His Dark Materials: Language and Representation

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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: They use non-diegetic music a lot during the episode to create tension or mystery.  There are close-up shots of Mrs Coulter to show her dominance and power

 Mise-en-scene: Their costumes are quite simple and plain to show how they're either from the same world or just normal human (like will). Mrs Coulter usually wears red and has a red lip, the colour red has connotations of power, dominance and high position.

 Narrative and genre: The genre is fantasy. Its made clear because during the episode there are multiple scenes of the witches and of lyras daemon. They use enigma codes and binary opposition a lot. 



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

They use a political narrative theme where they criticise religion an power. The Magisterium is similar to the Catholic Church and other religious groups. Their focus in the episode is to stop Lyra and take control of them. The whole idea is quote sinister which supports His Dark Materials being a part of the fantasy genre.
They also use iconography where the witches fly in to save the other witch who is being tortured. 

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

The villain is Mrs coulter, the helper is Will, the hero will be Lyra.


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 enigma code could be the talking daemon and the constant talk of other worlds, there is a lot of non-diegetic music to show how ominous the moment is, when Will and Lyra are chasing the girls there is a low angle shot to the determination lyra feels.

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? 

good and evil, hero and villain, boy and girl. Villain and hero create drama because people want to know whether or not lyra will be safe or if Mrs coulter will find her. 

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 strong and dominant. This is shown where Mrs Coulter disturbs the magisterium meeting and takes control over the meeting and also when Lyra is brushing will off and walking ahead of him which suggests her importance over his.

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

Men are represented as weak. This is shown through Will having giving into lyra and doing what she says, she is represented as a stronger character than Will

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 stereotypes of age in his dark materials are challenged because the young teenagers are represented as mature and independent whereas a lot of teenagers now rely on their parents or older siblings for small things. 

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

The stereotypes are subverted because there is a coloured women who has control over Mrs coulter and puts her down because she saves Mrs coulters hostage 

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 magesterium reprsents the government dictating peoples lives






























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