His Dark Materials: LIAR

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

Daemons, witches, magic and parallel worlds.

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

Lyra = Hero

Will = Helper/Hero

Mrs Coulter = Villain

Lee Scoresby = Helper

3) 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: What is Dust? Why is Lyra important?

Action: Chases, fights and adventures.

Close-ups show emotions and music creates tension.

4) 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. 

Good vs Evil

Children vs Adult

Freedom vs Control

These create conflict and drama.

Representations

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

Lyra is brave and independent.

Mrs Coulter is powerful but manipulative.

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

Will is caring and responsible.

Lee Scoresby is brave and loyal.

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.

Young people are shown as intelligent and capable.

Adults are often controlling.

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

Diverse cast with few stereotypes.

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.

A fantasy world with magic and parallel universes.

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.

Teenagers and young adults who enjoy fantasy.

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: Relate to Lyra and Will.

Personal Relationships: Enjoy friendships and family links.

Diversion (Escapism): Escape into a fantasy 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. 

Visceral: Exciting action.

Vicarious: Experience adventures through characters.

Voyeuristic: Watch characters’ lives and secrets. 

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 Materialsand watch the fan reaction video above.

Mostly positive; praised acting and visuals.

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? 

Preferred: Exciting fantasy adventure.

Oppositional: Some found it confusing.

Industries

1) Which companies produced this His Dark Materials series?

Bad Wolf

BBC

HBO

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

Around 5 million viewers, lower than Season 1.

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

Funded and distributed the show internationally.

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.

Dafne Keen

Ruth Wilson

Lin-Manuel Miranda

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

TV production company that made His Dark Materials.

Magazines and Music Video assessment learner response

1) Type up your WWW/EBI feedback in full (you don't need to write the mark and grade if you want to keep this confidential). 
make sure you attempt every question even if youre not sure

2) Read the mark scheme for this assessment carefully. Write down the mark you achieved for each question: 

Q1: 1/2
Q2: 3/12
Q3: 1/6

Q4:1/3

Q5: 0/6

3) Look specifically at question 2. Use the indicative content in the mark scheme for question 2 to write three connotations of the design and layout of Tatler

1)the fact cover star Emma Weymouth is mixed race suggests that Tatler is moving with the times and responding to cultural changes in Britain around gender
2)The fact the cover star obscures the title of the magazine reflects how well established the Tatler brand is – Britain’s oldest magazine is recognisable to its audience even with some of the masthead behind the cover model

3)the fact cover star Emma Weymouth is mixed race suggests that Tatler is moving with the times and responding to cultural changes in Britain around gender
4) Now look at question 3 - Heat magazine. Use the indicative content in the mark scheme to write three ways celebrities are represented in Heat magazine.

1)Celebrities are presented as important and desirable – this is the latest gossip that readers have to know about. 

2)Some of the paparazzi photography is designed to make them look like ‘normal’ people so readers can identify with them or feel closer to them.

3)Female celebrities feature more prominently than male – perhaps reinforces gender stereotypes regarding women expecting to take part in gossip about relationships.

5) Look at question 5 - Arctic Monkeys and audience identity. This is a real AQA past question with lots of potential answers given in the mark scheme. Choose three answers that specifically refer to the Arctic Monkeys CSP and write them here. 

1)music videos might represent artists as role models that fans can aspire to be like thus allowing the audience to gain a sense of identity. The band are represented as ‘everyday lads’ with typical clothes, costumes, acne. They make eye contact with each other and look to be having a laugh. The audience might feel they are achievable role models

2)the audience might watch music videos to reinforce values and behaviour. The lead singer seems to not care about the filming of the music video, rarely making eye contact with the camera and stating at the beginning ‘don’t believe the hype’. The audience gain a sense of identity as they can relate to the lead singer’s both nonchalant and rock and roll representation

3)music videos might employ ‘behind the scenes’ footage enabling the fans access to the band and breaking down the barriers between star and fan. Whilst this video is not the traditional imagery of the band in dressing rooms or waiting to go on stage, the mise-en-scène of the garage and basic rehearsal space gives fans a sense of exclusivity and seeing the band in the raw. It might also be a scenario that they too can identify with as amateur musicians or followers of new bands who perform in grungy cubs and venues.
6) BLACKPINK - How You Like That didn't come up in this assessment. If this CSP comes up in your end of Year 1 exam, what three things about BLACKPINK and How You Like That could you try to include in your answer? 

formed in 2016 by Korean entertainment company YG Entertainment and by 2020 was one of the most successful K-Pop bands in the world. And how they got the highest viewed YouTube video in 24 hours. And fan base is knows as blinks and most of them are young age 10-12