British Science Fiction TV Iconography of the Science

British Science Fiction TV

Iconography of the Science Fiction genre �High-tech gadgets (e. g. a light saber) �Holographic images �Use of CGI/special effects/makeup �Weapons of mass destruction �Spaceships �Teleportation machines �Laboratory �Lab coats �Robots �High-tech/unique costumes (usually metal, shiny with unique design)

Actors associated with British Science Fiction TV �John Barrowman �David Tennant �Christopher Eccleston �David Graham �Matt Smith �John Simm �Bryce Dallas Howard �Elisabeth Sladen �Scott Bakula

TV Channels associated with Science Fiction �Syfy (formerly Sci Fi channel) – a British Pay TV channel service specializing in science fiction, fantasy, and horror shows and films �BBC – BBC Three, BBC One

Task Select one TV Sci-fi show out of the list below. Watch the scene and write 350 words on another slide how the technical codes (mise-en-scene, sound, camerawork, editing) demonstrate its genre. Doctor Who: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=s. SNJRQPl. E 60 Black Mirror: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Ep. AICe. As. Eb 4 Red Dwarf: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=81 W 8 t. G 3 w. H_4 War of the Worlds: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=UXUFHim. IEP 4

The beginning of the Doctor Who Scene denotes a close-up of what appears to be a human/alien creature with blue skin and an unusually shaped head. This appearance would have been created using special effects makeup which is a common convention of the science fiction genre. The next sequence of shots shows the alien holding out a copper coloured gun and shooting a man with a beam of light. This technology seems futuristic and ‘space-like’ rather than a modern human technology. Furthermore, the scene also uses iconography of other high-tech gadgets, such as the famous Doctor Who sonic screwdriver, to connote the science-fiction genre. The scene has two different settings: a room filled with wires, and metallic machinery, and a space ship (which also appears larger on the inside. These futuristic elements are accompanied by non-diegetic fast paced music with high pitch aspects emphasising the futuristic science fiction convention. The scene also includes many special effects edits such as the beams of light shooting from the master’s limbs as he regenerates. Moreover, diegetic sound that is edited in after filming, is used to accompany these effects. These sounds are unusual, ‘alien-like’ and consist of high pitched ‘whirs’, ‘zaps’ and low pitched droaning. The sounds also accompany the ‘human-like’ aliens pushing against a door at the end. They have sharp pointed teeth and strange marking on their faces. The sound that accompanies them seems like a lion’s roar. These sounds accentuate the in-human elements of the TV show and further illustrate the genre. The use of aliens that have human appearances creates a different reality for the audience, where instead of the show seeming completely new and unrealistic, they seem futuristic, and almost like a new reality for the viewer. The significant shots, such as the maser regeneration, and the picking up of the gun gadget, are longer which contrasts wit the short chaotic battle shots. This emphasises the iconography of the science-fiction genre. All of the elements: the mise-en-scene, camerawork, editing, and sound, all accompany each other to create the ‘furturistic’ reality in the Doctor Who series.