Doctor who LIAR

 Language and Contexts

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

Todorov's Equilibrium: - Starts in normal life - Disruption : TARDIS lands , susan is taken - Attempts to fix it - Resolution : Return to balance .

Propp's character theory:

 - Hero: The doctor

- Helper: Ian & Barbara 

- Villain : Threats / hostile forces 

- Princess : Susan 

- Dispatcher : Events pulling them into action  

Barthes's enigma and action codes: 

- Enigma : What is the TARDIS? who is the doctor ? where are they ? 

- Action : Escaping capture , exploring the new world , making plans  

 

Levi-Strauss's binary opposition:  

- Normal vs Alien 

- Civilisation vs Danger

- Youth vs Age 

- Known vs Unknown  

 

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

The first reveal of the TARDIS interior - it shows the sci-fi genre , establishes mystery , and sets up the core premise of time/space travel.

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

Science Fiction / Fantasy / Adventure - Visible through : alien technology , time travel , strange worlds , futuristic setting , and the mystery of the Doctor

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

- Reflects post-war curiosity , space race excitement , and Cold War uncertainty 

Representations

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

Men 

- Reinforced : Ian = rational , leader , protector .

- Subverted : The Doctor = older, eccentric , not a typical strong hero 

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

Women 

- Reinforced : Barbara = teacher , caring , sensible 

- Subverted : She is intelligent , independent , and equal in decision making ; Susan is curious and sharp

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

Age/Youth

- 1960s view : Older = wise/authority , younger = curious / impulsive 

- Reflects growing youth culture but still respects traditional hierarchy 

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?

1960: all white cast - normal for the time

Now : Modern series is far more diverse 

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

 

- Middle class , educated  characters; knowledge / learning valued , matching 60s BBC values.

Audience

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

Family  / kids / teens

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: Relate to curiosity , learning

Diversion (Escapism): Sci-fi mystery , adventure escape

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

Nostalgia , classic TV value , compare old vs new representation 

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

- Visceral : Tension, mystery, excitment
- Viscarious : experience adventure through the characters 

- Voyeuristic : watch secret worlds and unknown places 

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

social media groups , podcasts 

reddit , youtube analyses 

Industries

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

Black and white , only two chanel’s

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

basic sets , simple effects , mostly studio-filmed 

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

family hit , long running , high ratings etc

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

books , comics , audios

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

boosts profit and loyalty