The document analyzes how representations of age are constructed in the opening sequence of Doctor Who Season 5 Episode 1 "The Eleventh Hour" through the use of mise en scene, editing, sound, and camera techniques. Specifically, it discusses how a low-angle close-up of a red toy windmill seen from the perspective of a child establishes the narrative point of view. Non-diegetic sounds of wind chimes and a piano motif paired with a woman's voice are intended to suggest a mother singing her child to sleep at night, but the minor key creates an unsettling feeling that the child is in danger.

1. How are representations of AGE constructed in Doctor Who
5.1: “The Eleventh Hour”, using:
• Mise en scene
• Editing
• Sound
• Camera angles, shot types and movement
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The sequence opens with a low angle close up of a red toy windmill. The
dominance of the windmill in the mise en scene, combined with the low angle,
imply that we are seeing the perspective of a child, and that therefore the
narrative is also from the point of view of a child.
As the windmill is largest in the frame, we assume that a child will be the
protagonist in this sequence. However, the windmill is red, which, combined
with the non- diegetic sound, imply that the child is not safe.
Non- diegetic sound accompanies the establishing shot. We hear the non-
diegetic sounds of a breeze and wind chimes. The breeze could be used as
pathetic fallacy to foreshadow danger and to reinforce that the child is not
safe. The wind chimes connote magic, which makes the audience think of fairy
tales, adventure and childhood. There is also a simple piano motif, which is
matched by a woman’s voice. This could suggest to the audience that a woman

2. is singing her child to sleep, as the establishing shot has been constructed to
look like it is night-time. Yet, the contrapuntal sound of the “lullaby” and the
MINOR KEY of the score combine to make the audience feel uneasy, once
again reinforcing that this child is in danger.