Language and close-textual analysis
1) Choose three key moments in the episode and write an NCIS analysis for those clips. You can use your notes from the screening in class. Make specific, detailed references using media terminology (e.g. media language - camera shots, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, mise-en-scene etc.)
An Unearthly Child scene analysis
Scene 1 00:00-06:40
Narrative: Opening shot is of a police man - creates feeling of mystery/suspense
Mystery of where Susan lives. Foggy London - danger
Character: Police man, Teachers (Barbara Wright and Ian Chesterton, Susan Foreman (15-years-old) who is a "genius"
Iconography: Rocket (space race) - suggests 1960's space travel
Iconography: Rocket (space race) - suggests 1960's space travel
Susan's costume - 1960's teenager
Futuristic radio
Classroom
Title sequence
Setting: Junkyard, School (Coal Hill School), foggy London
Scene 2 06:40-10:00
Narrative: Teachers go find Susan's house
Flashback of Susan - gives us background of her
" Do you get the feeling we're about to interfere in something best left alone." - foreshadows danger
Dimensions - Time + Space
Hints of Disequilibrium ( Todorov)
Character: Susan presented different to other students
"Unearthly"
Much smarter than teachers BUT also gets things wrong e.g. decimal system
Time travel
Iconography: Car - Darkness + shadow - creates feeling of mystery
Setting: In a Car, Junkyard and School/classroom
Scene 3 13:00-19:40
Narrative: Mystery of the TARDIS
Doctor introduced - sarcastic
Talks about Police and being locked up
"One day we shall get back"
Character: Doctor - sarcastic and dismissive
Presented as a villain (Propp)
Ian presented as a typical teacher and a hero
Susan: "I am from a different time and place."
Doctor: "You wouldn't understand"
Ian: "I want to understand."
Iconography: TARDIS (police box/time machine)
Futuristic machinery Control console
Close up on switch
Setting: In the police box (TARDIS)
science-fiction
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.
Equilibrium: normal day at school, students exiting, teachers chatting.
Disrupted: Ian and Barbara (teachers) are talking to Susan (student) and offer her a lift home. They follow her home.
Recognition: See Susan enter her house, they enter and see a junk yard- they are shocked.
Reparation: Enter Tardis because Dr found them, teachers are confused- realisation of aliens.
New Equilibrium: Ian, Susan, Barbara and Dr Who travel to the cavemen- show the Tardis.
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 fit Propp's character types.
Doctor Who - Villain
The Doctor was first seen as a villain as we see in the first episode but now days is seen as a hero
Susan Foreman - Helper/sidekick
Ian Chesterton - Hero
Barbara Wright - Heroine
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.)
Enigma Codes: creates mystery and suspicion
Last scene- where have they gone? Place? Will the teachers be released? What shadow did they show?
Lift Scene- Why does Susan like to walk in the dark?
Action: audience knows what will follow up
Close zoom on button in the Tardis- so we know they will be transported.
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?
Hero (Ian) vs Villain (Dr)---plot twists, drives the narrative.
Masculine (superior) vs Feminine (inferior)
Big vs Small
Representations
1) What stereotypes of men are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?
The stereotypes of men that have been reinforced is that men are seen as superior towards females. e.g.
Doctor who is superior towards Susan Foreman-
The stereotypes of men that have been subverted is men being caring towards young children. e.g. Ian Wright is Susan's science teacher. He is worried about her so that's why Ian and Barbara find the TARDIS. This subverts the stereotypes of men as this was seen as a women's job (motherly).
2) What stereotypes of women/girls are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?
The stereotypes of women that have been reinforced are women being inferior to men. e.g. When Ian and Barbra are at the junkyard the Doctor completely ignores Barbra and keeps talks to Ian
"Young man "
The stereotypes that have been subverted are that women are presented to be working and earning money (Barbra Wright) not staying at home and doing domestic works and looking after the children whilst the men work.
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?
The stereotypes of young people are that they are quit disobeying. This reinforced by Susan's character as she disagrees, doesn't listen to the Doctor and argues with him.
The stereotypes old people are that they are quit oppressive, superior and grumpy. This is reinforced in the scene were the Doctor orders Susan and shows his superiority.
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 Doctor Who there are only White people acting in it. This is not surprising as in the 1960s there was a lot of racism and non-White (BAME) people were seen as uneducated and poor (stereotypes). This has changed in more recent years as BAME people have been in shows.
Dr:
- He represents technology and science which was big thing in the 1960s's due to the space race (period of space and travel).
- Represents the new world of discovery.
- Symbolises the struggle between good and evil or a God-like presence as he wanders through history.
- He is from another planet.
- She is the Dr's Granddaughter.
- She is 15 so she is a strong link for the young target audience.
- Represent human traditional values and are middle class.
- They are also Science and History teachers and give advice to the Dr on space and time.
- They also are represented to by like a Mother and Father figure towards Susan.
- Ian is very physical whilst Barbara is more caring. They have been traditional in their gender roles
Social and Historical context
1) How does An Unearthly Child reflect the social and historical contexts of the 1960s?
An unearthly child reflected the historical context as Susan (the unearthly child) was from outer space and during this time (1960s) They had historical events to with space and travel.
2) How might audiences have felt towards science fiction in the 1960s?
2) How might audiences have felt towards science fiction in the 1960s?
An audience in the 1960s would have felt quit familiar to sci-fi because of historical events such as
- First man in space -1961
- First man on the Moon - 1969
- Concorde is flown for the first time - 1969
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