His Dark Materials : Language and 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.)

Camerawork, editing and sound: 

• Sound: non-diegetic music - epic, orchestral music sets adventure genre and atmosphere. 

• Establishing shots - mountains/rainforest; city in the sky; rift in sky; ocean. Epic locations - action/adventure genre. 

• CGI - airships, talking animals, witches.

Mise-en-scene:

• Settings - cave into forest, ‘city in the sky’

• Storm/rain - connotations of danger but also reminding audiences her friend Roger died in season 1.

Narrative and genre: 

• Fantasy genre - witches, prophecy, rift, daemon talking animals.

• Steampunk genre - futuristic genre but with old, Victorian technology (mix of old and new). Airships, submarine. 

• Narrative: prophecy - disequilibrium; enigma code. 

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

The show fits the conventions of fantasy TV as it is set in a far away fictional universe and targets a younger audience.

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

The sidekick : Demon

Villain : Lyra's mother and dust

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.)
In His Dark Materials at 20.40 to 24.30 in the chase scene the enigma code for this is who and what are they chasing and makes the audience understand the sense of mystery.

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. 
"Its time to draw sides." , makes the audience feel like they need to choose which side to support and shows there will be action in the future

Representations

1) How are women represented in His Dark Materials? Are gender stereotypes reinforced or subverted? Think about Lyra and Mrs Coulter here.
Gender stereo types are subverted as the women are perceived as stronger characters who don't have any desire to act 'womanly' or 'lady like'.

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

Will cooks and takes another room when Lyra takes his bed which subverts.

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.
The teenagers reinforce stereo types of young people and teenagers as they seem rebellious and are exploring the universes and completing dangerous tasks on their own without their parents.

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

The actors in His Dark Materials are from a range of ethnic and social class backgrounds and the character of Will subverts stereotypes of race and ethnicity as well as gender. However, some stereotypes are reinforced - the abandoned children in Cittàgazze are presented as working class in a very stereotypical way.

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 fantasy element of different universes could link to the fact that in the real life world we are unaware of what's in the universe beyond a certain limit so it expands the imaginations of the viewers. As Lyra has no parents and is an orphan we can see her struggle alone until she met Will which could be a representation of the isolation and loneliness felt by orphans in real life.