The CSP episode is Season 2, Episode 1 but don't worry if you haven't seen the first series - there are plenty of clips online to learn the background to the storyline.
Remember, TV is an in-depth study which means we need to analyse the products in terms of media language, industries, audience and representation. Television will be examined in Paper 2 with a short clip to analyse - either from Doctor Who - An Unearthly Child or His Dark Materials.
Notes from the lessons: His Dark Materials
Season 2, Episode 1: The City of Magpies
Notes from the lessons: His Dark Materials
Language
Key terminology for studying His Dark Materials:
Reminder - TV drama conventions:
- Co-production: a media product produced by two separate companies or institutions. His Dark Materials is a big-budget co-production between the BBC (from the UK) and HBO (from America).
- Brand Identity: how a business presents itself and wants to be perceived by the consumer.
- Hybridity: Two genres or media types combined e.g. Stranger Things is a science fiction / horror television drama.
- Multi-strand: when a narrative is made up of lots of different storylines.
Reminder - TV drama conventions:
- Dramatic narrative, usually linear (with continuity across episodes.) This is called narrative arc.
- Ensemble cast (a range of characters with own storylines). Sometimes an episode will focus more on one character than another.
- Specific technical codes e.g. realistic lighting and editing for dramas set in the present day to keep it gritty.
- Use of stereotypical characters to get messages across quickly.
- Common use of flashback, point of view shots, dialogue and voice over, enigma and action codes throughout.
Fantasy TV genre codes and conventions
- Emotive, often quest-based narratives
- Occasional political narrative themes or social commentary
- Iconography including magic, mystical creatures or similar
- Often set in imagined worlds or time periods
In addition, the following often apply to fantasy TV series:
- Younger target audience or family audience
- Dedicated fanbase; fandom groups and online communities
- Big budgets and high production values
His Dark Materials: background information
His Dark Materials is a fantasy drama television series based on the novel series of the same name by Philip Pullman. It is produced by Bad Wolf and New Line Productions for BBC One and HBO, with HBO handling international distribution.
Plot summary
His Dark Materials is set in a multi-world reality, with the action moving from one world to another. The series is based on Philip Pullman's trilogy of the same name. It begins in an alternative world where all humans' souls manifest as animal companions called daemons. The series follows the life of a young girl named Lyra who is an orphan living with the scholars at Jordan College, Oxford, in a world governed by the Magisterium, a religious and political body. Lyra discovers a dangerous secret that involves Lord Asriel and Marisa Coulter, and is the subject of a witches prophecy that she will change the world. In her search for a missing friend, Lyra also uncovers a series of kidnappings and its link to a mysterious substance called Dust, which leads her on a journey of epic proportions and ultimately to other worlds. The witches' prophecy also links Lyra's destiny to Will, a teenager from our world, who is himself being pursued by mysterious figures connected to his vanished father.
Source: His Dark Materials Wiki
Main character names
- Lyra Belacqua
- Mrs. Coulter
- Lord Asriel Belacqua
- Lee Scoresby
- Will Parry
Season 2, Episode 1: The City of Magpies
Episode analysis
The show is a fantasy television series based on fantasy novels. It was produced by BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation - same company who made Doctor Who) and HBO (American company). It is set in a multi-world reality with action moving between worlds. Lyra, the main character, has grown up an orphan who discovers that there is a prophecy that foretells that she will change the world. Will is a fugitive (runaway) from ‘our world’ where he killed someone in self-defence. They meet in a third world called Cittagazze which is run down and neglected. They learn from some kids there that all the adults (and kids when they come of age) are hunted and drained of their energy and basically changed into zombies by evil black clouds called ‘Spectres’. Meanwhile, an evil villain called Mrs Coulter is on board a ship with the Magisterium (male Priests in authority roles - like politicians.) She tortures a witch for information regarding Lyra and mysterious ‘dust’ but the witch is put out of her misery by her fellow witch Ruta Skardi who sets her free by killing her to stop the pain. Skardi also seriously injures the head of the Magisterium and Mrs Coulter offers a deal to his deputy: in exchange for more power and freedom, she will kill the head priest and say he died of his injuries from the witch.
Key names, words and spellings:
- Magisterium: the authority group of male priests (religious men) from Lyra’s world. It is a patriarchal society (ruled by men).
- Daemon: the name given to the shape-shifting animal that is part of your soul (in Lyra’s world). Everyone has one in her world.
- Lyra Silvertongue: protagonist (main character, hero) who is on the run from her world due to being hunted. She is the subject of a prophecy (fortune) that says she will change the world.
- Dust: magic particles that open portals to other worlds. Some people believe they represent sin.
- Will Parry: a human child from ‘our world’ who has never seen a daemon before.
- Mrs Coulter: an evil villain who wants to find Lyra and control the world. She tortures a witch nearly to death and then she prepares to kill the head of the Magisterium so she can gain more control.
- Ruta Skardi: the witch who, when her fellow witches did not take action, saved the prisoner witch by killing her and attacked the members of the magisterium on her own, escaping afterwards.
- Cittàgazze: the name of the city in the third world where Will and Lyra meet.
- Alethiometer: the gadget that looks like a clock which Lyra consults and it gives her ‘truth’ answers to her questions.
Narrative: multi-strand narrative
There are a number of narrative strands running through this episode. They include:
- Lyra and Will explore a new world and the city of Cittàgazze.
- Mrs Coulter tries to find answers for the Magisterium then offers power to Father MacPhail by letting the head of the Magisterium die.
- Lyra and Will meet abandoned children in the city of Cittàgazze and find that the adults have all left due to the Spectres stealing their souls.
- Lee Scoresby goes on a mission for an object that can protect Lyra. The council of witches supports his plan.
Representations
His Dark Materials - Subverting stereotypes
Men and women
Many characters in this episode of His Dark Materials subvert stereotypes. Lyra is a strong, independent female character who doesn't need or want help from anyone on her dangerous quest across different worlds. She can't cook, isn't bothered by her appearance and takes what she wants. Mrs Coulter also subverts female stereotypes as a cold hearted villain. She is actually Lyra's mother but displays none of the maternal stereotypes the media usually presents as typically female.
Meanwhile, Will subverts male or masculine stereotypes. He is kind, welcoming and wants to help Lyra. He cooks her food and makes up beds for them to sleep in. Not all characters subvert stereotypes though - Lee Scoresby is in many ways a classic masculine man on a mission to help Lyra.
Race, ethnicity and social class
Race, ethnicity and social class
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 Cittàgazze are presented as working class in a very stereotypical way.
Age
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.
His Dark Materials: Language and Representation blog tasks
Create a new blogpost called 'His Dark Materials: Language and Representation blog tasks' and then answer the questions on this google document.
Create a new blogpost called 'His Dark Materials: Language and Representation blog tasks' and then answer the questions on this google document.
Due date on Google Classroom
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