Doctor Who: Audience and Industries

 

Doctor Who: Audience and Industries

Audience

1) Who is the target audience for Doctor Who? Do you think it has changed since 1963?

The target audience for Doctor Who are children or family-friendly age groups. Yes it has changed as there are more people playing as the Doctor and other things like background settings and technology have evolved to enhance the series more. 

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: Doctor Who offers drama and fantasy in the episode drawing the audience in more based off interest in potential drama in show.

Personal Relationships: The relationship between the girl and her grandfather adds onto interest by adding a particularly elder character adds interest as such character aren't included in such shows as an action-like protagonist in addition with the fact his granddaughter is an alien as well. 

Diversion (Escapism): Escapism is included during the scene when the grandfather won't allow his granddaughters teachers to leave the time machine not trusting that they'll keep the secret of its existence hence having to keep the teacher in the time machine that will then include the teachers somewhat in the climax of the show. 

3) What additional Uses and Gratifications would this episode provide to a modern 2020s audience?

An Unearthly Child includes a historical context and features 1960's footage in the episode for viewers in the 2020's it offers a blend of historical, scientific and personal gratification which can still have relation to modern audience.

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

Vicarious Pleasure: Audience experience the story through the eyes of the characters which allows the sense of empathy and tension to be experienced throughout the show.

Voyeuristic Pleasure: The audience are put in the position of a mystery being unfolded in front of their eyes which creates the voyeuristic element as they see the characters interact.

Visceral Pleasure: Production design creates a simple yet exciting scene for the audience with very minimal changes to the designs.

5) What kind of online fan culture does Doctor Who have? Give examples.

Doctor Who's fan culture is characterised as more vibrant and diverse in various actions. For example is has become more diverse by including more set changes to make the scenes more interesting and vibrant and has expanded on characters that should play as the doctor.

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

TV in the 1960's would include no colour in the images, the TV's would be smaller and have the limited number of up to 3 channels to watch.

2) How does An Unearthly Child reflect the level of technology in the TV industry in 1963?

The level of technology has changed between the 2 times of the 1960's and the 2020's with more special effects, set design and story telling techniques.

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

Due to it's global popularity international sales and merchandise get made showcasing British Culture and creativity.

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

Doctor Who would franchise programmes and spin-offs such as Torchwood and Class for live action spin-offs and Totally Doctor Who and K-9 and Company for programmes.

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

Due to Doctor Who's long history and popularity the BBC licences the brand for various kinds of products in a range of items like toys, clothing and postage stamps.