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:  

  • Montage editing in recap scene - fast-paced to cover lots of narrative and create excitement.

  • Camera angles used to show meaning: high angle shot of Lyra to make her look vulnerable/innocent. Low angle of Mrs Coulter to show her power. 

  • Non-diegetic sound at beginning of recap: music and voiceover to set scene.

  • Close-ups of Mrs Coulter - shows her power and dominance. 

  • Non-diegetic music suggests drama, an important moment at the end of the scene.

  • Epic non-diegetic music reflected the stunning location (hot air balloon).

  • Wide/establishing shots used to emphasise exotic setting.

  • Fast-paced editing for chase scene - music changes too (non-diegetic; intense). Creates pace and excitement.

  • Low-angle shot of Lyra makes her look dominant and powerful.

  • CGI and effects. Witch flying in storm. Technology behind TV in 2020. 

  • Low angle camera shots of Mrs Coulter; high angle looking down at witch. Shows power relationship between characters.


Mise-en-scene: 

  • Settings - different worlds ‘The City in the Sky’, cave/rainforest, ocean. Far off or exotic fantasy locations. Also, recognisable locations - Oxford, Will’s world (police etc.)

  • Props - mix between fantasy world and modern, recognisable objects (mobile phone).

  • Costume - tells audience which world characters are from.

  • Submarine - ‘Steampunk’ genre. Industrial machines, settings, props.

  • Costume and make-up: Mrs Coulter - red dress, red lipstick. Connotation of danger, presents her as sinister, a threat. ‘Femme fatale’ - powerful, dangerous female.

  • Steampunk - hot air balloon, gadgets. Props.

  • Setting - neglected and abandoned city. Links to idea of what might happen if there are no “grown ups” around.

  • Actor placement and movement - Lyra eats with her hands, walks over bed and generally behaves like a man. Creates the reversal of gender stereotypes.

  • Lighting and make-up for Mrs Coulter at the start of the scene.

  • Costume - red


Narrative and genre: 

  • Fantasy genre - witches, different worlds.

  • Adventure - quest/journey ‘The City in the Sky’.

  • Family - range of characters including children

  • Parent/child narrative with Lyra

  • Daemon animals: narrative device to reveal character’s emotions and motivations

  • “The fuse has been lit” - action code.

  • Witch - “knowledge of other worlds” - genre.

  • Enigma codes - what is Mrs Coulter trying to do?

  • “The witches want us to join the fight” - narrative device. 

  • Lyra and Will character development - they team up to work together. Works for wider narrative arc (prophecy) and also gives audience characters to support.

  • Lyra’s daemon is called Pan: “3 worlds, 2 windows”.

  • Chase scene - enigma and action codes. Who are they chasing and what will happen?

  • Binary opposition - good/bad people. Young/old. Creates conflict and narrative.

  • Daemon explanation - gives audience back story on Lyra and Pan (her daemon).

  • Characters team up in this scene - “Shall we explore together”. This creates an audience pleasure, a team for the audience to get behind. U&G theory - personal relationships. 

  • Also creates binary opposition - Will and Lyra are now the good guys against the bad guys.

  • Genre - fantasy (witch/flying etc.)

  • Narrative - prophecy. Wider narrative arc that goes across whole season. Lyra is the character driving the prophecy/narrative.


You can access our notes from our close-textual analysis in 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?

  • Emotive, often quest-based narratives
  • Political narrative themes or social commentary
  • Iconography including magic, mystical creatures or similar
  • Often set in imagined worlds or time periods

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

Lyra:
Will:
Mrs Coulter:

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.)

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. 


Representations

1) How are women represented in His Dark Materials? Are gender stereotypes reinforced or subverted? Think about Lyra and Mrs Coulter here.

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

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.

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

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.


Grade 8/9 extension tasks

Think about how politicians, religion and people with power are represented in the episode. For example, how are the Magisterium shown in this episode? 

Read the critical Daily Bruin summary of the episode. Do you agree with the criticism? Why?

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