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: Establishing shots, music makes the scene more intriguing for the audience. Lot's of OTS ( over shoulder shot ). Storm + witches are all CGI.Mise-en-scene: The men from the start were all dressed up smart and the costume that they were wearing looked like they were quite religious.Props / setting / set dressing - steampunk. Hot air balloon, gadgets etc. Lighting - for both Mrs Coulter and the witch who kills the cardinal. Both emphasise power.
Narrative and genre: “It’s time to draw sides” - Propp; binary opposition. Lyra and Will character development - agree to work together in this scene. Creates audience pleasure - a team to support. “The prophecy has begun”. Lyra - creates enigma and action codes; narrative arc for all three seasons of HDM.
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?
- Emotive, often quest-based narratives
- Political narrative themes or social commentary
- Iconography including magic, mystical creatures or similar
- Often set in imagined worlds or time periods
3) Applying Propp's character theory, what character roles do some of the main characters in His Dark Materials fit into?
Lyra fits as the brave and strong one. But Will seems to be not as brave.
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.)
This is used for suspense and reveal truths.
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.
This is the human world versus daemon world.
Representations
1) How are women represented in His Dark Materials? Are gender stereotypes reinforced or subverted? Think about Lyra and Mrs Coulter here.
Lyra is represented as the brave and strong one. Mrs Coulter is the dark, ominous, evil one. We can tell this because Mrs Coulter wears all red : even the lipstick on her face. Of course the connotations of red, are evil, creepy, blood.
2) How are men and masculinity represented in His Dark Materials? Think about Will and Lee Scoresby here.
The men are represented as the feared ones. They are controlled by the females.
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.
They are the ones who are trying to save the world are teens. Their enemies are adults. At this point, it is teenangers ( the good ones) versus adults (enemies).
4) How is race and ethnicity represented in His Dark Materials? Are stereotypes reinforced or subverted?
Diversity - race/ethnicity. Witch played by black woman, much more diverse cast than Doctor Who.
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.
It looks like a fantasy world because of all the establishing shots included. The views of all the amazing mountains. The world they are in look like the future.
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