Doctor Who: LIAR

 Language:

1) a. Todorov's Equilibrium: The episode commences from the concern of Susan's home life initiated by Ian and Barbra. Disequilibrium: The teachers find themselves in the TARDIS and they start to time travel. New Equilibrium: The TARDIS lands in a desert with a alien approaching.

b. Propp's character theory: Doctor=villain,  teachers=heroes,  Susan=princess, 

c. Barthes's enigma and action codes: action codes: when the TARDIS begins to shake violently as they time travel, suggesting something dramatic is about to happen. 

d. Enigma codes: when they arrive in the desert with an alien outside; creates curiosity for the audience and pushes them to watch more.

e. Levi Strauss's binary opposition: in the first episode, the binary opposition between human alien is seen in the teachers and Susan.

2) In my opinion, I believe that the most important scene is when the Ian and Barbra discover the TARDIS as they are finally made aware of the living situation for Susan, and her exceeding level of intelligence at her age makes sense.

3) "An Unearthly Child" is made obvious to portray a sci-fi series. Certain scenes show this theme; when entering the TARDIS, all the gadgets and technology ahead of the time the show was actually made in. Additionally, the use of time travel, a physically impossible thing to do in reality, is shown as something common to the non-human like characters.

4) In terms of social and historical context, this is displayed in a particular scene as when talking to Ian and trying to lower the teachers suspicions, the Doctor blatantly dismisses Barbra, trying to make point in saying that Ian would understand his point, and she, as a woman, wouldn't.

Representations:

1) A stereotype that has been subverted was Susan being so smart and intelligent for a 15 year old girl in her time. In the 60s, misogyny was very much an active ideology that existed and was believed amongst most, so having a girl being more knowledgeable than her teachers, one being a male, was a subverted stereotype. A stereotype that was reinforced was the woman not driving. This wasn't common or expected to be of ease or ability to women.

2) A stereotype that was subverted for men was when entering the TARDIS, Ian was confused and couldn't fathom what was going on around him. A stereotype that was reinforced was the Doctor dismissing Barbra when trying to explain why the teachers should leave, as if she wasn't able to comprehend what he was saying.

3) By showing Susan being so smart and intelligent, shows them trying to push the drive on education. The Doctor being seen as intelligent and knowledgeable displays the typical characteristics of elderly people.

4) Every character in the episode was white. This isn't a uncommon representation of the time as racism was very normalised and especially in British TV, white people on TV for decades, so having a black person act, would've been uncommon and controversial.

5) Access to knowledge and science is for the upper class people, and those in education are portrayed as sophisticated and well-spoken.

Audience: 

1) When launching the series, I believe the target audience was directed to young men, and slightly older than adolescents males. However, with the shows progression of inclusivity in demographics of characters, I believe the modern target audience is aimed to anyone who simply enjoys science fiction.

2) Personal identity: Susan being portrayed as strange for a girl her age, may have seeked comfort in girls who felt out of place in society. Diversion: Typically, science-fiction is usually a form of escapism for mnay as its so far from reality and can distract the audience from the reality of their difficulties.

3) This would provide escapism and diversion for a modern audience as a 2000s science-fiction is such advanced in technology , that it doesn't compare to reality.

4) Vicarious pleasure may be applied to this episode as Susan, one of the main characters, is very intelligent for her age, and advanced, so young girls who may surpass their typical age normality, may be feel understood.

5) Doctor Whos fan base are called the "whovians". They have an online fanbase is called "whoniverse" which consits of podcasts and spinoffs which keeps the spirits of the shows alive.

Industries:

1) In 1963, TV was limited to 2 TV channels: BBC1 and BBC2.

2) An Unearthly Child reflects its time of TV as the audio wasn't recorded properley and some mistakes were made as it was too expensive to re-film.

3) The Doctor Who sereis is such an important franchise as it has lasted decades and is loved by everyone. It was the first BBC recorded series and has gone down in history.

4) Some spinoffs of the series are The Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood and many more.

5) Doctor Who has alot of merchandise beacuse of its 60 year successful legacy.