His Dark Materials: Language and Representation blog tasks

1) Write an analysis of the episode - using your notes from the screening in class. Make specific, detailed reference to moments in the text using media terminology (e.g. media language - camera shots and movement, editing, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, mise-en-scene etc..)

You can currently watch His Dark Materials on BBC iPlayer here.

Camerawork, editing and sound: camerawork- angles (low angle of Lyra) make her seem powerful. editing-animals setting (unearthly child backdrop).

Mise-en-scene: sound-epic orchestral music helps to set genre and atmosphere. settings- 'city in the sky' reinforces genre cave ocean waterfall.

Narrative and genre: narrative- prophecy= equilibrium enigma and action codes.  fantasy genre- daemon animals (can speak) witches prophecy (supernatural events).

You can access our notes from the close-textual analysis in a previous class here - you'll need your Greenford Google login to open this.

2) How does His Dark Materials fit the conventions of the fantasy TV genre?

 daemon animals can speak witches prophecy (supernatural events.) lyra's daemon called pan "3 worlds 2 windows. binary opposition (Levi Strauss) young vs old good vs bad spectres vs villain's creates conflict and narrative. 

3) Applying Propp's character theory, what character roles do some of the main characters in His Dark Materials fit into?

 Will plays a hero character and Miss coulter is a villain type character. 

4) What enigma and action codes (Barthes) can you find in His Dark Materials? Make specific, detailed reference to the text using media terminology (e.g. media language - camera shots, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, mise-en-scene etc.)

"the fuse has been lit"   media terminology (e.g. media language - camera shots, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, mise-en-scene etc.)

5) What examples of binary opposition (Levi-Strauss) can you find in His Dark Materials? How do these create narrative or drama for the audience? You can find reminder notes on all these narrative theories here - just scroll down to narrative. 
binary opposition young vs old  spectres vs villains good vs bad  creates conflict and narrative for the rest of the series.
Representations

1) How are women represented in His Dark Materials? Are gender stereotypes reinforced or subverted? Think about Lyra and Mrs Coulter here.

strong female character- Lyra adventurer (alone) subverts stereotypes. woman only female in control we cannot let this woman take control. lyra aggresor  and Will is peacemaker (Will prevents girls fighting).

2) How are men and masculinity represented in His Dark Materials? Think about Will and Lee Scoresby here.

male- Lee Scoresby (protagonist in Pullman series) American, co-production with HBO American characters create global appeal (adds diversity) reinforces heroic adventurous stereotypes of American hero's.

3) How is age (e.g. teenagers; adults) represented in His Dark Materials? Does the show reinforce or challenge stereotypes about young people? Think about Lyra and Will plus the abandoned children they meet. Also think about Mrs Coulter and other adults. 

Age-"spectres"-spectators "where are the grown ups?"- children are in control

4) How is race and ethnicity represented in His Dark Materials? Are stereotypes reinforced or subverted?

religion-cardinal/men on submarine. religion-references dust and sin. diversity- witch played BAME woman represented as strong, powerful- takes down four mal guards then kills the cardinal.

5) What representations of the world can you find in the episode - is it like real life? A fantasy world? Something from the past or future? Give examples from the episode.

setting- city (neglected and abandoned). links to idea of what might happen if there are no "grown ups" around-links to fantasy genre.