Television: Doctor Who - 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:  

Mostly used to solidify sci-fi genre, e.g: theme song, TARDIS hum and "It's alive!". Camera movement was quite slow and poor quality, reflecting the low budget and less advanced technology of the decade. Different shots are used to emphasise character emotions.

Mise-en-scene:

Signals the decade the show was produced (1960s) through costume and creates mysterious atmosphere through setting (junkyard and TARDIS). Lighting is repeatedly contrasted between light and dark to create a jarring effect (binary opposition). Actor movement was also quite poor quality, reflecting the low budget of the show.

Narrative and genre:

Repeated mentions of time and space to reinforce sci-fi genre. Binary opposition is used frequently (light and dark, old and young), alongside enigma and action codes of the TARDIS. The sequence of the TARDIS moving relates to the 1960s space race, and the shadow in the final shot continues the narrative of the series.

Representations:

Susan subverts stereotypes of students and also teenage girls as she is highlighted as a genius in comparison to her teachers (so she is smarter than adults and smarter than men). However, she also reinforces stereotypes as her teachers hope for her to be seeing a boy. Barbara is mostly ignored by the Doctor in comparison to Ian, reflecting the 1960s representation of women, who were seen as dependent on men. Barbara also relies on Ian for reassurance. Most significantly, the mention of the "Red Indian's savage mind" being "blown" is extremely racist and indicative of the time period, where this likely wouldn't have been seen as racist in the first place.

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

Todorov's Equilibrium:

The story begins with an equilibrium, which is then disrupted as the teachers reveal their concerns about Susan. A larger disruption is created when they discover the Tardis and the Doctor. A new equilibrium is created when they find out the connection between Susan and the Doctor, yet the larger disruption becomes an overarching narrative arc.

Propp's character theory:

Susan is represented as the Princess, that Ian and Barbara, the Hero and Sidekick respectively, seek to save. The Doctor is represented as the Villain, although in reality, he isn't.

Barthes's enigma and action codes:

Enigma codes are continually used through: the character of Susan (Who is she? Why is she so smart?), the character of the Doctor (Who is he? What is his link to Susan?), the TARDIS (How is it bigger on the inside than the outside? How does it travel through time and space? What is the humming noise?) and the shadow at the end of the episode (What is the shadow coming from?)

Action codes are also used through: the TARDIS taking off, and the shadow (Is it dangerous?)

Levi-Strauss's binary opposition:

Binary Opposition is mainly represented through the conflict between young and old, such as: the Doctor and Susan (on letting the teachers out of the TARDIS), the teachers and Susan (on not understanding the TARDIS, believing it to be an illusion) and the teachers and the Doctor (on 'saving' Susan).

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

The most important scene in the episode, in my opinion, is the intro / cold open. It in itself is an enigma code, with the objects scattered around the junkyard and the TARDIS. The music solidifies the genre and it sets the scene for the rest of the episode, alongside the slow movement of the camera. The hypnotic visuals aren't as impressive now but were most likely impressive at the time.

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

 

An Unearthly Child is sci-fi, considering the music, narrative and mise-en scene. The theme song is mysterious and retro, and the narrative continually mentions time and space, time travel and other worlds. The mise-en-scene, specifically the setting of the TARDIS also reinforces the sci-fi genre, as it is bright white and very technological / modern (control panel, circular pattern on wall). It is also bigger on the inside than outside.

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

 

The TARDIS sequence references the space race of the time, and the costumes and hair are indicative of the decade as well. The TARDIS being a police box would likely be more accepted in that era, as police boxes were considerably more common back then. In addition, the actor movement was quite poor quality, which is emblematic of the low budget shows had in the 1960s. The general representations / behaviour of the characters (the boys harrassing the girls in school, Barbara being dependent on Ian) are also indicative of the 1960s.

Representations

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

The stereotype that men are stronger and dominant in comparison to women is heavily reinforced through the characters of the Doctor and Ian. The most significant time this is illustrated is when the Doctor completely ignores Barbara and takes Ian to have a conversation offside, reflecting the gender roles at that time. Throughout the episode, Ian takes the leading role as well. He leads Barbara in the junkyard, carrying a torch, and is the one to provoke the Doctor. He is also in the driver's seat when they are in the car. In the school, the male students also harass the female students. However, the stereotype that men are smarter than women is subverted, when considering Susan, who is smarter than both Ian and probably most men.

 

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

The stereotype that women are weaker than men is continually reinforced. For example, Barbara is repeatedly dependent on Ian: she seeks him for reassurance that they are doing the right thing in pursuing Susan, and is protected in the junkyard by him. She has strong emotions about Susan, while Ian is mostly careless, reflecting the stereotype that women are more emotional than men. it is also implied that women should be modest as Barbara passes out on the chair, while Ian passes out on the floor. Susan also reflects the stereotype of teenage girls at the time, as both Barbara and Ian hope for her to be seeing a boy. However, Susan also subverts the stereotype that men are smarter than women.

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 representations of young and old people reflect the 1960s, where young people were seen as much less smart than adults. The teachers consistently tell Susan that what she's seeing (the TARDIS) and what she's been living is all an illusion, implying that she is too childish to understand the world as they know it. The Doctor at one point also calls Susan "childish" (or some variation).

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?

All of the characters in the episode are white, which is unsurprising considering the time period. This has most definitely changed in more recent series, consdering the introduction of Ncuti Gatwa as the first Black Doctor. There was also a female Doctor, highlighting that the series is becoming more progressive. The Doctor also says, somewhat in passing, that in showing a Native American his technology, the "Red Indian's savage mind" was "blown". This is heavily racist and somewhat unsurprising considering the time period. Racism was more prevalent during the time and it was called out considerably less. This has definitely changed in more recent series.

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

 

Everyone in the episode is middle-class - the education is of good quality and there is no struggle, or on the other hand, luxury and extravagance. Susan is quite knowledgable and is given homework, and the school looks to be of good quality as well. This is unsurprising considering that the representation of race is also one-sided.