor is depicted as an independent, untrusting, powerful, wise man.
Iconography: Throughout the episode, there is an extensive range of references to the sci-fi genre. When we are first introduced to Susan's character, we see her dancing strangely, in a seemingly 'unhuman' way. Additionally, the TARDIS is a large blue police box which starkly contrasts the seemingly normal environment of a junkyard. Furthermore, when we are first introduced to Ian, we see that he is in a science classroom, further enforcing the sci-fi genre of the show. There is also bright white light in the TARDIS, a common trope of the sci-fi genre.
Setting: One of the first settings we are introduced to is Mr Chesterton's science classroom, which clearly connotes the sci-fi genre. Additionally, we spend a majority of the episode within a junkyard which suggests mystery. The TARDIS' interior is a plain white vacuous room with a remote control panel in the centre which undeniably emphasis the sci-fi genre of the show.
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.
The episode starts in the equilibrium of the school, which is quickly disrupted by the talk of Susan, a particularly strange student. The teachers then follow Susan into the junkyard (recognition), but this attempt at reparation by being rejoined with Susan as an average teenager is instead met with another disequilibrium of the Doctor and their eventual transportation to another time. The episode ends with no attempt at reparation.
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 meet Propp's character types.
Susan could be seen as Propp's character role of a hero, as she attempts to protect the teachers and stay on Earth. However since she is overpowered by the Doctor, she could also be seen as the Princess as she requires protection.
The Doctor could be seen as the hero since he is attempting to return bot himself and Susan to a safer place, but he is also insulting and stops Susan from staying on Earth, so he could also be seen as the villain.
Ian Chesterton could be seen as the hero since he attempts to stop the TARDIS from taking off, yet he is quickly overpowered and could, therefore, be seen as a Princess, since Susan has to come to assist him.
Barbara Wright could be seen as a Princess since Ian has to 'protect' her as they explore the junkyard and are brought into the TARDIS.
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.)
When first introduced to the character Susan we find her dancing strangely, this enigma code suggests how her role may not be of this world. An action code we see early in the episode is a scene of a police officer investigating the junkyard, which brings attention to its importance later in the show. The show uses many panning and moving shots when Susan's character is on screen, possibly to suggest that this character could then bring movement and action to the show.
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?
One key example of binary opposition in this episode is Old and Young. This is most aptly shown through the contrast in Susan and The Doctor. Another example is Intelligence and Ignorance. This is demonstrated through Ian's refusal to listen to the Doctor and his eventual shocking due to this. Another binary opposition in this episode is Weak and Strong. It could be argued that in this episode, women are shown as weaker than men, as both Babara and Susan are overpowered or reliant on men. There is also another example of binary opposition between Humans and Aliens, which is clearly shown through the 'strange' behaviours of both the Doctor and Susan against the human actions of the teachers. This creates a unique narrative, as there is always juxtaposition between characters in the programme, creating unique and inviting scenarios for the audience to watch.
Representation
1) What stereotypes of men are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?
In Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child, a key stereotype of men that is enforced is that men should be more scientific than women, as Ian is a science teacher and there are seemingly no other female science teachers. Additionally, the stereotype that men are dominant is also reinforced in this episode, as Ian is the character that takes the lead instead of Barbara, and the Doctor is the only character that controls the TARDIS, not Susan. However, this stereotype is also subverted, since Ian must be protected by Susan upon his first entering of the TARDIS.
2) What stereotypes of women/girls are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?
In Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child, a key stereotype that is reinforced is that women are much more emotional than men. This is shown through both Barbara's worries about Susan and her fear in the TARDIS, as well as Susan's extremely emotional reaction to the Doctor taking off. The stereotype that women are weak is also reinforced in this episode. Barbara seemingly needs Ian's protection and is extremely reliant on him, strengthening how women are vulnerable, however, Susan also subverts this stereotype, as she attempts to fight back against the Doctor and holds her own ground.
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?
One common media stereotype of young people is that they're rebellious and irrational, which is clearly demonstrated through Susan. One stereotype of old people is that they're weak, wise and irritable, which is both reinforced and subverted through the Doctor, it is reinforced because the Doctor is shown as an intelligent and harsh character, yet he is also seemingly strong since he can withstand Susan's attempt to stop him. This has changed in more recent renditions of Doctor Who, with important characters being of all age groups, like Peter Capaldi's Doctor.
4) What representations of race/ethnicity can be found in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? Is this surprising or not? Give reasons for your answer and consider the historical/cultural context (the 1960s). Has this changed in more recent series of Doctor Who?
There is only a clear representation of people of British, or white ethnicity. This is due to the lack of diversity on television at the time, and the fact that a majority of the audience was white too. Additionally, the 1960s were a time where racism was seemingly acceptable, and the absence of people of colour on television was normalised. In more recent renditions of the doctor this has drastically changed, with companions of the Doctor being of colour and and hugely diverse cast throughout recent epsiodes.
5) How is social class represented in An Unearthly Child? Think about how education and knowledge are presented in the episode.
In this episode, the only class that is predominantly represented in this show is the middle or upper class, as all the characters are clearly educated and are white, which suggests that they are of middle or higher class. Additionally, the only human characters in this show are teachers, which further shows that the middle class is being represented.
Audience
1) Who is the target audience for Doctor Who? Has it changed since 1963?
The target audience for Doctor Who is extremely mainstream, with aspects that are inviting to all classes of people, and races (as of more recent). It is also not directed at a specific gender, although it used to have a more predominantly male audience, there is an almost even split in the viewership of Doctor Who, with a slightly higher percentage of female viewers. The target age group for Doctor Who is extremely large, both inviting for older audiences and younger ones.
2) What audience psychographic groups might particularly enjoy Doctor Who?
The Mainstreamers since Doctor Who is a very mainstream and widely popular show. The Resigned since Doctor who is a long-running show which gives it a sense of familiarity. It could be argued that Succeeders may also enjoy this show, as it is a very well rounded show and gives a nostalgic, caring brand identity.
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.
Personal Relationships: The majority of characters in this episode are likeable, and since the episode ends on a cliffhanger, the audience is left to wonder what will happen to their characters.
Diversion (Escapism): The show includes fictional and unique situations that wouldn't happen in real life, but are entertaining and could possibly be seen as a way to escape the uneventful real world for one of science and aliens.
4) What additional Uses and Gratifications would this episode provide to a modern 2018 audience?
In addition to the prior mentioned Uses and Gratifications this show provides, the show could further provide Personal Relationships, as many audience members will likely be watching the show for nostalgic reasons, to see their favourite childhood characters again. It could also be argued that the modern adaptation of the programme provides audiences with Surveillance since they try to use more genuine scientific concepts and ideas in the recent show.
5) Thinking of the 3 Vs audience pleasures (Visceral, Vicarious and Voyeuristic pleasures), which of these can be applied to An Unearthly Child?
In An Unearthly Child, the main audience pleasure that can be gained is Vicarious Pleasures, as the audience can easily relate to and by extension experience things through the characters of the show.
Industries
1) What was the television industry like in 1963? How many channels were there?
The television industry was minimal in 1963, with only 3 different channels available.
2) Why is Doctor Who such an important franchise for the BBC?
It generates some of the most significant income for the BBC, and it is one of the most iconic British shows ever produced.
3) How does Doctor Who meet the BBC's mission statement to 'inform, educate and entertain'?
The show is undoubtedly entertaining, as it provides drama and action throughout its episodes. The show could also be argued as being educational as it does sometimes use science based in reality. Additionally, part of the BBC's mission statement is to reflect the United Kingdom, and doctor who is exceptionally British, so it undeniably completes that statement.
4) How is the BBC funded?
It is a public service organisation, and people must sign up to a TV licence to watch the channels.
5) Who regulates the BBC and what is the watershed?
Since 2017 the BBC is regulated by OfCOM, the Office of Communications. The watershed is 9pm, and it is there to ensure any inappropriate shows (violence, swearing) is shown before then, to avoid younger audiences being exposed to those shows unnecessarily.
Written By Aishwarya Odedra
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