His Dark Materials

 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: 

The episode uses epic, non-diegetic music to set the atmosphere for the opening scene, an establishing shot of the "city in the sky". Suspenseful music is then used alongside a low-angle shot of Mrs Coulter to reflect her superiority and dominance. The daemon is then introduced for the first time in the episode, and is made using CGI. During the chase scene, suspenseful music is once again used to reflect the excitement of the scene, with a variety of drone shots and handheld camera movement alongside fast-paced editing. A low-angle shot is used again when Lyra faces off against the girls, to exaggerate her power. In the next scene, there's an important close-up of Lyra's reaction to Will asking to stick together, where she smiles. This wouldn't have been seen if the camera was zoomed out further. The scene also starts with a longshot, and then uses over the shoulder shots. Next, the scene of the flying witch presents a heavy use of green screen and CGI, with the editing speeding up as the scene switches between her flying and Mrs Coulter interrogating the other witch. A low angle is again used to display her power. When the witch comes to 'free' the other by killing her, everything around her is slowed in post-production, and special effects are used for her smoke.

Mise-en-scene:

The settings varied in order to fit the fantasy genre; they were in a forest, city in the sky, an island, the sea, a submarine and a hot air balloon. Mrs Coulter wears make up and is dressed quite elegantly, which reinforces stereotypes about women having to look a certain way, and also the men were wearing suits and these suits have connotations to religion. Mrs coulter also wears mostly red which connotes to danger, evil and violence which reflects her character as the villain. One of the settings was an epic and exotic sunset which reflects the fantasy genre. The different costumes wore by every character reflects what world they are from even the lighting reflects the type of character they are, for example Mrs Coulter is mostly shown with half of her body and face in dark lighting and you can barely see the whole of her face, this reflects her sinister ways and her villainous  character  

Narrative and genre: 

The fantasy genre is presented through the dialogue and voice-over in the opening scene: "Asriel has torn up our sky", alongside the witches flying and the daemon, Pan, who is a talking animal. The steampunk sub-genre is also presented through the futuristic but also old, Victorian-esque technology such as the hot air balloon and submarine. Levi-Strauss's binary opposition theory is also utilised through the quote - " It's time to take sides." Mrs Coulter's introduction uses Propp's Character types, as she is the villain of the drama. A character also says that the "fuse has been lit", which is an action code and also a disruption to the equilibrium, as in Todorov's theory. In the next scene, the café objects scattered around create an enigma code, and Lee Scoresby's dialogue of, "well isn't that something", is also an enigma code as the audience cannot see his perspective. The fantasy genre is further expressed through Lyra saying that Pan isn't a "talking animal", and Lee Scoresby's daemon talking about the "tear in the sky". The introduction of "spectres" after the chase scene is indicative of the fantasy genre and also helps move the narrative. The spectres are also an example of binary opposition, as the young are safe from them while the old are not. Conflict is also created when a character says they "don't trust them", creating an enigma code. In the next scene, Lyra's explanation of the daemon presents the fantasy genre, and the narrative is moved along when Lyra and Will agree to work together. This also positions the audience to be on their side.  

 

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?

- BLACKPINK aren't authentic and were put together by YG Entertainment, so when audience members want to find identity through the music video, it will be harder, as they weren't friends beforehand 

- In the music video, there is a lot of camera work and editing, so audiences can find divergence in the and they might fall into mainstream and also may find escapism in the music video 

- The audience can aslo find surveillance as they sing in both English and Korean, so the audience can learn another language. 

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

When we first meet Will: the villain as he sneaks up on Lyra 

Lyra and Will: the hero

Mrs Coulter: villain

Specters: villain 

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.)

Action codes: Mrs Coulter is shown on a low angle shot to show her power, " The witches want us to fight" hints at future conflict, the chance scene

Enigma codes: chance scene, " The prophecy has begun " 

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. 

Young and old ( children have to be more mature as there are no grown-ups in that world)
good and evil ( Mrs Coulter and Lyra ) 


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 stronger than Will ( " Stop you're hurting me" - Will) 

 Lyra seems more in charge than Will, she makes the moves first ( Lyra chases after the two girls first )

 Lyra isn't the person who makes the food it is Will ( Will knows how to make an omelette and later teaches Lyra how to)

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

Will seems smarter than Lyra ( Will cuts off the two girls during the chase scene also Will knows how to make food, specifically an omelette) 

Will seems more mature than Lyra ( he stops Lyra and the girls from fighting and he also pays for the food he ate) 
Lee Scoresby is a classic masculine American man on his way to help Lyra 

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.

Most of the main characters in this series and episode are children and they are shown not to need adults or help from older people. The abandoned children of Cittàgazze also demonstrate they can live without adults - which subverts typical stereotypes. Mrs Coulter also shows how stereotypes are subverted as a parent who does not care for her child.

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 

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 parts of it are like real life, like the food and the payment, maybe even the two girls running around the city like teenagers would do with their friends; however, many parts are foreign to real life, like the demon, the multiple worlds, witches and the many vast sceneries etc.