Micro-analysis and genre (Dr Who)

Genre and audience pleasures

Rick Altman argues genre offers audiences a set of pleasures:

• Emotional pleasures - how the text makes you feel
• Visceral pleasures - gut responses e.g. excitement, fear etc 
• Intellectual pleasures - does it make the audience think? 

Dr who clip 

Sound:

• footsteps
• non-digetic ominous background music creates suspense 
• drilling
• voiceover on a sound system 
• buzzes and beeping
• typing 
• non-diegetic peaceful background music relates to the dialogue and creates nostalgia 

Mies-En-Scene analysis 

• Use of multiple screens relates to futuristic genre of the show. Complexity of each screen creates a sense of excitements as it shows something of a great proportion is happening 
• Use of electronics may appeal to tech savvy target audience of teenagers and young adults
• Colour blue along with the dark lighting creates a sense of isolation due to the connotation the colour has to the cold, adding suspense
• Colour blue also relates to the Dr Who brand 
• Protagonist's costume creates a sense of superiority and power as he is dressed formally, especially in comparison to the other characters present. Outdated outfit also draws him apart from the other characters, adding a sense of importance and relating to the time-travelling sci-fi theme of the program
• Dark lighting in of characters towards the back means the audience struggles to see their facial expressions - this emphasises the importance of the Doctor who is visible 
• Industrial, bunker style decor adds a sense of mystery and secrecy 

• Warm lighting/ colours creates a sense of comfort, putting the audience at ease
• House setting creates a feeling of familiarity 
• Bright coloured dress, yellow has connotations of happiness - this could represent the characters personality
• Yellow polka dot dress and long hair portrays the character as youthful with a possible sense of naivety and innocence 
• Mainstream costume and young age of companion relates target audience - allowing them to connect/relate to her
• Bright youthful costume distinguishes the companion from the maturely dressed protagonist.
• Protagonist's costume creates a sense of superiority and power as he is dressed formally. Outdated outfit also adds a sense of importance and relates to the time-travelling sci-fi theme of the program
• Confident body language of protagonist presents him as a leader.
• Slightly hunched/relaxed body language of companion distinguishes her from the Doctor. 
• Unlit dark doorway creates a sense of foreboding as we cannot see/do not know what is behind it. It also juxtaposes from rest of the warmly lit and visual setting