Doctor Who: Language and Representation

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

Todorov's Equilibrium:

 The episode starts with everything normal, then something goes wrong, and by the end, the Doctor fixes it and everything goes back to normal. 

Propp's character theory: 

 The Doctor is the hero, the companion helps out, the villain causes trouble, and other characters have roles like guiding or helping the hero. 

 Barthes's enigma and action codes:

The story is full of mysteries the Doctor needs to solve (enigma codes) and events that push the plot forward, like battles or big choices (action codes). 

Levi-Strauss's binary opposition: 

The episode shows contrasts like good vs. bad (Doctor vs. villain) or chaos vs. order, creating tension between these opposites. 

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

In my opinion, the most important scene is when the Doctor faces the villain for the first time because it sets up the main conflict and shows how determined the Doctor is to save everyone.

 

4) 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 episode because it introduces time travel, alien creatures, and futuristic technology, like the TARDIS, which looks like an old police box but is much more than it seems.

 

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

An Unearthly Child reflects the 1960s by exploring themes of change and curiosity, like how the world was becoming more open to new ideas, technology, and the space race, while also showing a contrast between old traditions and the unknown future.

Representations

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

In An Unearthly Child, the stereotype of men being strong and in control is reinforced by the Doctor's confident, mysterious role, but it's also subverted because he's not the typical hero—he's odd, unpredictable, and relies on his intelligence more than physical strength.

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

In An Unearthly Child, the stereotype of women being passive is reinforced by Susan being a bit mysterious and quiet, but it’s also subverted because she’s smart and plays a key role in helping the Doctor, showing she’s more than just a typical girl.

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

In An Unearthly Child, the young people, like Susan and her teachers, are curious, open to new ideas, and ready for adventure, reflecting the 1960s' spirit of change, while the older characters, like the Doctor, represent the wisdom and mystery of the past, showing the contrast between the old and the new during a time of social change.

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 An Unearthly Child, there isn’t much focus on race or ethnicity, as most of the main characters are white, which isn’t surprising for the 1960s, when British TV was less diverse; however, in more recent Doctor Who episodes, there’s a much greater effort to represent different races and cultures.

 

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

In An Unearthly Child, social class is shown through the contrast between the teachers, who are seen as educated and respected, and the more working-class characters like the police, highlighting how knowledge and education are linked to higher status during that time.