his dark materials :language and representations

  Language and close-textual analysis

1) Write an analysis of the episode. 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: Close-ups of Mrs Coulter - shows her power and dominanceLow-angle shot of Lyra makes her look dominant and powerful. 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.)

Narrative and genre: Fantasy genre - witches, different worlds.

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

fantasy is 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? 
Will is a fugitive (runaway) from ‘our world’ where he killed someone in self-defence

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.)

Enigma codes - what is Mrs Coulter trying to do?

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.

-creates binary opposition - Will and Lyra are now the good guys against the bad guys
-Binary opposition - good/bad people. Young/old. Creates conflict and narrative.