blog task 26: doctor who CSP

 Language and Contexts

   

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

Todorov's Equilibrium

Equilibrium - Starts of in a school, and everything is normal

Disequilibrium - when chaos insures in the TARDIS when the doctor starts time travelling 

New Equilibrium - when the chaos ends and everybody is asleep

Propp's character theory

Barthes's enigma and action codes

Action codes - when the TARDIS begins to power and travel

Enigma codes - The shadow figure at the end of the episode. what is it?

Levi Strauss's binary opposition

human vs inhuman

young vs old 

supernatural vs natural

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

The most important scene in my opinion is the scene where they first see the TARDIS as it looks normal but it actually isn't.  

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

An Unearthly Child is a Science fiction, this is because it uses high tech scientific mechanics as the main transport and the concept of the supernatural and time traveling is fiction.

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

Representations

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

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

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

Older people are represented as firm, strict and unentertaining 

Younger people are represented as free, open, and wild  

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?

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

Audience

1) Who is the target audience for Doctor Who? Do you think it has changed since 1963?

The target audience is people who enjoy science or enjoy action series.

2) What audience pleasures are offered by Doctor Who - 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 Identity: They may relate with Susan 

Diversion (Escapism): They may watch the show to get away from reality and have a sense of entertainment

3) What additional Uses and Gratifications would this episode provide to a modern 2020s audience?

4) Thinking of the 3 Vs audience pleasures (Visceral, Vicarious and Voyeuristic pleasures), which of these can be applied to An Unearthly Child?

5) What kind of online fan culture does Doctor Who have? Give examples.

Doctor who fans are called 'Whovians', and they have a community called 'Whoniverse', they have fanfics, fan made trailers podcasts.

Industries

1) What was the television industry like in 1963? How many channels were there?

There was two Tv channels and they were BBC and ITV

2) How does An Unearthly Child reflect the level of technology in the TV industry in 1963?

The level of technology wasn't very advanced because of the lack of colour

3) Why is Doctor Who such an important franchise for the BBC? 

It generates huge income and is shown internationality through BBC worldwide

4) What other programmes/spin-offs are part of the wider Doctor Who franchise?

k-9, a kid show based on a doctor who robot dog, and other shows including Sarah Jane adventures, Torchwood , class, documentaries, behind the scenes and sneak peaks 

5) Why does the Doctor Who franchise have so much merchandise available? Give examples. 

The BBC creates merchandise for fans to purchase.