His Dark Materials: Language and Representation blog tasks

 Language and close-textual analysis

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:  

There is a lot of non-diegetic sound which build up an adventurous quest and builds some tension. There is lots of low camera angles of Mrs Coulter making her look powerful and strong.                          There is fast paced editing which creates pace and excitement.

          Mise-en-scene:

There are many different settings - Different worlds, different cities, fantasy locations and more.            Many different props are being used, there is a mix of modern objects and fantasy ones.                          Mrs Coulter has a red dress on and red lipstick which imply danger and threat.                                       

         Narrative and genre: 

There are many enigma codes and action codes such as the rift in the sky creates an enigma code. The ending of the episode also creates an action code as we find out that Will is a murderer. It also creates an enigma code as we don't why he chose to become a murderer.

You can access our notes from our close-textual analysis in 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?

Fantasy genre

• Rift in the sky
• Flying witches
• Talking animals (daemons)
• Different worlds
• City in the sky

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

I think Lyra is the main character as the prophecy is based on her.

Mrs coulter is presented as the villain as she is torturing the witch.

Pan(Lyra's daemon) is presented as a sidekick as he wants to stick with and help Lyra in her journey. 

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.)

Enigma codes - There are many enigma codes created within the episode such as when the chase scene was happening. This creates an enigma code as it leaves the audience thinking on why they are being chased and who they are chasing. 

Action codes - There are lots action codes within the episode too, for example one action code can found when Will and Lyra caught the people that they were chasing. This is an action code as the audience know that something intense might happen.

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. 

During the chase there was a binary opposition of good and bad people. There is also a binary opposition of young and old - Lyra and Mrs Coulter. Which creates conflict between the old and young.

Representations

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

Stereotypes are subverted as Lyra going to explore the jungle alone which shows how independent and strong she is. She is also behaving like a man as she was eating with her hands and is walking on the bed. Furthermore, another stereotype that is subverted is when Mrs Coulter takes control of the ship and takes control of the problem. She also is wearing all red which signifies danger and threat.

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

Men are represented as submissive as Lee Scoresby listens to his daemon who is a female. This subverts stereotypes of men. But it is also reinforced stereotypes as Lee Scoresby is fixing the heater.

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.

Young people like Lyra and Will are represented as more matured than most of the adults as they are taking responsibility for their actions. While the adults are less responsible for their actions. This subverts age stereotypes as adults are normally the ones with more responsibility. 

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

Race and ethnicity stereotypes are subverted in His Dark Materials as in the episode a black woman comes to save the witch from danger. She also kills the Cardinal. The cast is also quite diverse. She also seems to be taking control.

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.

The episode is nothing like real life but more of a fantasy world. This is because there're a lot of flying people and a fantasy city and a unknown tear/rift in the sky, There're also witches and none of this stuff is real on Earth.