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: Men are shown as weak,Non-diegetic sound creating suspense/tensionMise-en-scene: colour red for Mrs Coulter represents power and suggetsts thjat shes powerful.
Narrative and genre: fantasy genre - dystopian feel,"The prophecy has began"
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?
Different worlds and humans all together in one worlds.The abonded city also gives us ideas of fantasy
3) Applying Propp's character theory, what character roles do some of the main characters in His Dark Materials fit into?
Mrs Coulter is the villain and the princess is Lyra who is also the hero.
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 the opening of the episode there is non-digetic sound creating suspense/tension.The low angle of Mrs coutler makes her look powerful/dangerous.CGI- the talking animals also known as deamons.
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.
Lyra is a very masculine character however Mrs coulter who is her mum is very Eminence.
Representations
1) How are women represented in His Dark Materials? Are gender stereotypes reinforced or subverted? Think about Lyra and Mrs Coulter here.
Women are represented as powerful and dangerous.This subverts gender stereotypes because men are usually seen as powerful.
2) How are men and masculinity represented in His Dark Materials? Think about Will and Lee Scoresby here.
Men are shown as feminine and weak.
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. There is a generational divide as the adults have more power, however in this world shown, the adults are the more vulnerable ones whereas the teenagers are safer, subverting stereotypes.
4) How is race and ethnicity represented in His Dark Materials? Are stereotypes reinforced or subverted?
Mrs Coulter is the villain and the princess is Lyra who is also the hero.
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 the opening of the episode there is non-digetic sound creating suspense/tension.The low angle of Mrs coutler makes her look powerful/dangerous.CGI- the talking animals also known as deamons.
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.
Lyra is a very masculine character however Mrs coulter who is her mum is very Eminence.
Representations
1) How are women represented in His Dark Materials? Are gender stereotypes reinforced or subverted? Think about Lyra and Mrs Coulter here.
Women are represented as powerful and dangerous.This subverts gender stereotypes because men are usually seen as powerful.
2) How are men and masculinity represented in His Dark Materials? Think about Will and Lee Scoresby here.
Men are shown as feminine and weak.
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. There is a generational divide as the adults have more power, however in this world shown, the adults are the more vulnerable ones whereas the teenagers are safer, subverting stereotypes.
4) How is race and ethnicity represented in His Dark Materials? Are stereotypes reinforced or subverted?
Their is a more diverse cast of His Dark Materials in terms of race and ethnicity compared to Doctor Who as the witch is played by a black woman, however Doctor Who has a fully white cast.
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.
They include talking animals (daemons), suggesting a fantasy world unlike real life because it seems like something that might happen in the future with all the new technology and creations.
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