Language and Representation

 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: overall slow and clunky camera movement and the sounds commonly have a futuristic theme and feel. Also a lot of the sounds create mystery and are enigma codes 

Mise-en-scene: The actor placement and acting are quite bad and shows that the budget was low using todays standards. Also the costumes play into what the character is like, Susan wears casual teenage clothing, the Doctor wears unusual clothing perhaps in an attempt to fit in, Ian and Barbra both wear formal and normal clothing. Lastly, the random props and objects add onto the mystery 

Narrative and genre: Many sci-fi themes like the control panel, the TARDIS, the junkyard holding a huge mystery and the VFX when the TARDIS is taking off. When we were first introduced to the doctor he seemed like the villain since it seemed like he held Susan captive, but Barbra and Ian both seemed like the hero. Later the Doctor was the father figure and Ian and Barbara were the false hero.

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

Todorov's Equilibrium: It starts with Ian and Barbara wanting to know who Suzan's grandpa was and what was wrong with her. We get to see the doctor but we aren't too sure who he is and what he does. At the end of the episode, we find out who he was and what was wrong with Susan 

Propp's character theory: Doctor: father figure

Suzan: hero

Ian: false hero

Barbra: false hero 

Barthes's enigma and action codes: the random patterns when the TARDIS was taking off also when the Doctor was introduced. 

Levi-Strauss's binary opposition: Ian and the Doctor were arguing, and that is the young vs old. Additionally, when the Doctor was seen as the villain, Ian was also arguing with him, and this is hero vs villain 

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

When they are all in the TARDIS, it sets the mood for the next episode and makes the audience want to watch it when it comes out, also, it guarantees the genre and theme for the show as a whole.

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

Sci-Fi, when they are in the TRADIS, as it shows all the sciency tech.

Sci-Fi, when they start speaking about the 4th dimension.

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

First 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.

Representations

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

Stereotypes of men: Ian is the one who is driving the car, and Ian is protecting Barbara when she is worried. Ian was also cool-headed during the whole episode, other than when they saw the doctor 

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

Stereotypes: Barbara was scared, and she was emotional. She was showing her emotions often.

subverted: Suzan is an intelligent person, and normally it's the men who are.

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 elder people are seen as wiser but are unable to understand some ideas about the TARDIS being able to travel. even though Suzan is smarter than Ian and Brabra the doctor is that smartest and the oldest.

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 females are seen showing off their emotions more often than the men do, and there are only white people, as during that time, black people didnt get great education 

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

The Social class that was represented was the upper and middle classes. because they can afford education and the higger leves of it. in the show they are speaking about the dimensions and that is in the higger levels.