Class 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 and movement, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, mise-en-scene etc.)

Co-owner of a Lonely Heart

Narrative:
In Co-owner of a Lonely Heart, there is a multi-strand narrative. One includes the link between April and Corikinus -  the king of the shadow kin. And one includes flower petals that have entered through a rift in space and time that feed of blood and multiply as they have the potential to destroy the human race. In the Underneath, one of Corakinus' followers tries to cut the link between April and Corakinus but ends up making the bond stronger so he is executed by Corakinus. Through this, April realises she can now summon swords like a shadow kin. April has an outburst in class and Ram finds her near her locker. (She breaks her locker in another outburst of anger). He takes her home and they end up having sex in April's bedroom. Corakinus is linked to April and so also has sex with Kharrus, one of his subjects who is helping him. April's mum catches them and discusses what had just happened. Ram leaves and April is about to go after him but meets her father outside. Her father had just been let out of prison for endangering April and her mum in the car accident that had left her mother paralysed. April becomes infuriated and two swords appear in her hands. She threatens her father with them in a fit of rage.Ram comes back to calm her down and she lets her father go. Since her heart is linked to Corakinus she knows where he is and goes on a quest to find him. The episode ends on an enigma as the audience is unsure whether or not she defeats Corakinus. Ram goes after her. The other narrative revolves more around Ms Ames, Miss Quill, Charlie and Matteusz. Charlie introduces Mattuesz to the 'cabinet of souls'. Later on, he reveals that it can wipe out an entire race and bring back an entire race in the hands of a hero. Miss Quill overhears this and becomes furious with Charlie because he has been capable of wiping out the shadow-kin this whole time. Ms Ames meets with Miss Quill and reveals that she knows her true identity and Charlie's and that she is able to remove the arn in Miss Quill's head that prevents her from using a weapon and warns her about the invasion of the flower petals that have come from a rift in space and time and have the capability of wiping out the human race.
Character: 
April is established to be the hero character type because she goes to the Underneath to fight against Corakinus. Ram and April's romantic relationship is developed through Ram being there to comfort April and their sex scene. Charlie and Matteusz' relationship is tested when Charlie reveals the cabinet of souls to his boyfriend as Matteusz questions Charlie's morality. April's relationship with her mother is the stereotypical relationship between a teenager and a parent shown in teen dramas. This is shown by April's mum telling her off for having sex with Ram. When April is enraged by her father though, she seems very protective of her mother, switching the traditional roles of a parent and a child. April's dad is presented as a villain in some scenes because he creates the disequilibrium in the episode when April reunites with him outside of Ram's car. 
Iconography: 
The flower petals on the dead squirrel and April's eyes glowing orange when Corakinus takes over. The flower petals emphasise the horror genre and April's eyes changing colour are a convention of Sci-Fi.
Setting:
The camera is constantly moving to catch the audience's attention at every moment. There is cross-cutting between April and Corakinus in their respective sex scenes to show the link between them and the effect of sharing a heart with April has on Corakinus.

2) How does Todorov's theory of equilibrium apply to Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Try and use the expanded version of Todorov's theory: Equilibrium - Disruption - Recognition - Reparation - New equilibrium.
The equilibrium is April sharing a heart with Corakinus because this is an established plot point by episode 4. The disruption is when April comes into contact with her father after he has been released from prison because he infuriates her. It could also be Charlie introducing Matteusz to the cabinet of souls. It could also be when April's dad returns and she threatens him with swords. The recognition is when April doesn't hurt him. The new equilibrium is not established but it will be in the second half of the two-parter.

3) Applying Propp's character theory, what character roles do each of the main characters in Class fit into? Alternatively, you may wish to discuss how characters do not fit Propp's character types.

Ms Ames is the father figure character because she gives Miss Quill important information and offers to help her get the arn out of her head. (See character section of NCIS paragraph for more on the subversion of character types).

4) What enigma and action codes (Barthes) can you find in Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Make specific, detailed reference to the text using media terminology (e.g. media language - camera shots, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, mise-en-scene etc.)

Action codes are created using a variety of diegetic and non diegetic sound. An example of an action code created by diegetic sound is when April says 'he knows where I am' an example of Action codes with non diegetic sound would be the dramatic music that is used to increase the suspense to build up to the next episode. Enigma codes are created by the episode's unanswered questions like whether or not April will get her heart back or if the petals will take over the earth.

5) What examples of binary opposition (Levi-Strauss) can you find in Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? How do these create narrative or drama for the audience?

There is binary opposition with humans v aliens, this is shown between the cross cutting between April and Corakinus to show that despite their shared heart, they are actually very different. Another example f binary opposition would be between adults v teenagers, this is shown when April and her mum are arguing about her relationship with Ram.
Representations

1) How is gender represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Are gender stereotypes reinforced or subverted?

Gender stereotypes are subverted by Ms Ames and April. Ms Ames is a knowledgeable head teacher who informs Miss Quill about the dangers of the flowers and that she can get the arn out of her head. April goes on a quest to save her own heart with her newly obtained power of summoning swords on command without relying on the help of a man to help her. The stereotype of men is subverted by Ram and his dad's open and loving relationship.
2) How is age (e.g. teenagers; older people like teachers or parents) represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Does the show reinforce or challenge stereotypes about young people?

The representation of adults in the media is reinforced by April's mum scolding her daughter for being irresponsible by having sex with Ram. The representation of teenagers is subverted because they are responsible, for example, April doesn't seek vengeance on her father when she threatens him with swords and fights Corakinus' influence.

3) How is race and ethnicity represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Are stereotypes reinforced or subverted?

The stereotypes of race are subverted because Ram's dad is an Indian Sikh man and he has a trusting relationship with his son. Matteusz is a Polish man and subverts stereotypes because he is against Charlie using violence to bring back the Rhodians.

4) How is sexuality represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? How does this reflect the BBC's remit to represent modern Britain?

Matteusz and Charlie are in a homosexual relationship which is regarded as completely ordinary by the other characters, this reflects the diverse nature of modern-day Britain.

5) How is disability represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Why are disabled people generally under-represented in the media and how does Class try to address this?

April's mum is paralysed from the waist down and uses a wheelchair but she is presented as a stereotypical parent when she is scolding April. This is also emphasised by her saying "Don't let this chair fool you, if you hurt her, I will kill you." This shows that her protective maternal instincts are still intact despite her disability. Disabled people are under-represented and one of BBC3's mottos is to reflect modern-day Britain which is a diverse place so Class addresses this by having a disabled character.

Audience

1) What were the viewing figures for Class and why do you think it did so badly?

Less than 5% of the TV audience watched Class when it aired. I think it did badly because it was created for an audience that doesn't exist. It is a DR Who spin off, Dr Who is aimed at a family audience so adults over 30 and children under 12. Class has explicit,violent and sexual content that Dr Who's family audience could not watch. It aired at 10 pm on weekdays on BBCOne when their teenage audience would be asleep to prepare for school.

2) What audience psychographic groups might particularly enjoy Class?

Reformers may enjoy Class because it has representations of groups that are often under or misrepresented  in the media.

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.

Personal Identity:
There are lockers that are reminiscent of American school lockers to appeal to the American audience. There is an archetypal school setting which the fanbase can relate to because the target audience is 15-24 so they are either still in school or have recently left it. 
Personal Relationships:
More is revealed about April's background so the audience may gain an attachment to her character because they may empathise with having parents that are not together or having a turbulent relationship with one of their parents and so they may gain a fondness for her character. 
Diversion (Escapism):
The world of the Underneath, the Shadow Kin, the Rhodians and the Quill and travel into space and time that is created in Class is an utterly immersive world that can help the audience escape from the monotony of everyday life.

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?

There are visceral pleasures created when April summons the shadow swords because it creates an action code (Barthes enigma and action codes).

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 blog post or check the comments in the extension articles below to help with this.

The Whovians did not react well to Class because Dr Who has on episodic narrative that is ended at the end of the episode or the two-parter so even casual fans can enjoy an episode with minimal exposition. This episode of Class however has a multi strand narrative where some narratives take priority over others. The Cabinet of Souls and Matteusz questioning Charlie's morality and the killer flowers are all sidelined by April trying to win back her heart from Corakinus.



Industries

1) What was the objective of BBC3 when it was launched?

To inform, educate and entertain its young audience.

2) Why did BBC3 go online-only in February 2013? 

BBC3's target audience - 15-34-year-olds - do not watch live or traditional television anymore. They watch things on demand via streaming services like Netflix.

3) How does Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart meet the BBC's mission statement to 'inform, educate and entertain'?

'Class' is a diverse programme, in episode 4, we learn more about April's mum's paralysis but we also learn that it doesn't change who she is which informs the audience about the lives of people with disabilities. 'Class' has little actual educational value but it does provide the audience pleasure of diversion or entertainment because the world of the underneath, killer flowers and the cabinet of souls is totally immersive.
4) How did the distribution of Class contribute to the failure of the show with audiences?

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 trailer pushed the link with the Whoniverse which did not feature heavily in Class (excluding the Doctor's appearance in the pilot and few references to the Doctor throughout the series). 

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)?

 There is CGI in Class (notably in the scenes with Corakinus and the Underneath and the killer flowers) which was not invented in 1963 where all effects were done practically. There are low angled shots to introduce the Doctor in the 1963 DR Who to show that he is powerful but in Class there are low-angled shots of April to show her power which subverts traditional representations of women.

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?

The openings of both programmes emphasise the Sci-Fi genre because there is a bright light in Dr Who and the TARDIS looks like a rocket and technological advances are a convention of Sci-Fi whereas in Class, the opening shows tentacles of a fictional creature between scenes from the show to show the Sci- Fi genre.

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?
 Dr Who : An Unearthly Child informs and educates its audience because it talks about historical events and there will be time travel back to the stone age at the end of the two-parter. In Co-owner of a Lonely Heart, it entertains the audience because the immersive world and the multi strand narrative makes the audience able to escape reality. Arguably, Class fails on entertaining an audience due to the backlash it met and the extremely low viewing figures.

4) How are representations of people, places and groups similar or different in the two shows?
There is no representation of any racial group except white people in An Unearthly Child but in Class, Ram is a sikh and he is Indian, Tanya is Nigerian and Mattuesz is Polish. Both represent what a 'modern' Britain is. In An Unearthly Child, Susan is listening to a pop song that reflected the time period it was made in. Similarly, in Class there is a diverse cast to reflect modern Britain.
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?Grade 8/9 extension tasks and reading

Read this Digital Spy feature on why Class was cancelled after only one series. Do you agree with its criticisms regarding scheduling, audience and character development?

This Guardian review of Class is much more positive - but the comments 'below the line' (BTL) are largely critical. Do you agree with the original review or the comments - and why?

Read this Den of Geek fan review of Co-owner of a Lonely Heart. Do you agree with the praise and criticism in it and why?

Finally, read this Indiewire feature on Class. It contains plenty of references to other films and TV shows (intertextuality) - what popular culture references can you find in this article?


You have two weeks to complete this case study BUT the deadline is crucial - you need this 100% finished for Wednesday 12 December as this is your GCSE Media PPE and Section A of the exam will ALL be on your television CSPs.

Doctor Who an Unearthly Child :CSP Blog Task

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: A young genius Susan Foreman has been exhibiting strange behaviour at school so when her teachers see her outside of school they try to save her. When an old man is questioned by the teachers he acts strange, Ian fights him whilst Barbara enters the TARDIS and to her surprise, she sees Susan who tells her and her grandfather's secret. They are revealed to be time travellers. and Susan accidentally sends them to another time period, the episode is left on an enigma.

Character: Susan is the princess character because she seems like she needs to be saved, the Doctor is the anti-hero/ antagonist because he obstructs Ian from trying to save Susan, Barbara is the sidekick character because she assists Ian in his quest to save Susan. Ian is the hero because he physically fights the doctor in order to save Susan.

Iconography: The TARDIS has sophisticated and futuristic technology inside it which emphasises the Sci-Fi genre. In the opening, the bright white light used is also a convention of the Sci-Fi genre.

Setting: The music that Susan plays is diegetic sound and helps establish to the audience that this episode is set in modern day (for the 1963) audience. The junkyard where the Doctor was being questioned is also a convention of Sci-Fi as things are often hidden in the most unlikely of places in Sci-Fi.


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.

The equilibrium is present in the school scenes where Ian and Barbara are talking about Susan because her genius is established early on and is considered normal. The disruption is when Ian and Barbara are not able to go to Susan's house because Susan gives the feeble excuse that her 'grandfather doesn't like strangers'.The recognition is when Ian and Barbara realise that her address does not exist as there is just empty space. The reparation is not established in this because it is not an episodic narrative so the reparation will occur at the end of the two-parter. The new equilibrium is also not established in this episode but we can assume it will be at the end of the two-parter.

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.

In this episode, the Doctor is an anti-hero character because he is made unlikable by not co-operating with Ian and Barbara and uses phrases such as "you stupid child". Susan is the princess character as she at least seems as though she needs to be saved from the Doctor. Barbara is the helper/ sidekick character as she is sidelined by the Doctor but does assist Ian in saving Susan, this plays into the binary gender roles of the 1960s. Ian is the hero character as he is on a quest to save Susan.  

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.) 

Susan has an iridescent silver vest and trousers, this shows that she is from the future as she is wearing a traditionally masculine costume in a time with very binary gender expectations. When the doctor is introduced, there are low angled shots to make him seem more powerful. 

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?

 An example of Binary opposition in Doctor Who: An Unearthly child is young and old, this is shown with Susan and the Doctor, Susan's concerns are whether or not she will be able to go to school however the doctor is concerned about Ian and Barbara betraying their secret. Another example of this is gender, male and female shown by Barbara and Ian, while Ian is physically confronting the issue, Barbara goes inside the TARDIS to look for Susan.


Representations

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

Men are presented as brave through the character of Ian Chesterton, who is desperately trying to save Susan, men are also presented as knowledgeable, this is evident when the Doctor states that Ian and Barbara could never understand the wonders of space and time.

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

The characters of Barbara and Susan are completely sidelined from the narrative. The Doctor only refers to Ian, using the repeated phrase of 'young man' to show that he didn't even consider Barbara as being any sort of threat to him whatsoever. At the beginning of the episode, Susan seems to be the focus of the narrative but later on, she is being scolded by her grandfather and made to look powerless. When explaining space and time, the doctor seemed to be the main fountain of knowledge and Susan was only his protegee.

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?

The stereotype of young people at the time was that they were interested in current trends which is reinforced by Susan's character as she is fashion-forward, wearing trousers in some scenes and is listening to pop music in the classroom.

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 actors in An Unearthly Child are white, this is not surprising as there were scarce acting opportunities for people of colour in the 60s, especially for roles that weren't demeaning racial caricatures. Gender roles are very binary as Ian is the main hero and Barbara just assists him and is sidelined in most exchanges with the Doctor through the repeated phrase of 'Young man' used by Hartnell.

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

Education is a core middle class value, the fact that Susan yearns for an education when her grandfather tries to prohibit her from going. Her teachers also admire her genius and are willing to help her so that she can make something of herself which is also a core middle-class value - to gain a future through education rather than labour work. 

Audience

1) Who is the target audience for Doctor Who? Has it changed since 1963?

I would argue that the target audience for Doctor Who, was and always will be a mainstream family audience. In 1963, there were only 2 channels available, the BBC and ITV so naturally, Doctor Who had to cater to a wide audience. Nowadays, although some episodes have elements of the horror genre, there is no explicit sexual content in Doctor Who or gory violence so viewing times for Doctor Who are before the watershed and so children can watch it along with their parents.

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

Mainstreamers, as it can be watched by the entire family and explorers because in the 60s Sci-Fi was a relatively new genre and may not have been received well initially by everyone because people are often apprehensive when it comes to change.

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: An archetypal school setting is used because everyone is either experiencing or has experienced school life.

Personal Relationships: The Doctor is made to be an unlikable character so the audience may love to hate him, Susan is an innocent child who is being mistreated by her grandfather so the audience may feel sympathy and keep watching to see what happens to her.

Diversion (Escapism): Living in a fictional world with the TARDIS and time travel is far more interesting than the mundane, routine nature of everyday life.

Surveillance (Information / Facts): The decimal system is mentioned along with other historical developments.

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

Nostalgia could be part of the uses and Gratifications as our parents or grandparents may remember the initial release of this episode.

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

Vicarious pleasures can be applied to Doctor Who because the audience can imagine that they are travelling through space in time through the characters of the Doctor and Susan.
Industries

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

There were only 2 TV channels in England in 1963: ITV and the BBC.

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

Doctor Who unites different kinds of BBC fans, different ages because it is a long-running family show so both younger and older people would have an attachment to it and different demographic groups because it is aimed at a mainstream audience.

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

 When the Doctor and his companions travel back in time, they educate the audience about the past. Doctor Who is an entertaining franchise because it gives the audience pleasure of diversion as living in a world of the TARDIS and travel in space and time to escape their everyday lives.

4) How is the BBC funded?

The BBC is funded by the annual TV license in which every TV owner has to pay to have the right to watch TV in England.

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

The BBC was self-regulated until 2017 when OffCom started regulating it, the watershed is that after 9:00pm, there can be more uncensored and sexually explicit content to protect children when they are channel surfing.

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?