Television: Final Index

My Television Final Index:

1) Television: Introduction to TV drama

2) Doctor Who: Language and Representations

3) Doctor Who: Audience and Industries

4) His Dark Materials: Language and Representations

5) His Dark Materials: Audience and Industries

6) Industry contexts: the BBC and public service broadcasting

TV Industry Contexts: blog tasks

1) BBC's mission statement is 'Inform, Educate and Entertain'. This means to enlighten the public about worldly events, share new information with the aim to help them learn new things and offer pure amusement.

2) The BBC is funded by a TV licence, which is paid for by the public as it is a public service broadcaster. As of now, the licence fee is £159 a year and every household is required to pay it in order to watch live broadcast TV or BBC iPlayer.

3) In order to meet its public service broadcasting responsibilities, the BBC must provide a balanced amount of information, support learning for people of all ages, produce creative output, have diverse content by representing all races and ethnicities and to reflect the United Kingdom, its culture and values to the world.

4) Regulation is when a piece of media is moderated to ensure that all rules set in place are followed correctly and that inappropriate content is not broadcasted to audiences. The BBC is regulated by OfCOM (the Office of Communications). OfCOM oversees all media channels and produces a code of conduct that all media channels must follow. In the event that this code of conduct is not followed to expectations, there is a risk that they may have their licence to make content removed and they can also be fined heavily. This includes what can be shown before the 9pm watershed and various other quality standards. Even though OfCOM is instructed by government, it is independent which means that the BBC can remain impartial and does not simply broadcast what the government tells it to.

5) Both Doctor Who and His Dark Materials help the BBC meet their mission statement (Inform, Educate and Entertain) by including aspects such as time travel, parallel universes and space to teach audiences about different features of science and technology. They also reflect real-life problems, such as a patriarchal, controlling government (symbolised through the Magisterium in His Dark Materials), therefore informing audiences on problems taking place in the world today. Lastly, both TV shows have interesting, flawed characters with deep, intricate storylines and have action-packed plotlines within every episode, which ultimately provides entertainment for those watching.

Grade 8/9 Extension Question:

1) To stay relevant in a streaming TV age, the article proposed that BBC needs to step up and change to match the public's liking. In today's day and age, streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Now TV are rapidly gaining subscribers, and are proving to be the biggest competitors against BBC iPlayer. This is due to the variety of TV shows and movies each and every one has to offer, and how they are available for up to months or years at a time. To compete with this, the BBC attempts to make iPlayer more like Netflix, which is described as "way ahead of everything else". The BBC hopes to attract more younger viewers, add more boxsets and archive footage, feature shows that haven't shown up on TV recently and get rid of the 30-day expiration periods.

His Dark Materials: Audience and Industries blog tasks

Audience

1) The target audience for His Dark Materials is people the age of 14 and above. HBO gave it this rating due to the dark and violent imagery. However, some scenes which contain aspects such as violence, gore, profanity, alcohol, drugs, smoking and intensity are classified as "mild", meaning it is not a completely childproof watch. The target psychographic groups may be "the aspirer", "the mainstream" and "the explorer" due to the different traits that these groups have to offer, and how they appear as apparent in most people who are interested in watching His Dark Materials.

2) Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory is displayed throughout the entirety of the episode through the uses of the three main audience pleasures, for example:

Personal Identity: Many teenagers or younger people may perhaps see themselves or their own lives portrayed on screen, through the characters of Lyra and Will. Their general manner of speaking or their attitude could be relatable for the younger viewers, or the actions they do (e.g. Lyra acting somewhat constricted and walking on the bed with her shoes). Also, Lyra and Will's budding friendship can prove relatable to specific viewers who feel as though they have friendships of their own that are seemingly similar, if not the same as their one.

Personal Relationships: Audiences may form strong attachments to the characters, and may feel emotions such as worry or concern for their safety, more so during frightening or tense scenes. Older viewers may likely feel apprehension for Lyra and Will, especially if they have children of their own, due to the fact that Lyra and Will are the youngest of the ensemble cast.

Diversion (escapism): His Dark Materials offers escapism on an immense scale, as it consists of many quick, heart-racing, terrifying scenes which draws in audiences and leaves them feeling completely immersed within the experience, as if they were there themselves. This is successfully done by the use of diegetic and non-diegetic sound, fast-paced camera shots, petrifying settings and intense dialogue.

3) Out of the 3 Vs, visceral pleasure relates the most with His Dark Materials. This is completely due to the amount of expeditious and enthralling scenes, a notable example being the chase scene in 'The City of Magpies' between Lyra and Will and the mysterious children left in the city. This provides visceral pleasure as it captivates the audience and may even cause them to shiver out of pure excitement or anxiety.

4) On the whole, there were mixed reviews regarding Season 2 of His Dark Materials from both fans and critics. It is initially described as "great, robustly made, with great actors everywhere, occupying well-built universes" though this is immediately followed by "but it doesn't inspire as much wonder as it ought to". Critics feel as though the show now lacks many vital elements which make up the entirety of it, with a review stating "for a series about magical worlds, aimed at younger viewers, however, there's not quite enough magic" and another saying how "the daemons never quite replicate the humour and self-doubt they convey in the books". It is evident through these statements that most prefer the book series counterpart over the TV show, which isn't surprising given how this is the typical case with most book series-turned TV dramas or films. Also, it signifies how the TV series doesn't include many crucial aspects that were in the books, and how the second season doesn't have the same novelty and enjoyment as the first one does. Another review mentions that whilst the show may appeal to avid fans of the original Philip Pullman books, it wouldn't offer the same excitement to someone who hasn't initially been introduced to or was into the books beforehand. Overall, the critic reviews were mostly negative, however there was some praise amongst all this.

5) The preferred reading of His Dark Materials is the fantasy genre, and that it is targeted towards families, with children above the age of 12. Producers attempt to give out the assumption that it is a thrilling and intense series, with intimate storylines and dramatic dialogue, along with a hugely action-packed plot. The oppositional reading of His Dark Materials is that is can at times be somewhat controversial and even convey a sense of religious persecution as they paint a seemingly bad picture of Christians and they are portrayed to be villains. Fans may love the show due to the wide range of characters and their fascinating backgrounds, along with the riveting storylines and the diversity within the cast. Others may criticise the show due to the fact that it lacks some magical elements from the books, which takes away the whole fantasy genre.

Industries

1) His Dark Materials was produced for an international audience by both the BBC and HBO. BBC is a British company whereas HBO is an American television network. Additionally, it was created for these platforms by an independent company, Bad Wolf.

2) The first broadcast of the episode 'The City of Magpies' had audiences of 4.4 million across the UK. This was somewhat less than the broadcast of the pilot episode, which had a figure of 7.7 million people watching it in the UK.

3) HBO was a co-commissioner of His Dark Materials, along with the BBC. HBO is widely known for producing some of the most magnificent and successful TV shows of all time, and provided an opportunity to bring in a lot of money from His Dark Materials which was important because it has over 40 million subscribers and brings in around $7 billion in subscription revenue each year.

4) The show features a number of famous stars, with both British and American actors and actresses. These include Brits Ruth Wilson and James McAvoy and American Lin-Manuel Miranda who wrote the world-famous hit musical Hamilton. These actors and actresses were perhaps chosen for the show in order to provide star power as they have big names.

5) Bad Wolf was first founded in 2015 to create ambitious, imaginative and relevant drama for the global TV marketplace. It has produced series for many well-known broadcasters which includes HBO, BBC, AMC and Sky.

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

1) The technical codes in Doctor Who are entirely different to that of His Dark Materials. For example, in Doctor Who, which was first released in 1963, the camerawork is more flimsy and rough as opposed to His Dark Materials as the camerawork in it was done in a more smooth, professional way. This is due to the fact that in modern times, we have access to a huge range of technology and resources to better our media pieces, which is again shown through the clear contrast between the special effects used in both TV shows. His Dark Materials uses CGI (computer-generated imagery) which is much better quality in comparison to Doctor Who, as well as the sound and editing too.

2) In terms of genre, Doctor Who and His Dark Materials are very similar. They both consist of a hybrid genre, as they are both sci-fi and fantasy. This means that their target audiences would not be that different from each other. They follow near identical storylines such as other-worldly dimensions, different universes and obscure creatures. Both TV series follow a narrative arc, and include narrative aspects like Propp's character theory, Todorov's equilibrium theory and both action and enigma codes.

3) Some ways in which representations of people, places and groups are different in Doctor Who compared to His Dark Materials is that there isn't a diverse cast and most, if not all characters are all white. This is implicit of the decade that the show was released in, which is different to modern day as His Dark Materials includes a much more diverse cast full of people within the BAME community. Representations of gender in Doctor Who are also much more stereotypical and women are portrayed as inferior as opposed to men, whereas in His Dark Materials they are conveyed as fierce and independent. A way in which representations in both TV shows are quite similar is through the younger teenage characters, who are typically smart, kind and thoughtful (e.g. Susan Foreman and Will Parry). The settings in both TV series are different in some ways too, as 'An Unearthly Child' starts out in a normal, every-day setting (a public school) but 'A City of Magpies' is set in an abandoned, destroyed city.

His Dark Materials: Language and Representations blog tasks

Language and close-textual analysis

1) Camerawork, editing and sound:

The opening non-diegetic sound is epic, orchestral music which sets the adventure and fantasy genre and also the suspenseful atmosphere. There are a number of establishing shots which show the various settings: mountains, rainforests, oceans, 'the city in the sky'. These type of locations again reinforce the adventure/fantasy genre. The editing throughout the episode shows the use of CGI (computer-generated imagery) with the airships, talking animals (daemons) and the witches. There are uses of high angle shots and fast-paced editing during the chase scene. There's uses of diegetic and non-diegetic sound throughout the entirety of the episode, which vary from intense to more mellow as well as an abundance of low and high angled camera shots in order to make characters seem powerful or inferior, such as Mrs Coulter and the witch.

Mise-en-scene:

There are a number of different settings depicted in the episode, varying from oceans, skies, caves, forests and the remote city in the sky. Mrs Coulter sports a deep red dress, connotes to danger or superiority and emphasises her role as a villain. There are a number of different props e.g hot air balloons, submarines, gadgets - links to steampunk. The lighting for Mrs Coulter and Ruta Skardi emphasises their power.

Narrative and genre:

The series follows a fantasy genre, through the use of talking animals (daemons), as well as a steampunk/futuristic genre due to old, Victorian technology (mix of past and future). It follows different narratives e.g. Todorov's equilibrium (the prophecy) along with a mix of enigma and action codes.

2) His Dark Materials fit the conventions of a typical fantasy genre through the use of many other-worldly settings, along with following a clear narrative arc. The plot also follows an adventure or quest-like narrative, often used in fantasy TV series or films. It uses iconography which includes animals that speak, magic, or other mystical creatures and has an ongoing political theme throughout the entirety of the show.

3) In terms of Propp's character theory, Lyra would be the hero and Will as the sidekick (or Lyra's daemon Pan), which subverts typical gender stereotypes. The role of the "hero" is usually taken up by a male, and many would assume that Lyra would be considered the "princess" due to her being a girl. However, she completely breaks those stereotypes as she lacks the mannerisms and 'cleanliness' women are usually thought to have and instead it was Will who showed these specific characteristics. The donor would perhaps be Ruta Skardi and Mrs Coulter and the Magisterium as the villain, again subverting certain stereotypes (as many would assume the main villain to be a man).

4) Action codes within the episode include Lyra and Will finding other people in the somewhat deserted city, and the entire chase scene that follows. This is done by the use of medium shots and birds-eye shots which makes the scene much more suspenseful. Enigma codes include the use of diegetic and non-diegetic sound, e.g the soundtrack, which creates a tense atmosphere and also leaves a dramatic effect, making the audience drawn to what is going on. Another enigma code may be the prophecy about Lyra, as it leaves the audience with a sense of curiosity as to what will happen next.

5) Some examples of binary opposition within the episode includes: good vs evil (Lyra and Will vs Mrs Coulter and the Magisterium), young vs old (the children in the 'city in the sky' vs the adults who got hunted by spectres). Another use of binary opposition could be the difference in gender, but also how they are portrayed to act entirely the opposite of how gender roles are usually perceived - given the fact that Lyra tends to be more hostile and bold however Will is shown to be more welcoming, friendly and compassionate; whilst simultaneously adopting certain mannerisms most commonly expected of a female character, such as cooking and cleaning. All these different types of Levi-Strauss' binary opposition may create narrative for the audience as they link back to certain narrative theories, like Todorov's equilibrium, Roland Barthes' enigma and action codes or Propp's character theory.

Representations

1) In His Dark Materials, women are portrayed in a way which breaks all specific stereotypes of how they should be conveyed within the media. For example, women are typically shown to be caring and attentive, and yet both Lyra and Mrs Coulter are both quite the opposite. Lyra is more reclusive and aggressive, and completely unlike how women are usually thought to act. She also doesn't know how to cook which is widely thought to be a womanly task, doesn't really care about her appearance, doesn't display any careful manners, is more insensitive to others and their belongings (e.g walking on the bed), and is the one leading the way rather than Will, which subverts initial stereotypes. Additionally, Mrs Coulter also lacks certain 'feminine' traits, given the fact that she's vile and corrupt and doesn't display any motherly attributes (what with her wanting to destroy Lyra, who also happens to be her own daughter). However, a stereotype which is reinforced may be Mrs Coulter's appearance. She wears very excessive make-up including deep red lipstick and a dress of the same colour, reinforcing the stereotype that women care very much about how they look - the colour red is also known to radiate fierceness, confidence or seductiveness.

2) Similar to how women are represented in His Dark Materials, men are shown in a way which also subverts a number of stereotypes. For example, the character of Will, the boy who Lyra befriends, is conveyed as caring and well-mannered. He is kind and welcoming to Lyra who is the complete opposite, and also usually is the one doing the household chores such as cooking food or making the beds, which is normally known to be a 'womanly' task to do. Though men within the media are typically portrayed as fierce, bold and valiant people, Will tends to be the more soft one of the pair, and instead follows Lyra's lead - therefore subverting stereotypes. Although, through the character of Lee Scoresby, some can say that stereotypes of men are reinforced. Lee is shown as a broad, strong-willed man who is independent and falls into the typical "masculine" category, therefore supporting the usual stereotype of how men are represented in the media.

3) Age is represented in His Dark Materials in a way which subverts normal stereotypes of teenagers. As the episode is set in a city which has been completely stripped of adults, leaving only children behind, it's evident here more so. The younger characters are shown to be daring, brave and solely independent - whilst they're simultaneously able to get by without the aid of adults, which as a result subverts typical stereotypes of teenagers as usually they would be seen having somebody to depend on. Although, some stereotypes could be reinforced given the constricted and cold attitude and mannerisms the younger characters give off, similar to how some teenagers act in today's day and age. The way in which adults are conveyed may challenge certain stereotypes of grown-ups, as they would typically be more attentive and affectionate towards children, however Mrs Coulter is the complete opposite - she is shown to be a vile and evil woman who holds a deep thirst to find and potentially hurt Lyra.

4) The way that race and ethnicity is represented in His Dark Materials is seemingly accurate of the decade in which the show was released. Nowadays, in more recent pieces of media, the BAME community is getting much more representation as opposed to much older TV shows and films. This is done through the characters Will Parry and Ruta Skardi, who subvert certain stereotypes of race and ethnicity. Also, the abandoned children that Lyra and Will come across in the deserted city are portrayed as poor and working-class in a very stereotypical manner.

5) Throughout the episode, the world or multiple worlds are shown to be fantasy and unlike anything we could imagine within our own world. Despite this, the worlds also resemble aspects of our world too, as some settings look entirely normal (e.g. the oceans, skies and forests) though some are wholly different including the fact that Will seems to come from ‘our’ world, as he didn't understand the concept of supernatural things such as daemons or Dust. However, Lyra's world seems to be completely mystical and magical, holding both futuristic but old-fashioned aspects to it, such as the Magisterium and their patriarchal views.