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.)


Camerawork, editing and sound: 

  •  Opening shot of Lyra (protagonist) establishes close bond with Pan.
  • Establishing shot to show contrast (light and darkness)=schism=split in sky
  • Narrative (ND)-witches and chaos
  • Close-up on each character (shows their facial expression)
  • Mistrust of Mrs C towards the church leader

Mise-en-scene:

  •  Costume - masculine (tomboy), adventurous, practical, ready for action, subversive female.
  • Red of Mrs C - danger, thunder + lightning
  • Echoes and chaos
  • Submarine: interior
  • Wearing a religious clothes (black & shadow)

Narrative and genre: 

  • Mystery
  • Different worlds
  •  Witches, Lyra (hero - alone) +Mrs C (villain)
  • "PROPECHY" +witches connote fantasy genre (good + evil)
  • Religious tradition

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?
His Dark Materials fits the conventions of the fantasy TV genre as it includes :
  • Mysterious adventure
  • Narrative
  • Iconography 
  • Different places and times
  • Big budgets
3) Applying Propp's character theory, what character roles do some of the main characters in His Dark Materials fit into? 
According to the Propp's character theory, the main character roles that fits into His Dark Materials are:
  • Hero (Lyra)
  • Villain (Mrs C)
  • Helper (Lee)
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 camera shots (establishing shot) shows schism, this makes the episode more interesting and more mysterious, it also shows contrast between light and dark. They use non-diegetic sound (narrative) - witches and chaos. The mis-en-scenes, especially the witches clothes shows fantasy.

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. 
  • Human / Witches: shows a subversive convention as even though witches have powers, Mrs C was still able to tie her up and torture her, and take her powers away.
  • Fantasy / real life: it shows the audience that even if in real life fantasy doesn't exist there can still be an accident where both fantasy and real or normal life can be in one 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 a subversive girl. This is because she wears a tomboyish costume and she mostly make all the decisions for her and Will. Mrs C is represented as subversive woman as she was able to control the men and manipulate them, she was also persuading the men to kill their leader.

2) How are men and masculinity represented in His Dark Materials? Think about Will and Lee Scoresby here.
Will is represented as a subversive boy as he wants to go with Lyra, which may connote that he can't be on her own, he can also cook which subverts the idea that a girl should be the one who can cook instead of the boy. Lee is represented as subversive guy as he was helping Lyra and Will, this subverts the idea that an assistant or a helper must be a girl as they are supposed to obey the guys.

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 challenges the idea that an adult should be taking care of them, but this is subverted when we saw that Will can cook, which suggests that he can provide food for both Lyra and himself. 
  • The abandoned children they met also challenges the idea that an adult should protect a child, but we can see that this is subverted when we saw how the abandoned children acts to protect themselves from strangers. 
  • Mrs Coulter challenges the idea that a kid must follow their parents, but this is subverted when we saw that Mrs C was following Lyra, and we can also see that Lyra doesn't respect her mother as she was running away from her. 
  • Lee challenges the idea that a kid should be the one helping their parents, but this is subverted when we saw how he willingly helps Will and Lyra achieve their goals.
4) How is race and ethnicity represented in His Dark Materials? Are stereotypes reinforced or subverted?
Race and ethnicity is subverted. This is shown when Will is willing to help Lyra, and Lyra lets him come with her. This connotes that they are mature enough to accept that they are different and that the world is diverse. Race and ethnicity is also subverted when Lee helps Will and Lyra.

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.
Some representations of the world are shown as fantasy. This is shown when the witch was able to fly and was able to teleport to where the witch who was tied up were. Fantasy is also shown when the establishing shot of the schism was shown, which means that the world is split into two. Fantasy is also shown when the witch who was tied up became dust when she disappeared. Fantasy is also shown when Lyra, Mrs C and Lee have daemons, which is not usual for a real life.

Real life was also represented when Will knows how to cook and he knows how to use cutlery. Real life was also represented when he didn't have a daemon, as well as the abandoned children.

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