Doctor Who - LIAR

Language and Contexts

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

Todorov's Equilibrium:

Equilibrium > Disequilibrium > New equilibrium

Propp's character theory:

Hero, Villain, Heroine/Princess, Father, Donor, Helper/Sidekick, False Hero

Barthes's enigma and action codes:

Action Codes and Enigma Codes

Levi-Strauss's binary opposition:  

            driven by conflict of a series of opposing forces
2) In your opinion, what is the most important scene in the episode and why?

in my opinion the most important scene is where the teachers find  where Susan lives because of it is a big part in the episode.

3) What genre is An Unearthly Child and how can you tell? Make specific reference to aspects of the episode.

Science Fiction Elements The most defining aspect is the TARDIS. It is a machine that is "bigger on the inside" than the outside and is capable of traveling through time and space, which are core sci-fi tropes.

4) How does An Unearthly Child reflect the social and historical contexts of the 1960s?
Susan Foreman is treated as a suspicious outsider, reflecting contemporary anxieties about "the stranger next door" or foreign agents.
Representations

1) What stereotypes of men are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?
 men being strong and in control is reinforced by the Doctor's confident
2) What stereotypes of women/girls are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?

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

Young characters embody both potential and vulnerability, reflecting societal optimism for youth yet concern about moral and intellectual direction.
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?

 it is consistent with historical trends across Doctor Who media. Readers familiar with the series’ treatment of race would likely not find this surprising, though it highlights ongoing challenges in achieving visual and narrative inclusion in Whoniverse storytelling.

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

 Doctor Who, scientific literacy and curiosity are conflated with higher social and moral standing

Audience

1) Who is the target audience for Doctor Who? Do you think it has changed since 1963?
Despite this evolution, the show maintains its traditional broad appeal, combining adventure, science fiction, and imaginative storytelling that captures the interest of audiences of all ages.
2) What audience pleasures are offered by Doctor Who - 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: through character identification and role modeling

Diversion (Escapism):via imaginative settings and time trave

3) What additional Uses and Gratifications would this episode provide to a modern 2020s audience?
emotional, and social resource for a digitally literate, ethically aware 2020s audience
4) Thinking of the 3 Vs audience pleasures (Visceral, Vicarious and Voyeuristic pleasures), which of these can be applied to An Unearthly Child?
The show leverages these layered emotional appeals to maintain engagement, stimulate empathy, and deliver the sense of wonder that defines its long-standing appeal.
5) What kind of online fan culture does Doctor Who have? Give examples.
 Doctor Who fan culture is participatory, creative, and socially engaged, blending personal identity
Industries

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

With only two channels in the UK, viewers had limited but carefully curated choices, and the medium was becoming an influential part of British cultural life
2) How does An Unearthly Child reflect the level of technology in the TV industry in 1963?
It reflects a transitional era in British broadcasting where conceptual imagination and educational content compensated for physical and technical limitations.
3) Why is Doctor Who such an important franchise for the BBC? 

Doctor Who’s cultural resonance, storytelling ingenuity, international reach, commercial success, and adaptability make it one of the BBC’s most important and iconic television properties, reinforcing its position as a flagship franchise for both the UK and global audiences 

4) What other programmes/spin-offs are part of the wider Doctor Who franchise?

dramas, comics, novels, film adaptations, webisodes, and live performances. While some spin-offs focus on companion characters (Sarah Jane Adventures, Class), others explore adult themes (Torchwood), or nostalgic and experimental content (animated series, independent video dramas)

5) Why does the Doctor Who franchise have so much merchandise available? Give examples.

The combination of cultural significance, rich storytelling, iconic symbols, and a devoted fan community ensures a steady market for Doctor Who merchandise, making it one of the most extensively merchandised science fiction franchises in history. Fan conventions, special anniversary releases, and new series launches further boost merchandise production and sales, continually renewing interest across audiences.

 

Grade 8/9 Recommended Reading

 Grade 8/9 Recommended Reading:

Read this Guardian TV review from the first episode of His Dark Materials season two. What did the reviewer think of the episode? Also look at the comments from readers below the article - do they agree? 

coverage of the His Dark Materials season two premiere, along with reader commentary, suggests a highly positive reception, praising the improved pacing, acting, and faithfulness to the source material.

Have a look at this Guardian feature on the top ten Doctor Who stories. How do these fit the conventions of TV drama? Why do you think these narratives were picked in the top ten?

The Guardian's curated top Doctor Who stories are celebrated for elevating the series through sophisticated television drama conventions, including theatrical genre-blending, and high-stakes moral dilemmas.

Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor

 Audience

1) What do we know about the Arctic Monkeys audience? Think demographics, psychographics and how they got into the band.

Arctic Monkeys' audience are likely to be predominantly white, middle class and reasonably young. Psychographic groups might include Reformers and Explorers. Recent global success pushed the band into bigger psychographic groups such as Mainstreamers.

2) What audience pleasures are offered by the music video for I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor?
 diversion - the song is upbeat and fast-paced

3) Pick out three particular shots, scenes or moments in the video that would particularly appeal to Arctic Monkeys fans. Why did you choose those moments?
medium close up

establishing shot

high angle

4) How did fans take a leading role in making Arctic Monkeys famous back in 2005?
they uploaded there music online and that is how they got successful.

5) How are fans positioned to respond to the band? What does Arctic Monkeys want fans to think about their video?

The simple performance video subverts music video conventions that became steadily more complicated and narrative-based in the 1980s and 1990s.

Industries

1) How did the Arctic Monkeys first achieve success and build up their fanbase?
Arctic Monkeys did not sign to a major label, but recorded their own music before signing to independent record label, Domino Records. They were not interested in working with a major.

2) Why was P2P file sharing and MySpace an unexpected aspect to Arctic Monkeys' early success?
their rapid ascent was driven by fans and grassroots efforts

3) How does the rise of Arctic Monkeys differ from how BLACKPINK were formed and became famous?
they where self made 

4) Who is Arctic Monkeys record label and how many copies did they sell of their debut album? Why did they choose an independent record label?

independent record label, Domino Records. They were not interested in working with a major as it would undermine their creative control.And they sold 2.5 million copies of their album

5) Looking at the wider music industry, has the internet been a positive or negative development for record companies and artists? Why?

The internet has acted as a seismic, transformative force on the music industry, creating a polarized landscape that is simultaneously positive and negative

Introduction to Music Video and BLACKPINK HYLT

 1) What are the key conventions of music video?

movement, performance, and narrative
2) What is intertextuality?
when one media text reference to another media text

3) When did music videos first become a major part of the music industry?
in 1981

4) What launched in 1981 and why were music videos an important part of the music industry in the 1980s and 1990s?

the launch of MTV they revolutionized promotion, turning visual branding into a necessity for success

5) How are music videos distributed and watched in the digital age?

through centralized digital aggregators to global streaming and social platforms

BLACKPINK: How You Like That Q's:

Audience

1) What are BLACKPINK fans known as - and what would the demographics / psychographics be for the BLACKPINK audience?
they are know as 'blinks' and most of them are young (10-12)

2) What audience pleasures are offered by the music video for How You Like That?
Diversion: Music video conventions – performance, effects, fast pace

3) Pick out three particular shots, scenes or moments in the video that would particularly appeal to BLACKPINK fans. Why did you choose those moments? 
Opening throne scene 

Jennies rap section 

Final group dance chorus .

4) How was the How You Like That music video marketed and promoted to the audience?
YouTube premiere event with record live viewers 

5) Why is K-pop a global phenomenon and what has helped it to become so popular?

Social media and YouTube distribution 

Industry

1) How were BLACKPINK formed and what records have they broken?

formed in 2016 by Korean entertainment company YG Entertainment and by 2020 was one of the most successful K-Pop bands in the world.

Most viewed YouTube video in 24 hours

2) What other successful artists have YG Entertainment created? You may need to Google this.

BABYMONSTER

3) How has technology and the internet (known as technological convergence) changed the way audiences consume music videos?

Technology convergence allows people to view music videos online rather then on television.Fans have the option to view music video anywhere and anytime using phone and applications like YouTube or TikTok 

4) How do BLACKPINK and K-pop show that the media and music industries are now global?

Korean artists top uk and us charts

5) How are UK-based music videos regulated and what types of content require warnings? 

Uk music videos are regulated mainly by BBFC(age ratings for videos releases)

Media Assessment 2: Learner Response

 1) Add your score, grade, next step and positive (the question that you are the most proud of) to your assessment tracker, which is in your folder front sheet.

9/34 grade 2 the one I'm most proud of is the Q6as i got the most marks 

2) Type up your feedback in full (you don't need to write the mark and grade if you want to keep this confidential).
you need to ensure that youre comfortable with all of our theories. they will be relevant across a rang of csps  

3) Read the mark scheme for this assessment carefully (you'll need your Greenford Google login to access this). Write down the mark you achieved for each question:

Q1:0

Q2:0
Q3:0
Q4:0
Q5:2
Q6:7

Where you didn't achieve full marks, write WHY you think you missed out on the extra marks. Use the indicative content suggestions in the mark scheme to help with this. If you got any media terminology wrong in the assessment you can make a note of it here.
1-4 i did the first two but got them all wrong the3rd one i did not do and the 4 one too. and the 5th one i got 2/2 and for the last one  i got 7/20 not the best but im happy.

4) Look specifically at question 3 - did you successfully write about both the preferred and oppositional readings? Did your answers match any in the mark scheme? Copy in one answer from the mark scheme that you could have used.
i did not do the 3rd question because i was more focused on the last on but if i did do it i would have got about 3/8 

5) Now look at question 4. Write a definition of vertical integration plus the benefits of it listed in the mark scheme to revise this key industry terminology. You may find the blogpost on ownership and control helpful here.
Having complete ownership over creative products

6) Finally, look at your 20-mark essay - question 6. Read this exemplar answer to help give you an idea of what a top-level response looks like. Then, write five points from either the exemplar answer or the mark scheme that you could have us

1.I, Daniel Blake is a low-budget British film made for £2m by veteran independent filmmaker Ken

Loach. The film is extremely political and intended to inform its audience of the damage the

government’s austerity and benefits cuts were having on ordinary working class British people.

2.Hollywood cinema is a multi-billion dollar industry these days and the likes of Marvel will spend upwards of

$200m in production budgets, a similar amount on global marketing campaigns and then expect

billion-dollar returns on their investment.

3.it could be argued that low-budget films such as Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake are not attempting to compete with Disney and Marvel and instead are trying to exist on their own terms.

4.In order to promote the film, director Ken Loach and distributors Entertainment One used cheap and creative methods to create a word of mouth buzz around the film.

5.It had already won the prestigious Palm D'or at the Cannes Film Festival which generated a lot of publicity and this was then supported with viral social media campaigns using #WeAreAllDanielBlake. In addition, a premiere was held in Newcastle (where the film is set) and the London premiere was attended by the then Labour leader

Jeremy Corbyn.

Heat: Case Study

 Introduction - Heat Media pack

1) Look at the Heat Media Pack. Go to page 2: the Heat mission. Write three things that Heat offers its readers under 'print'.
it brings readers a unique and quality experience. And yet affordable weekly fashion edit

with the real, trusted voice of the heat brand.

2) Now go to page 3 of the Media Pack - celebrity focus. What does the page say that Heat offers readers?

always in the know and give them conversation-starters they can show off about to their mates down the pub.

3) Now look at page 4 of the Heat Media Pack. What other content does Heat magazine offer its readers aside from celebrity news?

 wardrobes and they rely on heat to provide them with the best

4) Look at page 5. What is Heat magazine's audience profile? Write all the key details of their audience here. 

 FEMALE/MALE: 90% / 10%

AVG AGE: 37

AGE PROFILE: 52% AGED 15/34

(14% 15-24, 37% 25-34)

SEGMENT:

MARITAL STATUS: 57% MARRIED

or living with partner / 43% single

Media Language

1) How are the cover lines written to make the audience want to buy the magazine? Consider the interest/intrigue they create.
The headlines are full of short, dramatic sentences and the names of the celebrities, which generate gossip and curiosity, hence the need to know what is going on.

2) What are the connotations of the Heat colour scheme on this particular front cover?
The use of bright colors like pink and yellow is appealing to the eye, hence the magazine appears fun and lively.

3) How are images used to create interest in the magazine? Find three reasons for your answer. (E.g. paparazzi images or aspects of mise-en-scene such props, costume, make-up, body position, facial expression etc.)

• Paparazzi images add realism to the stories.

• Celebrities are popular, hence the magazine is more appealing.

• Dramatic facial expressions add drama.

4) What differences can you find between the use of design and typography between Tatler and Heat? List at least three differences and explain the effect on audiences.

• Heat is colorful with the use of bright colors and large fonts.

• Tatler is simple with the use of elegant fonts.

• Heat appears fun, while Tatler appears high-class.

Media Representations

1) What type of celebrities appear on the front cover of Heat? List them here. 

actors, pop stars

2) How are celebrities represented in Heat? (Positively? Negatively? Reinforcing or challenging stereotypes?)
Celebrities are also portrayed in a negative light through gossip and drama, which may perpetuate stereotypes.

3) How are women represented on the cover of Heat? Think about both images and cover lines here.

Women are portrayed as glamorous and appearance-oriented, which may perpetuate stereotypes related to beauty and relationships.

4) How do Heat and Tatler represent social class? What different social classes can you find in the features and celebrities on the cover? (E.g. middle/upper class / working class)

the difference between Tatler and Heat is that tatler  is a higher class social classes then Heat which is a middle to working class.