His Dark Materials: Audience and Industries blog tasks

 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.

Aimed at a contemporary family audience for the BBC Sunday night broadcast slot (8.10pm) and is targeted at fans of the fantasy genre along with fans of the original books by Philip Pullman. It is rated for 14+ by HBO due to some scenes that may be frightening to younger children. The UK DVD release of His Dark Materials season 2 is rated 12 by the BBFC

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: Oxford/ our world , teenagers


Personal Relationships: Will + Lyra , famous actors: Ruth Wilson and Lin-manuel Miranda 


Diversion (Escapism): Dramatic and exciting. When the witch is on her way to the magestrium 



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. 

Voyeuristic pleasure: Magisterium cardinals

Vicarious pleasure: different worlds + realties

Visceral pleasure: chase scene and  witch torture scene 

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.

they were very shocked, happy and overjoyed. the critic reviews were immaculate as well. most people reacted to the season 2 trailer on YouTube and they seemed very gassed about it

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? 

Aimed at a contemporary family audience for the BBC Sunday night broadcast slot (8.10pm)

Industries


1) Which companies produced this His Dark Materials series?

Bad wolfs and new lines productions

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

it seemed like most of the audience were happy with what they had experienced, most left good reviews but harsh critics left out reviews that could impact they rest of his dark materials. compared to season 1,that got the most views and engagement rather than season 2

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.

Their role was to make international distribution(huge amount of money as it has 40 million subscribers and makes 6.75 billion) and this was important because that was how BBC got the fans to watch the show, it is a way to promote the show.

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.

Some key actors include Ruth Wilson, known for her work in "The Good Place", James McAvoy, who starred in the "X-Men" franchise, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, famous for "Hamilton." These actors were likely chosen for their acting ability, their ability to portray complex characters, and their existing fanbases.

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

Bad Wolf was founded in 2015 to create ambitious, imaginative and relevant drama for the global TV marketplace.  From its headquarters in South Wales the company has built up an international reputation as one of the foremost independent production companies in the UK and is responsible for the television series he Night Of, Beddgelert, A Discovery of Witches, His Dark Materials and the current era of Doctor Who.  

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)?

Editing in 1963 was done manually with physical film reels. This process was time-consuming and required precise cutting and splicing of film strips. As a result, transitions between scenes were often simple cuts or fades. But now camerawork and editing has improved significantly to show the status of each character. It also has loud sound to increase the tension and that something is about to happen that will impact the show a lot.

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

Similarities:

Both Doctor Who and His Dark Materials fall under the genre of science fiction/fantasy. They both incorporate elements of time travel, alternate universes, and supernatural beings. Both series explore complex moral and ethical dilemmas within their fantastical settings.

Differences:

His Dark Materials, on the other hand, is a fantasy series that delves into parallel universes, daemons, and a struggle between oppressive authority figures and those seeking freedom. It also explores themes of destiny, power, and the nature of consciousness.


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

Similarities:

Complex Characters: Both Doctor Who and His Dark Materials feature complex characters with depth and development throughout the series. The protagonists in both shows undergo significant growth and face moral dilemmas that shape their identities.

Differences:

Tone: Doctor Who is known for its adventurous tone, often blending science fiction with humour and wit. In contrast, His Dark Materials has a darker and more serious tone, dealing with complex philosophical ideas and societal issues.

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