The Phenomenon Doctor Who - Essay Example

Sur The Phenomenon Doctor Who! Introduction I would like to start this essay explaining that all the writing here will be based in research. I must confess that for more famous the Doctor Who series could be, I actually never watched a single episode. Coming from a Brazilian religious family where Aliens and bug-eyed monster characters were considered “work of the devil”, I grew up having no access whatsoever to any kind of the culture product of that range. Also the show was broadcasted for the first time in my country in 2012, at that time even if my parents werent controlling what I should or not see on TV, I couldn’t watch because I was already abroad. So this essay will not have a “Brazilian” point of view of the show. I believe one of the reasons that make me decide to talk about Doctor Who is because since I arrive in England his character always surrounded me, and I actually never really understand why people are so fussy about a doctor with no name who travels in a blue police box. I was perplexed to see a queue of people wanting to take a picture of this blue police box in front of a shopping mall, I thought the red phone boxes were the symbol of England, I was so confused. When someone asks if I like Doctor Who, my answer was: Who is doctor who? Then people look at me like I was from another planet, far away from the Earth or Gallifrey. I never felt weird when people controvert about how the R2-D2 from the “Star Wars” (Lucasfilm 1977) movies was a copy of the Daleks, and always like when they come to explain how wonderful was the series and how much they love, or for some people, how much they hate the show. My sci-fi taste always been more of the kind of “Blade Runner” (Warner Bros.1982) or “2001 Space Odissey” (MGM 1968) instead of Star Wars, so I never have the urge to watch Doctor Who.  When I have to choose a topic for my research I settle a rule that I should talk about something that is very popular but I never watch or know anything deeply enough, something that I could scrutinize because already been very scrutinized, something that I could relate with different moments of popular culture and also the evolution of TV broadcasting. Doctor Who for me was the most obvious choice. In this essay I will like to discuss how this series have changed many rules of how to do Television and also the impact of the show in his audience for the good and for the bad, and also try to arouse my curiosity to see if I could turn myself in a fan, or at least an expert in the world of the doctor with no name. This particular study focuses on understanding the increasing active role of the prosumers in today’s digital world, taking into consideration the phenomenon of Doctor Who. Role of the Audience in Cultural and Creative Industries The media is significantly associated with the cultural and creative industries. In regard to this, it has been obtained that the meaning of any context presented through the media depends on the sole interpretations of the individuals watching it. Hence individuals tend to construct meanings as per their understanding and interpretation. While it is possible for the culture and creative industries to create a culture with their intentions of the use of the media, the viewers or the audiences have the right to interpret the media contents according to their understanding and wishes (Hinton and Hjorth, 79). With digital shows, the audiences are becoming more involved and engaged with the shows and hence they are considered to have become more active (Jones and Salter, 65-67). Over the years the market place seems to have become more complex than before. The proactive consumers are better described as prosumers. It also describes the relation between the consumer and the producer, which is significantly changing and developing over the recent years. Their participation and role in the production of the products have increased that also make them professional consumers fitting them in the category of prosumers. Thus for the prosumers, producers have to assure higher quality of products, as they are more involved in giving their feedbacks and advocacies, thereby indulging the need for new ideas (Everard, 86-87). With the advent of new technologies, particularly reflected through the information technology, it has become easier and more comfortable for the consumers to communicate either with themselves or with the producers as well (Boundless). The twentieth century has seen rise in the studies on audiences in particular. Earlier the relation of the audience with the media was less direct than what can be observed in the present times. With higher interactions and greater modes of interpretation, it is also relevant that audiences can change the meaning of the media context that has been presented to them, depending on their own interpretation. This has increased the role of the individuals in the digital world or the media (Brooker and Jermyn, 5-16). It is over the recent years that television programs have significantly become popular among the ordinary people, which include reality shows, confessional programs, interviews, documentaries, and others. The demand for television has significantly increased (Turner, 12-24). The emerging practices of journalism, media, advertising, TV shows reflect on the changing environment featured by increased participation of the audiences. Upstream marketing is focused and targeted by the managers of the cultural industries. The present times reflect on the cultures of media production converging into consumption by consumers. Particularly, considering TV shows, it is obtained that individuals get involved with reality shows and can associated themselves well thereby creating a connection between the consumers and the producers. Viewers are now capable of sharing their views and opinions on the show online with the advent of information technology (Dueze, 243-244). Phenomenon Doctor Who! The changing and increased role of the audience in the digital world can very well be understood from the phenomenon of Doctor Who, a show that has revolutionized the digital media world and significantly involved audiences into it. The show that is aired on the BBC TV has deliberately involved and influenced its audiences considering their role and participation in the media as highly significant. This particular show has immensely increased the TV ratings for the channel in countries such as America, Australia among others (Pachal). The phenomenon represents a schi-fi phenomenon which is presented on the television for several years. It has led to its viewers to become highly enthusiastic of the show, and include baby boomers, Gen X, and Gen Y individuals that are significant followers of the show. There are not many television shows that could achieve such significant numbers of viewers and participations as this show could achieve. The show has effectively taken advantage of the advancements in technology and its messages on respect for humanity, the strong bonds of relationships and friendships, and the need for human beings to be open-minded, have been well accepted by the audience, who are widely inspired and influenced by the show (Barratt et al). Who is Who in Doctor Who: When Sydney Newman had the idea for the concept of Doctor Who, he probably didn’t expect that his show will be turn in a “symbolic product” (Schifferstein and Hekkert, 333-334). He imagined a serie where he can engage kids to learn more about science and history through the time travel experience. But what we can see now, 50 years after, is a serie turned into a symbolic product, where each part of the show is transformed in a merchandise product ,and the show is just a tool to keep selling this products to different generations, in 2013 there was more than 4852 products patented under the Doctor Who umbrella.On the 23 of November 2013 for the celebration of the show’s 50th anniversary, the episode “The Day of Doctor Who” was broadcasted simultaneously in 6 continents reaching 94 countries.The episode was exhibited also in the cinemas in 3D, the episode broadcasted as a film has made more than 6 million pounds in the first three days in box offices around the world. In America the show had more than 2.4 million viewers on BBC America channel. All of this just prove how important is the show for the BBC, Doctor Who is the most profitable and successful series of all time, being a TV channel subsidized mostly by TV license fee, the importance of that income is crucial for the quality of the series.  The show represents the main character, who is The Doctor and while the audiences are not sure of his actual name, this character presents to the world the manipulation of time, caring about the Earth and its inhabitants, caring about humanity, and trying to solve problems encountered by humans without being violent. The show presents companions along with the doctor who are usually young and attractive males and females and at time non-human companions have also been found on the show. The Doctor cares for the right for humans and listens to problems, solves them, defending on the right things happening around (Barratt et al). Thus the show attracts its audiences and allows them to interact with the show; get involved thereby increasing their association with the world of the media. It can be understood in case of this phenomenon that the audiences get involved with shows that represent the realities to them through the use of advanced technologies that allow them to interact effectively with the shows. Audiences, in regard to this show, feel that the messages communicated by the show are real and hence get connected to the show more than the other television programs (Pachal). The success of the show has also been obtained in other countries such as the U.K. and the Australia, where the success seems to be huge. The audiences find the show relatable to their lives and to themselves. Owing to the responses, associations, and participations of the audience being high in regard to the show, it has been considered as a national treasure in a country such as the U.K. (DoctorWhoTV). New Media versus Old Media: The Changed Role of the Audience As far as the digital media is concerned, it is highly influential in the way it is capable of reaching out to mass audiences with its messages that can have significant impact on the society and individuals as a whole. With the help of the mass media, individuals are capable of communicating over long distances. Individuals are in increasing demand for high quality, influential and reliable information that television programs can provide them with. Thus the relation of the audiences and the broadcasters of different shows are changing in the digital world with the new generation of information technology providing “an immediate, informative, intelligent, interactive platform for discussion and debate” (Krishnasamy). The advancements of the digital world is also relevant in the way media contents such as television shows and programs are made available to the public through a wide number of platforms that include the internet, videos, mobile phones and TDT (García-Avilés, 429-430). Several television programs allow the public to take part in discussion programs to share their views and opinions. With the help of the internet technology, audiences and users can create their own contents as well to share their views. This makes the concept of prosumer more relevant as the greater activeness of the consumers is of major concern for the producers (García-Avilés, 430-432). Construction of Meanings of the Media Contents by Audience The significant role of the audience in the digital world of the media is largely associated with the different meanings that they construct of the media contents depending on their self interpretation and understanding. The construction of meaning is considered as an active moment in the media that reflect upon the democracy of viewers to construct meanings of the media contents on their own. It is obtained and believed that audiences do not only receive messages from the media, but their role exists in becoming the sources of the messages as well (Rohn, 56). There are several debates and ethnographic studies that have been conducted by researchers to determine the activeness of the audiences in construction of meanings from the media contents. It can be said that the media contents are not straightforwardly communicated from the broadcaster to the audience. Rather, the audience makes use of their own understanding, knowledge and interpretation in determining the meaning of the contents (Hine, 36-37). Conclusion: It could be obtained from the study that the role of the audiences has significantly changed over the recent years. With the advent of new technology, the media world has come closer to the viewers. Their interactions have increased and hence audiences are not only viewing and listening to what the media is presenting but is also reacting to it, sharing their opinions and views, which have been supported by the internet technology and the availability of the social networks. Messages are communicated and the media channels are now more concerned of the meanings that audiences construct as such meanings are constructed differently by different individuals depending on their interpretations and level of understanding. The Doctor Who is a show, rather considered as a phenomenon, the success of which reflects on the advancements of technology, and the growing participation of the audiences in the media. It can be concluded that media has to be sincere about their communications and messages as audiences are now more concerned about involving their knowledge and understanding in associating with the media and the digital world, reflecting upon the changing relationships of the producers and consumers, and making the consumers as pro active consumers or prosumers. References Barratt, Carolyn et al. “How to Appreciate Doctor Who.” Wikihow. Wikhow n.d. Web 14 March 2014 Boundless. Marketing. Boundless, 2013. Brooker, Will and Deborah Jermyn. The Audience Studies Reader. Hove:Psychology Press, 2003. DoctorWhoTV. “Doctor Who – A Global Phenomenon: Part 4 UK.” DoctorWhoTV. DoctorWhoTV 2013. Web 14 March 2014 Dueze, Mark. “Convergence culture in the creative industries.” International Journal of Cultural Studies 10 (2007): 243-263. Everard, Jerry. Virtual States: The Internet and the Boundaries of the Nation-state. Hove:Psychology Press, 2000. García-Avilés, Jose Alberto. “Roles of audience participation in multiplatform television: From fans and consumers, to collaborators and activists.” Journal of Audience & Reception Studies 9.2 (2012): 429-447. Hine, Christine. Virtual Ethnography (Google eBook). London: SAGE, 2000. Hinton, Sam and Larissa Hjorth. Understanding Social Media. London: SAGE, 2013. Jones, Janet and Lee Salter. Digital Journalism (Google eBook). London: SAGE, 2011. Krishnasamy, Nagasvare. “New Media vs Traditional Media.” AIBD. AIBD 2014. Web 13 March 2014 http://www.aibd.org.my/node/1226 Pachal, Pete. “How ‘Doctor Who’ Won Over America.” Mashable. Mashable 2012. Web 14 March 2014 Rohn, Ulrike. Cultural Barriers to the Success of Foreign Media Content: Western Media in China, India, and Japan. Switzerland: Peter Lang, 2009. Schifferstein, Hendrik N.J. and Paul Hekkert. Product Experience (Google eBook). Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2011. Turner, Graeme. Ordinary People and the Media: The Demotic Turn. London: SAGE, 2010. Read More