Doctor Who: Language and Representations

 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 

                       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. 

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

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.

Susan:

• She is the Dr's Granddaughter.
• She is 15 so she is a strong link for the young target audience.

Ian and Barbara:

• 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?

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 

  

 

Introduction to Science-fiction TV drama

 

1) How does Class meet the conventions of a TV drama series?

There is dramatic narrative as the is continuity across the episodes. There is a story line which is followed episode by episode.

2) What conventions of the science-fiction genre can you find in the Class trailer? List as many as you can and use NCIS to help you.

Narrative

• Alien invasion
• Good vs Evil
• Saving the world

Characters 

• Teacher 
• Students
• Doctor Who
• Aliens

Iconoghrapy

• School
• Bright Lights
• Font of Class
• Weapons 

Setting 

• School
• Space
• Portal

3) What other genres are suggested by the trailer (e.g. horror)? Is Class an example of a modern hybrid-genre show?

• Romance and comedy (Romcom)
• Horror
• Sci-fi

4) Class is a spin-off from Doctor Who. At what point does the character of the Doctor appear in the trailer?

The Doctor appears when all the characters are in a classroom studying as she is their teacher.

5) Who do you think the target audience for Class is? Is this a typical target audience for the science-fiction genre? Give reasons for your answer.

The target audience for class is mainstream as a female audience like romance and boys like sci-fi and horror. Mainly aged to an age group from 10+ because of all the horror and mainly because of the sci-fi as the younger generation like sci-fi films more as they are interested more into it than older generations.

Year 1 reflection

 

1) Look at your tracker for Year 1 blog-posts (this will have been emailed to you by your teacher either before the summer or this week). Make a list of any CSPs you haven't completed. We will cover these in lessons later in the year but you WILL need to complete the blog tasks before you take any exams.

2) Which CSPs from Year 1 are you most confident on?

Advertising (OMO case study).

3) Which CSPs from Year 1 are you least confident on?

Ownership and control.

4) Your upcoming assessment will only be on CSPs from the first half of the year leading up to lockdown. Write a brief summary of the following CSPs to start your revision (Reveal magazine is done for you as ):

Doctor Strange:   Creation of Marvel. Given an age range of 12a because of the fantasy violence and injury detail. Budget was $165 million and $677.7 million on its box office. Used a lot of CGI.

I, Daniel Blake: About how the government is wrong. It is an independent cinema and a low budget film. Its budget was £2m and a box office of £11m.  

Magazines - Reveal: a celebrity magazine aimed mainly at working-class women focusing on gossip, celebrity and motherhood for just 99p. Offers quite a traditional, stereotypical representation of women.

Magazines - Tatler: Mainly aimed at a female audience and HIGHER CLASS . Uses a sans-serif font as it is more higher class and a traditional way of writing.

Advertising: OMO: An add for a washing soap. Mainly aimed at a female audience (Mothers). This is because the men used to do all the work and make money whilst the women do the domestic work e.g. cooking, cleaning and looking after their children.

Advertising: NHS Represent: Advertising and promoting people to give their blood to a blood bank to help people. They also try to mainly aim this to a BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic.)   community as there are hardly any BAME people giving blood. The NHS want them to represent their community and ethnicity by giving blood.  

Advertising: Galaxy chocolate: An advert of galaxy chocolate bringing back the dead super star Audrey Hepburn using CGI. This advert was set in her hit film 'Roman holiday'. This gives a feeling of NOSTALGIA to some people he grew up watching her movies and makes them feel young again.

5) List five things (e.g. CSPs/topics/terminology) that you will revise before your upcoming assessment.

• Film industry
• Magazine
• Music videos
• Radio
• Video Games

Zoella

Language

1) Who is Zoella and why is she famous? How many subscribers does Zoella's YouTube channel have currently?

Zoella is a YouTube sensation who is a vlogger. She has 11.6 million (2019 November.)

2) What is convergence?

When two or more media forms meet in one.

3) What are Zoella's videos about? Find five video titles and write them here:

there are mostly about make up 

•  Huge summer Primark haul
•  Testing weird beauty products with Mark
•  My travel anxiety tips 
•  March favourites 2018
•  My everyday winter make up 

4) What are the codes and conventions of vlogging videos?

•  A question for the Video 
•  writing on the screen
•  Quirky music
•  Lots of cuts ( jump cuts)

5) How does Zoella use media language choices to create her online identity? Write about Zoella's use of mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) - particularly costume and make-up.

She uses mise-en-scene in her videos which makes it media style.

•  Costume - she always wears a different costume in her videos. 
•  Lighting - The lighting in her videos are always bright.
•  Actor - She is always in her videos and sometimes has a special guest.
•  Make-up - She always wears make-up as that's what she promotes and what she makes vlogs about.
•  Placement - most of the time she sits at her desk or her bead.
•  Setting - her videos are always set in her bedroom.

Industries

1) How does Zoella make money? (You might want to read this Heatworld feature for more on this.)
She makes £4,000 on adverts.

£20,000 on promoting products.

£455,000 in sales

£100,000 in advance before products hitting shelfs.

2) What is a digital influencer? Why is Zoella considered a digital influencer?
A digital influencer is someone who influences peoples on the social media.

Zoella is one of them as she tells influences people in buying make-up. 

3) Why do companies want to place their products in Zoella's videos?
Companies do this as she is a big make-up Youtuber and so many people view her videos so it is a easier way to promote their prodcuts.

4) Why are YouTube collaborations so important for helping digital influencers like Zoella to grow?
They are important as they can creat a bigger fanbase.

5) How has Zoella moved into a more traditional media landscape in recent years?
She has been doing videos on make-up which reinforces the steryotype of women dressing and looking a certain way.

Audience

1) Who is the target audience for Zoella's channel?

Teenagers mainly female audience.

2) How are audiences encouraged to participate in or feel part of Zoella's brand? 

They can buy the products she promotes in her vlogs.

3) What audience pleasures are provided by Zoella's videos and associated products?

Diversion and escapism as it takes the audience out of their world and gives them something to do and relax.
Social interaction because it feels like the audience build a personal relationship the youtubers, etc.

4) Applying Stuart Hall's Reception theory, what would a preferred and oppositional reading of Zoella?

Preferred (people who love Zoella):
Oppositional (people who hate Zoella):

The preferred reading would be that Zoella is a modern female doing what she wants to do and entertaining people. 

The oppositional reading would be that Zoella is a bad influence on young females and reinforcing that females have to look and dress a certain way. 

5) Why has Zoella been criticised by some people?

• She was filming whilst driving her car
• She was posting social media posts mocking gay people and chavs.(2009-2012)
• Vloggers have generally been criticised on making £20,000 a month by promoting products which is a bad influence on young people.   

1) What is your opinion on this debate - is Zoella a positive role model for young women?
No, because she reinforces the stereotype of females dressing and looking a certain way which pressurises them. 

2) What representations of women are provided by Zoella?
Looking and dressing a certain way:

• Look pretty by putting make-up on-beauty standards.
• She wears dresses and skirts
• Most of her clothes are bright coloured
• She is 'stylish'

3) What representations of celebrity are provided by Zoella? Is a self-made YouTube celebrity more authentic or positive than a traditional music or TV star?
A self-made YouTube celebrity is more positive as they are more closer to an audience than what a traditional music or TV star would be because e their life's are all about luxury and glamour.

4) How does Zoella represent herself? Is this the real Zoe Suggs or a media construction designed to sell products?

She represents herself as promoting make-up products. This is a media construction designed to make products so she can make money. 

5) What criticisms could be levelled at the representation of Zoella? 

That she is promoting make and that she is a bad influence on young females as she is promoting and reinforcing the stereotype of females looking and dressing a certain way.

Kim Kardashian: Hollywood

Language

1) What is the objective when playing the Kim Kardashian: Hollywood game?
To create your own star and customise your looks, become a A-list actor/actress, rule the red carpet and take over  L.A. in a virtual world.

2) What is an A-list celebrity? Why is it important in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood?
An A-list celebrity are the most top actors/actresses that star in the top high ranked movies. This is important to the game as it is the objective of the game to become a successful movie star. This links in with the Blumler and Katz idea of diversion- the game is a good way to escape and give someone a luxury and glamourous lifestyle.

3) How do you download the Kim Kardashian: Hollywood game?
The game can be downloaded on tablets and phones from the app store.

4) What is the narrative or storyline of Kim Kardashian: Hollywood? Where is it set?
The storyline of the game is to become a A-list star from the lower rankings by gaining fans. This is set in L.A. Hollywood.

5) What characters can you play as? What characters appear in the game?
You can play your own character and meet real stars and celebrities. 

Audience

1) What audience pleasures are provided by the game? Use Blumler & Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory.Diversion as it is entertaining- meeting famous people and enjoying a luxury lifestyle.

Personal Relationship as you meet and make a relationships with real stars and celebrities.

Personal identity as they can see their own lifestyle and what they might want to be when they grow up.

Surveillance as they can see what life is like a celebrity. 

2) Why is the game so addictive for audiences?

The game is so addictive as you want to go on in the higher ranking and become famous, buy accessories and live a glamourous lifestyle.

3) Applying Stuart Hall's Reception theory, what is the preferred reading for Kim Kardashian Hollywood - how do the producers want the audience to react to the game? For the oppositional reading, why might someone dislike Kim Kardashian Hollywood?

The preferred reading of the game is about how wonderful it is to be an A-list celebrity and the things you do to become one and also how cool and glamorous it is.

The oppositional reading is about how unrealistic it is and you just don't get fame by knowing famous people you need to work hard to get to where you are in real life.

4) Why does James Liu think Kim Kardashian: Hollywood is so successful?
Firstly it is a well designed game and caters to a specific age groups or types of gamers.

5) What does James Liu suggest is the reason players keep coming back to the game?
The game is addictive and gives you a sense of control.


Representations

1) What representations of women can be found in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood?
The representations of women in the game are of women focusing on their appearance, modelling and dating to become successful.

2) What representations of race, ethnicity or sexuality can be found in the game?
They are controversial-

3) How does the game both reinforce and subvert stereotypes in the media?
The games reinforces stereotypes as they show that women have to act and look a certain ways.
The game also subverts stereotypes as they show anyone of any gender, background and ethnicity can become famous.

4) What does the game suggest regarding modern perceptions of celebrity and how to get famous?

This show that celebrities get famous by dating famous people who can get them fame.

5) How might someone criticise the representation of celebrity in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood?

Someone might criticise the representations of celebrities in the game as you don't only get fame by dating famous people, you need to work hard.

Industries

1) How much does Kim Kardashian: Hollywood cost?

The game is free to download but has in-app purchases and subscriptions.

2) How does the game make money?

The game makes money from the in-app purchases and subscriptions.

3) What subscriptions are available to Kim Kardashian: Hollywood?

• Gold: 49.99 USD / month (or local equivalent)
• Silver: 19.99 USD / month (or local equivalent)
• Bronze: 4.99 USD / month (or local equivalent)

4) How was Kim Kardashian: Hollywood marketed and promoted?
The game was promoted by adverts in a real life perspective

5) How does Kim Kardashian: Hollywood use media convergence to cross-promote the game and the Kardashian brand?
TV shows and social media channels are referenced in the game
The game appears on Kim Kardashian's real social media page.
On the TV show Keeping up with the Kardashians the game appears and the show is also referenced in the game.