The Feminine State of Ethnicity: Changing Ethnic Representations in Doctor Who


Kutlu T.

Universal Journal of Literature and Linguistics, cilt.1, sa.1, ss.43-52, 2022 (Hakemli Dergi)

Özet

This study aims to consider how science fiction television series Doctor Who (Sydney Newman, 1963-1989, 2005) has undergone changes in representations of ethnicity since 2005. The Doctor, who is a representation of immigrants from the very beginning, was embodied in white, heterosexual men until the 11th season. Last season is the first season since 1963 when a woman is the Doctor. In addition, this season, the Doctor's three companions are Ryan who is a black man, Yaz who is a Pakistani-British woman and Graham who is a middle-aged white man mourning his wife Grace who was black. In this study, it is aimed to analyze the features that make this season different from the others in terms of representations of ethnicity by using visual data analysis techniques and Smith's national identity theory. In this study, it has been proposed that the previous episodes of the Doctor Who television series were problematic in case of representations of ethnicity, and the ongoing representations of ethnicity are changing under the leadership of the female Doctor and his ethnically diverse companions during the era of Chris Chibnall and the episodes are examined using this framework.