Lavlin's Blog

  Audience: 1) What audience do you think His Dark Materials is aimed at and why? Think about demographic and psychographic groups.  You can  revise Pyschographics here . HDM's audience was aimed at families because they would run their shows at 8:30pm on Sunday because that's when most families would watch TV and they didn't do Saturdays because most families;/people were usually out going somewhere on Saturdays. 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:   Personal Relationships:  Diversion (Escapism):  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.  4) How did fans r...

  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 camerawork uses wide shots to show the vast, magical world and close-ups to focus on Lyra’s emotions and her bond with her daemon, Pantalaimon. Tracking shots follow Lyra’s movements, highlighting her curiosity and independence. These techniques help immerse the audience in the world while focusing on Lyra’s personal journey. Mise-en-scene:  The editing keeps things smooth and flowing, with cross-cutting between different storylines (like Lyra’s sneaking and the Magisterium’s plans) to build suspense. The pacing moves between slower, character-b...