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:
The episode starts with a school day where a female teacher, Barbara Wright, talks to another teacher, Ian Chesterton. She discusses her concerns over a student, Susan Foreman, with regards to her odd and unnatural demeanour. The teachers decided to follow Susan home, to get a clue on her home life as her home address wasn't clear. When observing her home, the teachers find Susan walking into a junkyard and decide to venture into the junkyard. They see a large police box and later a man, The Doctor, walks into the junkyard and argue with him to come with them to the police. Eventually, the door of the TAR-DIS is opened, and Susan realises that she has let both of her teachers in with the Doctor. Afraid that the teachers will reveal his time travelling antics the Doctor doesn't let them leave but Susan argues they are all transported to an unknown location.
Character:
- police man
- Ian Chesterton (science teacher)
- Barbara Wright (history teacher)
- Susan Foreman (Young girl/student)
- chemicals,bunsen burner and test tubes
- Radio cassette player
- police box (solving crime)
- junkyard
- high school
- science classroom
Starts in the equilibrium of the school, which is disrupted by Susan. The teachers follow Susan into the junkyard (recognition), but this attempt failed as they were met with another disequilibrium of the Doctor and their transportation to another time. The episode ends with no attempt at reparation.
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.
-Susan could be seen as Propp's character role of a hero since she attempts to protect the teachers and stay on Earth. However she is overpowered by the Doctor, she could also be seen as the Princess as she requires protection.
-The Doctor could be seen as the hero since he is attempting to return Susan to a safer place, but insulting the teachers and stopping Susan from staying on Earth could also make him be seen as the villain.
-Barbara Wright could be seen as a Princess since Ian has to 'protect' her as they explore the junkyard and are brought into the TARDIS.
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.)
When first introduced to the character Susan we find her dancing strangely, this enigma code suggests how her role may not be of this world. An action code we see is a scene of a police officer investigating the junkyard, which is convinent towards the end of the show.
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?
One key example of binary opposition in this episode is Old and Young. This is shown through Susan and The Doctor. Another example is Intelligence and Ignorance. This is shown through Ian's refusal to listen to the Doctor and his shock due to this. Another binary opposition in this episode is Weak and Strong.You could argue that in this episode, women are shown as weaker than men, as Babara and Susan are reliant on men.
Representations
1) What stereotypes of men are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?
A key stereotype of men that is enforced is that they should be more scientific than women, as Ian is a science teacher and there are seemingly no other female science teachers. Additionally, the stereotype that men are dominant is also reinforced in this episode because Ian takes the lead instead of Barbara, and the Doctor is the only character that controls the TARDIS, not Susan. However, this stereotype is also subverted as Ian was protected by Susan when entering the TARDIS.
2) What stereotypes of women/girls are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?
A key stereotype that is reinforced is that women are much more emotional than men. This is shown when Barbara's worries about Susan and her fear in the TARDIS, as well as Susan's extremely emotional reaction to the Doctor taking off. The stereotype that women are weak is reinforced in this episode as Barbara needs Ian's protection and is quite reliant on him, proving how women are vulnerable. Susan also subverts this stereotype, as she attempts to fight back against the Doctor and holds her own ground.
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?
One common media stereotype of young people is that they're rebellious which is clearly demonstrated through Susan. One stereotype of old people is that they're weak and wise which is both reinforced and subverted through the Doctor, it is reinforced because the Doctor is shown as an intelligent and rude character but is also strong since he can withstand Susan's attempt to stop him.
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?
There is only a clear representation of people of British, or white ethnicity. This is due to the lack of diversity on television at the time. Additionally, the 1960s were a time where racism was acceptable, and people of colour on television was not normal. In more recent seasons of the doctor this has changed, with companions of the Doctor being of colour.
5) How is social class represented in An Unearthly Child? Think about how education and knowledge is presented in the episode.
In this episode, the only class that is represented is the middle or upper class, as all the characters are clearly educated and are white, which suggests that they are of middle or higher class. The only human characters in this show are teachers, which further shows that the middle class is being represented.
Audience
1) What were the viewing figures for Class and why do you think it did so badly?
On its debut, the show only gained a measly viewing of 0.28 million, only 5.1% of the total TV audience. It later gained only 250,000 more viewers on BBC iPlayer. The lack of clarity about the show's target audience and its strange airing time are possibly two of the key contributors to this show's horrible viewing figures.
2) What audience psychographic groups might particularly enjoy Class?
I think the mainstream audience might enjoy class.Simply because they're the largest group of people within the world
3) What audience pleasures are offered by Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? 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.
The characters in this episode are of all ages and both men and women, allowing their audience to relate to the characters and put themselves into their situations.
Personal Relationships:
The characters in this episode are likeable, and since the episode ends on a cliffhanger, the audience is left to wonder what will happen to their characters making them eager to watch more.
Diversion (Escapism):
The show includes fictional situations that wouldn't happen in real life, but are entertaining and could possibly be seen as a way to escape the real world.
Surveillance (Information / Facts):
4) Thinking of the 3 Vs audience pleasures (Visceral, Vicarious and Voyeuristic pleasures), which of these can be applied to Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart?
The main audience pleasure is Vicarious Pleasures, as the audience can easily relate to and experience things through the characters of the show.
5) How did fans in the 'Whoniverse' (also known as 'Whovians') react to Class? Watch the fan reaction video (and read the YouTube comments) on the Class notes blogpost or check the comments in the extension articles below to help with this.
A majority of fans didn't enjoy the show due to its violent nature and inexperienced actors, however, a significant proportion of Whovians did enjoy the show, in particular, the references to the original series and how these characters interact with the Whoniverse. Personally, I think the show had a lot of potentials to be enjoyable as a spin-off to Doctor Who, but it's lack of developed acting was extremely off-putting and lets down what could have been a great show. The later, better refined, less violent episodes are much more enjoyable and promised a lot for the second season.
Industries
1) What was the objective of BBC3 when it was launched?
To be a channel for young adults which could be relatable and easily accessible.
2) Why did BBC3 go online-only in February 2016?
The channel did not receive enough live viewers and to combat this made the channel online-only. Additionally, since how the target audience for BBC3 has changed how they consume media, the BBC opted for a more approachable and user-friendly option.
3) How does Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart meet the BBC's mission statement to 'inform, educate and entertain'?
The show is made in the majority for entertainment purposes, it has engaging storylines, relatable characters and exciting plot development, which adds to how entertaining the show is.
4) How did the distribution of Class contribute to the failure of the show with audiences?
Its inconsistent time slots, as well as its strange airing time, meant that a majority of audiences were not available to watch the show. Additionally, the target audience for the show no longer consume media traditionally, but through recordings and online providers, like Netflix, which meant less were available to watch the show on TV. Its shift to iPlayer worsened this, and most audiences chose other, better-acted options for viewing over this show, leading to its eventual failure
5) What advertising and marketing was used to try and promote Class to an audience? Why do you think this wasn't very successful?
The show was associated very closely with Doctor Who in its promotional material, with the trailer for the show containing only the Doctor's voice. The show was also presented as extremely Sci-Fi, which led many audience members to feel mislead since they found out that the show is only loosely related to the Doctor Who universe and is less Sci-Fi more C-o-A, further disappointing fans.
Comparison: An Unearthly Child and Co-owner of a Lonely Heart
1) How are the technical conventions different between 1963 Doctor Who and 2016 Class (e.g. camerawork, editing, sound and mise-en-scene)?
Class: Co-Owner of a Lonely Heart includes much more advanced technology and mise-en-scene than Doctor Who, which was aired in only black and white. Class consists of a much more realistic and well-developed graphics and lifelike props and costumes, contrasting the lack of such technology in Doctor Who. Doctor Who also contained many still or stationary shots, much unlike Class, which has continuously moving shots and a range of camera angles.
2) What similarities and differences are there between An Unearthly Child and Co-owner of a Lonely Heart in terms of the science-fiction genre?
Both shows include lead alien characters and continuously explore the concept of aliens, however Doctor Who contains many more conventional tropes of Sci-Fi, like the TARDIS, with bright white lights, unlike Class which has less of a Sci-Fi genre in favour of a Science Fantasy genre, with oranges and shadows which contrast Doctor Who.
3) What similarities and differences are there between An Unearthly Child and Co-owner of a Lonely Heart in terms of how they meet the BBC's remit to inform, educate and entertain?
Doctor, though in the little and few, includes actual fact and some genuine science as well as science concepts that are genuinely explored in reality, contrastingly, Class includes less factually based science and more entertainment-driven Science Fantasy. Both shows do offer entertainment for their audiences, however, with plenty of action and danger in every episode.
4) How are representations of people, places and groups similar or different in the two shows?
Doctor, though in the little and few, includes actual fact and some genuine science as well as science concepts that are genuinely explored in reality, contrastingly, Class includes less factually based science and more entertainment-driven Science Fantasy. Both shows do offer entertainment for their audiences, however, with plenty of action and danger in every episode.5) What similarities and differences can you find in terms of the audience pleasures for An Unearthly Child and Co-owner of a Lonely Heart?
While both shows present pleasures of Diversion, Personal Identity and Personal Relationships in their shows, with relatable characters, engaging storylines and action-filled episodes, Doctor Who provides some form of Surveillance for its audience, whereas Class does not
