Textual Analysis of Doctor Who

Mise – en – scene

The costumes which have been used to create a sense of realistic allowing the viewer to enhance their experience as if they are in the set their self’s. In addition allocate the viewer to relate with the characters, enhancing the fantasy theme.  One of the main characters, named ‘The Master’ which is wearing a high quality modern suit evoking his power, intelligence over the people surrounding him.  Although his companion, the women which is wearing an elegant dress to evoke their high status. Also the colour of the red dress reminds you of danger in hand reinforcing the critical state of the scene.

The security men in the scene were armed with machine guns representing physical strength and power they had which gives them an image of dominance. Furthermore the angle in which the image has been taking consisted of a mid-shot which focuses on the two characters implying they are key to the scene also the lighting was centred on them to help them stand out more.

 In addition the woman’s costumes were classified as servant wear, reinforcing their role in the scene as slaves following commands.

Martha, which was the one of the main characters, was presented with a bold look which is reinforced by her black clothing. The fact that her clothing was mainly black emphasizes a sense of independents and power. Although the lady dressed in black takes the instructions from a man which establishes her role in the scene. She is quite masculine compared to the other females which give a comparison between the roles of each character.

There have been quite an amount of special effect’s been inputted to help the character to stand out and be out-lined in the particular caption. The lighting’s have been quite effective

Cinematography

The Tracking shot has been used to evoke Martha to illustrate that she has no power over The Master.

Long shot has been used to show all the characters within the room, which allows the viewer to be almost able to experience the scene better as if they were in the production. In addition it evokes the atmosphere and the mood of the scene and what may happen next. Moreover it gives greater detail and depth of the set and the surrounds.

Shot reverse shot has been demonstrated between Martha and ‘The Master’ implying that they were having a conversation. A close up shot has been used which allows us to see the emotions and facial expression in each of the characters face which reveals the story between them.

High angle shot has been used to display the fear within the characters face, making him seen insignificant.

Martha was seen in a high angle shot to seem vulnerable between her and The Master. This evokes and reinforces his power at the time and moment.

Martha and The Master both take up the same amount of screen time although she tricks him showing the hidden power she had to reveal.

The people that were important and outlined were normally focused on by the camera for example The Master, although his companion, the woman in the red dress was blurred out showing her insignificance in the scene.

The location has been held in a Space interior, sci-fi theme due to the fiction embraced. This allows the audience to use their imagination and have more freedom to explore the script of the production.  In addition an establishing shot has been used to illustrate the location of the scene and what is going to happen with the alien’s invading the space atmosphere, which gives a sense of thriller and enhances the experience for the viewer.

Low angle shot at the evil character to help embrace his power over the people surrounding him.

Close up shot on the evil character to show his facial expression.

Editing

In this particular scene there has been a lot of tension that builds up steadily this has been done by shortening the editing of specific parts within the scene making it become shorter  each time.

Another technique which has been displayed was the cross-cutting technique, where the dominant character ‘The Master’ tools have been exhibited. From the rockets to missiles and other mass tools of destruction show the power in which he has.

In addition shot reverse shot has been used when the wicked villain was encountering the bold Martha when she was shown on her knees, which evoked that they were having a conversation  and allows us to see the facial expression and emotion in greater detail.

Slow motion technique has been used to show how Martha had struggled and put in all her effort in her journey around the world. Her facial expression has been slowed down giving more detail of what she has been through telling the audience a story.

A 180 degree rule has been used in certain area in order enable the audience to visually connect with unseen movement happening around and behind the scene.

The flashback technique plays a great role in cutting down time in which Martha had travelled the world, keeping it very brief to the audience. This has been done quiet effectively by the way they faded the white in a steady motion which helps boost’s Martha’s control in the current situation.

Sound
The sound has contributed and been a key part within the scene; it has built up a dramatic atmosphere leaving the audience in a great suspense.
Different volumes of sound have been utilized in order to create tension and anxiety between the characters when something important was arising.
A specific choir like sound had been applied when the doctor had somehow broken free of the prison like hologram he was locked in, evoking a sense of freedom and as if he had just entered a church.
The aliens have a strange corrupted noise which reinforces the power that ‘the master’ has in his command, once again showing his dominance over the other characters.
There was a change in sound between Martha and ’The Master’ when the tables had turned in the favour of Martha. Her dominance in the argument had suddenly changed all of a sudden which was emphasized by the background sound of a drum like beat ascending slowly yet steadily each time she made a comeback.