Television: His Dark Materials - Audience and Industry

 

Language and close-textual analysis

 

1) Write an analysis of the episode - using 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: Theme to “His dark materials”, fast camerawork (to refresh memories) 

Close ups of characters to show the power of them. Epic music and exotic locations.

 

Mise-en-scene: exotic locations, fantasy world, industrial machines, city in the sky.

Narrative and genre: Fantasy, adventure, because there were a lot of mystery things (demons, witches…), journey.

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?

 

In His dark material was a lot of fantastic things: witches, demons (animals which can speak and morf), city in the sky.

 

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

 

Lyra, Will and Pan.

 

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 code: “The fuse has been lit”. Enigma code:” 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. 

 

Binary opposition: good vs evil, young vs old people.

 

Audience

1) Read this audience rating guide for His Dark Materials. Based on the screening and this article, who do you think the target audience is for His Dark Materials and why? What about psychographic groups? You can revise Pyschographics here.

The Family audience is the target audience for “His Dark Materials”.

2) What audience pleasures are offered by His Dark Materials - The City of Magpies? Apply Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory to the episode. Make sure you provide specific examples from the episode to support your ideas.

Personal Identity: The women and black people can see themself reflected in the show.

Personal Relationships: Fans of His Dark Materials were caring about relationship between Lyra and Will.

Diversion (Escapism): When we see a different world and strange things (witches, demons…). We can escape our world.

 

3) Thinking of the 3 Vs audience pleasures (Visceral, Vicarious and Voyeuristic pleasures), which of these can be applied to His Dark Materials? Refer to specific scenes or moments in the episode to explain your answer. 

I think we can see all of them. When Lyra found out that Will is murderer - VISCERAL PLEASURE. When we saw witches flying - VICARIOUS PLEASURE. When we saw the city in the sky - VOYEURISTIC PLEASURE.  

4) How did fans react to Season 2 of His Dark Materials? What about critic reviews? You can find some possible answers for this in this BBC website article on the critical reception for His Dark Materials and watch the fan reaction video above.

The second series of His Dark Materials has been welcomed by critics, but many have said it is weaker than the first.

5) What might be some of the preferred and oppositional readings for His Dark Materials? Why did some fans love it? Why have other people criticised it? 

 

Industries

1) Which companies produced this His Dark Materials series?

Bad Wolf.

2) What were the UK viewing figures for A City of Magpies? How did this compare to season 1 of His Dark Materials?

The first episode of the first series of His Dark Materials series was watched by audiences of 7.2 million in the UK and 423,000 on HBO. The first broadcasts of the CSP episode had audiences of 4.4 million on BBC1 and 227,000 on HBO.

3) What was the American network HBO's role in making His Dark Materials and why is this important? Look at the notes above for more on this.

His Dark Materials had two hugely respected media giants behind it - and in HBO's case a huge amount of money. HBO has over 40 million subscribers and brings in around $7 BILLION in subscription revenue each year.

4) What famous stars are in His Dark Materials and why do you think they were selected for the show? Watch the Comic Con panel video in the notes above to see the stars talking about the show.

 

5) Who are Bad Wolf and what do they produce?

Bad Wolf is a British television production company founded by Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter in 2015, with its headquarters in Cardiff, Wales.

Comparison: Doctor Who - An Unearthly Child and His Dark Materials - The City of Magpies

1) How are the technical conventions different between 1963 Doctor Who and 2020 His Dark Materials (e.g. camerawork, editing, sound and mise-en-scene)?

 

2) What similarities and differences are there between Doctor Who and His Dark Materials in terms of genre and narrative?

 

3) How are representations of people, places and groups similar or different in the two shows?