His Dark Materials: Language and Representation

 His Dark Materials- Language + Representation

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.)

Sound: non-diegetic music - epic, sets adventure genre and atmosphere, non-diegetic music creates tension and drama.

Camerawork: Establishing shots - mountains/rainforest; city in the sky; rift in sky; ocean, close up shots + low angle shots to show emotions and dominance, high angle drone shots, camera movement and fast cuts for chase scene.

Editing: CGI.

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

quest-based narrative, includes a lot of fantasy elements such as mythical animals like the daemons.

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

Hero - Lyra

Sidekick/helper - Will

Villain - Mrs Coulter

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:

-  "The witches will want us to fight" future problems?

- "Prophecy has begun" sets up the whole narrative arc

Action codes:

-    Chase scene with multiple handheld shots and drone shots to capture the chase perfectly 

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.

The spectres only target old people, leaving kids in charge, creating opposition between 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.

Gender stereotypes are mostly subverted, for example, in the beginning scene, Lyra is crying in a cave, reinforcing stereotypes of women being emotional; however, in the next scene she is seen subverting stereotypes by exploring the forest on her own, furthermore she also subverts stereotypes when she is agressive with the unkown girls and when shes shown as a bad cook. Mrs Coulter also subverts stereotypes as she is dominant and has a lot of power.

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

Will subverts male stereotypes as Lyra almost immediately beats him in the first encounter with her, and he was the first one to initiate peace after the case scene, where he also let Lyra dominate, making him look soft. Furthermore, he's a much better cook than Lyra, and she also calls him "kitchen boy". Lee Scoresby reinforces stereotypes as he's a strong adventurer.

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.

Lyra and Will are shown as smart, resourceful, and able to work together, challenging the stereotype that teenagers are careless or dependent on adults. The abandoned children in Cittàgazze seem wild and aggressive, which fits the idea that kids without adults lose control, but it is explained by the fact they are surviving after the Spectres took the grown-ups. Many adults, like Mrs Coulter, are controlling, secretive, or selfish, which contrasts with the teenagers’ honesty and bravery. This makes the young characters seem more capable and trustworthy than most adults.

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

There are characters from different races in both big and small roles. Will, who is mixed race, is shown as brave, smart and kind, and the show doesn’t make his race a big deal. People of colour aren’t shown in stereotypical ways, and the diversity feels natural. This challenges stereotypes because the characters are judged by what they do, not by their race.

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.

In Season 2, Episode 1 of His Dark Materials, the world is a mix of real life and fantasy. Will’s Oxford looks like a normal, modern city with cars and shops. Lyra’s world feels older with airships and old-style clothes. Cittàgazze is a strange, empty city with no adults and scary magic creatures called Spectres. So, the show has parts that seem like real life and parts that are from a made-up fantasy world.