TV: Doctor Who - An Unearthly Child blog tasks

The television Close-Study Products are in-depth which means we need to know them inside out. 

We will get questions on a specific clip we are shown in the exam PLUS an extended essay question testing our knowledge of both CSPs and the wider industry. 

Notes from the lessons can be found in this separate blogpost here. If you're struggling with any of the questions below then look over the notes in your book and in this blogpost before you ask for help.


Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child blog tasks

Work through the following tasks and questions to demonstrate your comprehensive knowledge of Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child.

Language and close-textual analysis

1) Write an NCIS analysis for the episode - using notes from the screening in class. Make specific, detailed reference to moments in the text using media terminology (e.g. media language - camera shots, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, mise-en-scene etc.)

An Unearthly Child

Narrative:

Character:

Iconography:

Setting:


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.

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.

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.)

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?


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) 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?

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? Has it changed since 1963?

2) What audience psychographic groups might particularly enjoy Doctor Who?

3) What audience pleasures are offered by 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:

Personal Relationships:

Diversion (Escapism):

Surveillance (Information / Facts):

4) What additional Uses and Gratifications would this episode provide to a modern 2018 audience?

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


Industries

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

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

3) How does Doctor Who meet the BBC's mission statement to 'inform, educate and entertain'?

4) How is the BBC funded?

5) Who regulates the BBC and what is the watershed?


Social and Historical context

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

2) How might audiences have felt towards science fiction in the 1960s?



Grade 8/9 extension tasks and reading

Read this Media Magazine article tracing the cultural impact of Doctor Who. What does it suggest regarding the importance of Doctor Who, representations and industry?

Read this Guardian feature on female characters in Doctor Who. What does it suggest regarding the representation of women over time in Doctor Who?

Read this New Statesman feature on Doctor Who as a global phenomenon. What does it suggest about Doctor Who fandom, British identity and the importance of the brand to the BBC?

Read this Guardian feature on the representations of race and ethnicity in Doctor Who over the last 55 years. How has the programme changed in its representations of race and how does this fit the BBC's remit to inform, educate and entertain? 


We're giving you loads of time for this work because we know there are also final bits of coursework to complete. However, it is absolutely critical that you complete the whole of this case study in depth and detail as a large proportion of Media Paper 2 will be on these TV CSPs.