Introduction
Everyday, we are subjected to numerous images from the media. These images suggest what we should be like. Whether it is saying that we should act like a certain type of man or woman, or how we should treat others, the suggestions of media invade our thoughts. Much of the time, these portrayals are stereotypical of gender. From these images, it makes it hard to break out of the stereotypes in our own lives. Then, if we cannot live up to the ideal, our world could come crashing down.
Gender portrayals within the media affect all of our lives. It is up to each individual to take control of their own life. By gaining knowledge on the ways gender is represented within the media, it could be possible to avoid the negative effects of media such as eating disorders and dangerous violence.
Women in the Media
While there are many strong, well represented and diverse women within the media, that side is not shown often enough. Too often, women are shown as second class citizens, sexual figures, as well as unrealistic.
It seems as though society has passed the phase when women were inferior to men. However, media images do not portray that.
• In ads that are targeting males, it is often the case that women are only supplementing the male images, either by being sexual imagery or as a background (Rouner 2003).
• Even in video games women are significantly less represented. Male characters are much more often the playable characters and those who are female are very stereotypical and dressed more inappropriately (Miller 2007).
• In relation to violence within the media, it was found that women were either oblivious to it, encouraging it or starting it (Gallagher 2001).
In all of these cases, women are being represented as not as important as men, only perpetuating the old stereotype.
Another complication with women in the media is constantly being the figures of sexuality. Below are a couple ways in which women are simply thought of in terms of sexuality.
• Especially in men’s programming, women are often defined sexually, what seems to matter most is their sexual conduct (Gallagher 2001).
• Within many advertisements sexuality is a prevalent and important feature of selling the product. From this, it is easy to see how sexuality has become such a norm within our society (Rouner 2003).
• The view of women as sex objects in music videos is a cultural phenomenon. Only in North America, Great Britain, and minor number of other countries do we this to such an extreme (Gallagher 2001).
This constant concurrent image of women and sex places a tie between the two in our minds, which is hard to forget.
Finally, the media tells us that we need to be just as the images suggest, if we are any less, we are abnormal and therefore not desirable. It is suggested to women that everything in their lives should revolve around attracting men. Having a smaller waistline, larger breasts, and a sense of sexuality for women will get and keep the man (Medial Portrayals of Women). From the women in media to the types of products targeting this very feeling of inadequacy, some women feel that they are constantly being told they are not good enough. If no real women are presented within the media, it is hard for young girls to fully understand and accept the realities of life.
Media Influences on Girls and Women
With the stereotypes represented in the media, there are many negative effects on young girls and women.
Body Image
The images presented to society from the media influence how women feel about their bodies. Below are the problems that many women in America struggle with today.
With so many women constantly struggling with their weight and body image, it would be expected that successful changes would help with the internal problem. This however does not seem to be the case. According to Bate and Taylor (1988), the data does not show this conversion from powerless to powerful. In actuality, 95% of diets fail only heightening the problem (Bate & Taylor).
Books and other weight loss assistants are successful because rather than appealing to a certain market, they actually have a widespread target market (Bate & Taylor 1988). This shows that the problem is not actually only present in a small number of women, rather it is many, each of which feel that they are actually apart of an abnormal category contrary to the reality.
More Facts about Body Image
• Dieting has the possibility of being an excuse for some unhappiness one is experiencing, and the future possibilities for improvement give some hope (Bate & Taylor 1988).
• Rather than severely overweight people, those who are shown to diet repeatedly are actually only slightly to moderately overweight (Bate & Taylor). This could be because these women are closer to the ideal image, but the media skews this image from a healthy weight, making them further away from their goal.
• The role models of young women come mostly from those presented throughout the media (Bate & Taylor 1988). By not showing everyday women, there is no room to find a role model who is of a better body image fit for individuals, which could lead to problems such as eating disorders which are very hard to cure once they begin, and could much more easily be prevented.
Misrepresentation of Women in Media
• Within video games, there is an outnumbering of males to females (Miller 2007). This may signify that women are less important.
• In a study done by Rouner (2003) about ad stereotypes, women were more likely to notice the stereotypes, which could mean that men have a lower involvement in advertising. This could be a reason why women seem more affected by the images presented in the media.
The extent of the effects media has is unknown because it can impact every part of our lives. The biggest implication is that if we continue to believe these messages, a large majority of society will feel inadequate and therefore have problems that expand into their work, social, and family lives (Wood 2007).
Men in the Media
According to Media Awareness there are only six ways in which men are represented within the media:
"The Joker is a very popular character with boys, perhaps because laughter is part of their own "mask of masculinity." A potential negative consequence of this stereotype is the assumption that boys and men should not be serious or emotional. However, researchers have also argued that humorous roles can be used to expand definitions of masculinity.
The Jock is always willing to "compromise his own long-term health; he must fight other men when necessary; he must avoid being soft; and he must be aggressive." By demonstrating his power and strength, the jock wins the approval of other men and the adoration of women.
The Strong Silent Type focuses on "being in charge, acting decisively, containing emotion, and succeeding with women." This stereotype reinforces the assumption that men and boys should always be in control, and that talking about one’s feelings is a sign of weakness.
The Big Shot is defined by his professional status. He is the "epitome of success, embodying the characteristics and acquiring the possessions that society deems valuable." This stereotype suggests that a real man must be economically powerful and socially successful.
The Action Hero is "strong, but not necessarily silent. He is often angry. Above all, he is aggressive in the extreme and, increasingly over the past several decades, he engages in violent behavior."
The Buffoon commonly appears as a bungling father figure in TV ads and sitcoms. Usually well-intentioned and light-hearted, these characters range from slightly inept to completely hopeless when it comes to parenting their children or dealing with domestic (or workplace) issues. "
The above quotation expresses how men are often shown within the media. Men seem to be constrained to these certain roles, both within media and outside in the real world.
Other Representations of Men in Media
Men within the media are held to very different standards than women. They are often rewarded for the stereotypical male roles such as aggression, power, financial stability, and physical and mental strength (Media Portrayals of Men and Masculinity).
Some examples of these thems within the media:
• With the amount of violence within the media, it would be expected that it is punished. Contrary to this belief however, violence is often rewarded as a way to solve issues and conflict (Gallagher 2001).
• There are suggestions of violence all throughout the media, even including advertising (Gallagher 2001).
• Being aggressive, strong, and in power is the only way for guys to be real men (Medial Portrayals of Men).
Media Influences on Boys and Men
The influences of media on even men's lives is substantial. Those men who are significantly exposed to media’s ideal male actors and characters have a higher chance of attempting to gain weight to take steroids (Morrison et al. 2004 as cited in Miller 2007). Also in addition to the effects on the body, media can influence aggressive behavior. It seems as though the media has created some sort of obsession with violence in men. In the past this has been linked to the aggressive behavior which is rewarded in various media outlets (Gallagher 2001). Just as with the role models for women and their body images, this type of behavior and men are the type of performances that boys idolize.
Video Games Influence
It has been shown that youth who spend a significant amount of time playing video games will sometimes consider the fictional characters as role models (Miller 2007). When these characters represent negative stereotypes, the children will transform those behaviors into their lives. If the player of a video game does not possess the same abilities and appearance as the character they idolize, their own self-esteem could suffer (Miller 2007). While it may be hard for someone of an older age to understand how this is so, with the extent that some spend improving their skills on games, it is not hard to see how some may begin believing that they could be like the characters.
Within games, players have the ability to control the actions of their characters. It is often a choice in more modern games to treat women poorly, including having sex with them and immediately disregarding them. From this, it is likely that men will adapt negative perceptions and feelings about women (Miller 2007). The way gender is portrayed within games can lead to a lower self-esteem in both genders (Miller 2007). This could be because of a feeling of inadequacy.
All of these effects of media can lead to the perpetuation of negative stereotypes of men. In addition to the stereotypes, it could be detrimental to how men behave not only with each other but also with women, creating a downward spiraling effect of problems.
Gender and News Coverage
Even news coverage is biased. The programmers select what stories the views see, which gives us their view of gender (Wood 2007). Often, if a viewpoint differs from that which is normally portrayed within media, it will be edited out in order keep with the current status. It is up to the viewer to remember this while watching news, because while it may seem unbiased, there are always more sides of the story and more ways to look at a situation.
Relationships and Media
Often, the media will represent relationships between men and women as perfect scenarios. If someone buys into this ideal, they may become les satisfied with their own relationship, because they have repeatedly accepted the idea of relationships without flaws (Wood 2007).
Another problem regarding relationships within the media is the image of sexual relationships (Wood 2007). Music videos as well as TV programs and movies, depict these types of relationships as normal or expected and without consequences. They create an unrealistic viewpoint that could once again lead to a feeling of insufficient in one’s relationship (Wood 2007) as well as feelings of inadequacy and abnormal when various situations have differing outcomes including the consequences of sexual relationships.
Changes that Need to be Made
There may already be a switch going on within our culture. Both genders comments about the ads in a study done by Rouner (2003) criticized them or pointed out the unreality of it. This could show young women that they do not need to force themselves into believing that they should look like the ideal image.
While there may be some advancement, there is still a substantial problem. The first step to ridding our society of the problem of succumbing to stereotypes is education. With advanced education about these stereotypes and the different means by which they are represented we can create a better technique to resisting and rejecting the stereotypes (Rouner 2003). Another change is needed in the public to change the images the media portrays. This is because commercial criteria overpowers the social welfare of society. Once audiences stop asking for these images (such as women as sex objects or housewives with no brains) the medial will stop representing it (Gallagher 2001).
One of the best ways to start solving within individuals would be to start learning to live with rather than against the body (Bate & Taylor 1988). This does not mean that one needs to love their body right away. It is about dealing with the internal problem rather than the external. Once the body is accepted, it will gradually become liked and hopefully loved.
By being sent this type of media, both sexes are “learning” that they are not good enough for the society they live in, and therefore they will always be striving for better in their physical appearance or supremacy. The images we view within the media needs to change. Demanding these changes is the only way to make the images stop. To do this, it is needed that as individuals, we reject being told by the media industry to fit this mold.
Everyday, we are subjected to numerous images from the media. These images suggest what we should be like. Whether it is saying that we should act like a certain type of man or woman, or how we should treat others, the suggestions of media invade our thoughts. Much of the time, these portrayals are stereotypical of gender. From these images, it makes it hard to break out of the stereotypes in our own lives. Then, if we cannot live up to the ideal, our world could come crashing down.
Gender portrayals within the media affect all of our lives. It is up to each individual to take control of their own life. By gaining knowledge on the ways gender is represented within the media, it could be possible to avoid the negative effects of media such as eating disorders and dangerous violence.
Women in the Media
While there are many strong, well represented and diverse women within the media, that side is not shown often enough. Too often, women are shown as second class citizens, sexual figures, as well as unrealistic.
It seems as though society has passed the phase when women were inferior to men. However, media images do not portray that.
• In ads that are targeting males, it is often the case that women are only supplementing the male images, either by being sexual imagery or as a background (Rouner 2003).
• Even in video games women are significantly less represented. Male characters are much more often the playable characters and those who are female are very stereotypical and dressed more inappropriately (Miller 2007).
• In relation to violence within the media, it was found that women were either oblivious to it, encouraging it or starting it (Gallagher 2001).
In all of these cases, women are being represented as not as important as men, only perpetuating the old stereotype.
Another complication with women in the media is constantly being the figures of sexuality. Below are a couple ways in which women are simply thought of in terms of sexuality.
• Especially in men’s programming, women are often defined sexually, what seems to matter most is their sexual conduct (Gallagher 2001).
• Within many advertisements sexuality is a prevalent and important feature of selling the product. From this, it is easy to see how sexuality has become such a norm within our society (Rouner 2003).
• The view of women as sex objects in music videos is a cultural phenomenon. Only in North America, Great Britain, and minor number of other countries do we this to such an extreme (Gallagher 2001).
This constant concurrent image of women and sex places a tie between the two in our minds, which is hard to forget.
Finally, the media tells us that we need to be just as the images suggest, if we are any less, we are abnormal and therefore not desirable. It is suggested to women that everything in their lives should revolve around attracting men. Having a smaller waistline, larger breasts, and a sense of sexuality for women will get and keep the man (Medial Portrayals of Women). From the women in media to the types of products targeting this very feeling of inadequacy, some women feel that they are constantly being told they are not good enough. If no real women are presented within the media, it is hard for young girls to fully understand and accept the realities of life.
Media Influences on Girls and Women
With the stereotypes represented in the media, there are many negative effects on young girls and women.
Body Image
The images presented to society from the media influence how women feel about their bodies. Below are the problems that many women in America struggle with today.
With so many women constantly struggling with their weight and body image, it would be expected that successful changes would help with the internal problem. This however does not seem to be the case. According to Bate and Taylor (1988), the data does not show this conversion from powerless to powerful. In actuality, 95% of diets fail only heightening the problem (Bate & Taylor).
Books and other weight loss assistants are successful because rather than appealing to a certain market, they actually have a widespread target market (Bate & Taylor 1988). This shows that the problem is not actually only present in a small number of women, rather it is many, each of which feel that they are actually apart of an abnormal category contrary to the reality.
More Facts about Body Image
• Dieting has the possibility of being an excuse for some unhappiness one is experiencing, and the future possibilities for improvement give some hope (Bate & Taylor 1988).
• Rather than severely overweight people, those who are shown to diet repeatedly are actually only slightly to moderately overweight (Bate & Taylor). This could be because these women are closer to the ideal image, but the media skews this image from a healthy weight, making them further away from their goal.
• The role models of young women come mostly from those presented throughout the media (Bate & Taylor 1988). By not showing everyday women, there is no room to find a role model who is of a better body image fit for individuals, which could lead to problems such as eating disorders which are very hard to cure once they begin, and could much more easily be prevented.
Misrepresentation of Women in Media
• Within video games, there is an outnumbering of males to females (Miller 2007). This may signify that women are less important.
• In a study done by Rouner (2003) about ad stereotypes, women were more likely to notice the stereotypes, which could mean that men have a lower involvement in advertising. This could be a reason why women seem more affected by the images presented in the media.
The extent of the effects media has is unknown because it can impact every part of our lives. The biggest implication is that if we continue to believe these messages, a large majority of society will feel inadequate and therefore have problems that expand into their work, social, and family lives (Wood 2007).
Men in the Media
According to Media Awareness there are only six ways in which men are represented within the media:
"The Joker is a very popular character with boys, perhaps because laughter is part of their own "mask of masculinity." A potential negative consequence of this stereotype is the assumption that boys and men should not be serious or emotional. However, researchers have also argued that humorous roles can be used to expand definitions of masculinity.
The Jock is always willing to "compromise his own long-term health; he must fight other men when necessary; he must avoid being soft; and he must be aggressive." By demonstrating his power and strength, the jock wins the approval of other men and the adoration of women.
The Strong Silent Type focuses on "being in charge, acting decisively, containing emotion, and succeeding with women." This stereotype reinforces the assumption that men and boys should always be in control, and that talking about one’s feelings is a sign of weakness.
The Big Shot is defined by his professional status. He is the "epitome of success, embodying the characteristics and acquiring the possessions that society deems valuable." This stereotype suggests that a real man must be economically powerful and socially successful.
The Action Hero is "strong, but not necessarily silent. He is often angry. Above all, he is aggressive in the extreme and, increasingly over the past several decades, he engages in violent behavior."
The Buffoon commonly appears as a bungling father figure in TV ads and sitcoms. Usually well-intentioned and light-hearted, these characters range from slightly inept to completely hopeless when it comes to parenting their children or dealing with domestic (or workplace) issues. "
The above quotation expresses how men are often shown within the media. Men seem to be constrained to these certain roles, both within media and outside in the real world.
Other Representations of Men in Media
Men within the media are held to very different standards than women. They are often rewarded for the stereotypical male roles such as aggression, power, financial stability, and physical and mental strength (Media Portrayals of Men and Masculinity).
Some examples of these thems within the media:
• With the amount of violence within the media, it would be expected that it is punished. Contrary to this belief however, violence is often rewarded as a way to solve issues and conflict (Gallagher 2001).
• There are suggestions of violence all throughout the media, even including advertising (Gallagher 2001).
• Being aggressive, strong, and in power is the only way for guys to be real men (Medial Portrayals of Men).
Media Influences on Boys and Men
The influences of media on even men's lives is substantial. Those men who are significantly exposed to media’s ideal male actors and characters have a higher chance of attempting to gain weight to take steroids (Morrison et al. 2004 as cited in Miller 2007). Also in addition to the effects on the body, media can influence aggressive behavior. It seems as though the media has created some sort of obsession with violence in men. In the past this has been linked to the aggressive behavior which is rewarded in various media outlets (Gallagher 2001). Just as with the role models for women and their body images, this type of behavior and men are the type of performances that boys idolize.
Video Games Influence
It has been shown that youth who spend a significant amount of time playing video games will sometimes consider the fictional characters as role models (Miller 2007). When these characters represent negative stereotypes, the children will transform those behaviors into their lives. If the player of a video game does not possess the same abilities and appearance as the character they idolize, their own self-esteem could suffer (Miller 2007). While it may be hard for someone of an older age to understand how this is so, with the extent that some spend improving their skills on games, it is not hard to see how some may begin believing that they could be like the characters.
Within games, players have the ability to control the actions of their characters. It is often a choice in more modern games to treat women poorly, including having sex with them and immediately disregarding them. From this, it is likely that men will adapt negative perceptions and feelings about women (Miller 2007). The way gender is portrayed within games can lead to a lower self-esteem in both genders (Miller 2007). This could be because of a feeling of inadequacy.
All of these effects of media can lead to the perpetuation of negative stereotypes of men. In addition to the stereotypes, it could be detrimental to how men behave not only with each other but also with women, creating a downward spiraling effect of problems.
Gender and News Coverage
Even news coverage is biased. The programmers select what stories the views see, which gives us their view of gender (Wood 2007). Often, if a viewpoint differs from that which is normally portrayed within media, it will be edited out in order keep with the current status. It is up to the viewer to remember this while watching news, because while it may seem unbiased, there are always more sides of the story and more ways to look at a situation.
Relationships and Media
Often, the media will represent relationships between men and women as perfect scenarios. If someone buys into this ideal, they may become les satisfied with their own relationship, because they have repeatedly accepted the idea of relationships without flaws (Wood 2007).
Another problem regarding relationships within the media is the image of sexual relationships (Wood 2007). Music videos as well as TV programs and movies, depict these types of relationships as normal or expected and without consequences. They create an unrealistic viewpoint that could once again lead to a feeling of insufficient in one’s relationship (Wood 2007) as well as feelings of inadequacy and abnormal when various situations have differing outcomes including the consequences of sexual relationships.
Changes that Need to be Made
There may already be a switch going on within our culture. Both genders comments about the ads in a study done by Rouner (2003) criticized them or pointed out the unreality of it. This could show young women that they do not need to force themselves into believing that they should look like the ideal image.
While there may be some advancement, there is still a substantial problem. The first step to ridding our society of the problem of succumbing to stereotypes is education. With advanced education about these stereotypes and the different means by which they are represented we can create a better technique to resisting and rejecting the stereotypes (Rouner 2003). Another change is needed in the public to change the images the media portrays. This is because commercial criteria overpowers the social welfare of society. Once audiences stop asking for these images (such as women as sex objects or housewives with no brains) the medial will stop representing it (Gallagher 2001).
One of the best ways to start solving within individuals would be to start learning to live with rather than against the body (Bate & Taylor 1988). This does not mean that one needs to love their body right away. It is about dealing with the internal problem rather than the external. Once the body is accepted, it will gradually become liked and hopefully loved.
By being sent this type of media, both sexes are “learning” that they are not good enough for the society they live in, and therefore they will always be striving for better in their physical appearance or supremacy. The images we view within the media needs to change. Demanding these changes is the only way to make the images stop. To do this, it is needed that as individuals, we reject being told by the media industry to fit this mold.
STIDS: Sexually Transmitted Internet Diseases
A more wide spread term in the Computer world is Computer virus.
When talking to the general public we refer to the infected computer as corrupted, or hosed.
STIDS : Or Computer Viruses can be obtained by general internet surfing or browsing, passed on via EMAIL or disk sharing (CD or Floppy disk).
Generally speaking the term Spyware or Spam can also be classified as a type of STID.
This is a term thats definition is used by Hackers, Tech Support or seasoned Personal Computer users.
Also known as : INFECTION,INFECTED,CORRUPT
This Definition needs linked to VIRUS. As a known definition in the Tech Support Industry.
Outboundglitch (talk) 07:26, 26 November 2007 (UTC)
A more wide spread term in the Computer world is Computer virus.
When talking to the general public we refer to the infected computer as corrupted, or hosed.
STIDS : Or Computer Viruses can be obtained by general internet surfing or browsing, passed on via EMAIL or disk sharing (CD or Floppy disk).
Generally speaking the term Spyware or Spam can also be classified as a type of STID.
This is a term thats definition is used by Hackers, Tech Support or seasoned Personal Computer users.
Also known as : INFECTION,INFECTED,CORRUPT
This Definition needs linked to VIRUS. As a known definition in the Tech Support Industry.
Outboundglitch (talk) 07:26, 26 November 2007 (UTC)
This page contains locations from the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman.
Bolvangar
Bolvangar, meaning the Fields of Evil, is a fictional place where there is an experimental station set up by the General Oblation Board in order to conduct experiments involving intercision, the process of severing a child from his or her dæmon (an external manifestation of the soul in animal form). Large numbers of children have been taken as a result, including children of the Gyptian people and Roger, a friend of Lyra Belacqua and former kitchen-hand from Jordan College, Oxford. Lyra manages to save most of the children who have been kidnapped and return them to the Gyptians, who have come to rescue them. The station at Bolvangar is apparently destroyed in the ensuing battle.)
Bolvangar appears in Northern Lights (The Golden Compass).
Svalbard
Svalbard is the real-life name of an island in the Arctic. In His Dark Materials it is the home of the panserbjørne, large and robust bears that almost always wear their armour consisting of flawless metal. Iofur Raknison, the King of Svalbard and the panserbjørne for a brief time, built a palace of marble and gold on Svalbard that Iorek Byrnison destroyed after killing Iofur Raknison in a fight and becoming king. Svalbard appears only in Northern Lights (The Golden Compass).
Cittàgazze
Cittàgazze (sometimes abbreviated to Ci'gazze out of slang), is a fictional city within an unknown world (and parallel universe). It is occasionally and informally called the 'City of Magpies'.
Cittàgazze is a seaside town, reminiscent of those near the Mediterranean, which seems to have Italian-like roots. Its main features are quaint restaurants and cafés, parasols hung over circular tables beneath trailing plants, wide cobbled roads, and ancient architecture. However, it should not necessarily be considered "old-world". There is mention of electric devices (electric lights and refrigerators) and the world appears to be roughly as technological as our own. Furthermore, the world contains familiar brand names such as Coca Cola.
The world of Cittàgazze is plagued by deadly, ghostly beings called Spectres. They are invisible to pre-adolescents, but once individuals are old enough to see them (and are post-pubescent), the spectres take an interest in them, eating away the people's souls (or dæmon in the case those whose soul has taken an external manifestation) leaving them alive but zombie-like. Spectres cluster around children approaching adolescence and consume them the moment they come of age. However, they avoid the Torre degli Angeli because within the tower is the Æsahættr, an item which they avoid.
Spectres have been common in this world for several generations, however their number was greatly multiplied after Lord Asriel created a huge window through his world into that of Cittàgazze. This huge upsurge of the soul-devouring wraiths is why the city is entirely devoid of adults and is populated by small rag-tag gangs of children called spectre-orphans. Later in The Subtle Knife it is learned that the adults are elsewhere in order to escape the spectres. Ironically, the creation of spectres in Cittàgazze is due to the constant use of the Æsahættr in its vicinity. The knife, which can create windows to other worlds, creates a new spectre every time it is used to open such a window. The world of Cittàgazze was once prosperous, however it had come upon hard times three hundred years earlier and so the philosophers of the guild of the Torre degli Angeli would use the Æsahættr to open windows into other worlds and steal things to regain wealth. This was how the city earned the nickname of the 'City of Magpies', referring to the same thieving characteristic that is inherent in the bird.
The first reference to the city appears in the first volume of the trilogy, Northern Lights (The Golden Compass), as 'the city in the sky' (the city visible in the aurora borealis, an occurrence which, according to the novel, thins the barrier between the dimension in which the story takes place and the dimension of Cittàgazze). The most expansive description of the city is given as Lyra and Will venture into it and other surrounding universes in The Subtle Knife. It is also mentioned in the final volume, The Amber Spyglass, but is no more significant than as a point of transit between Lyra and Will's worlds.
Torre degli Angeli
Perhaps the most significant feature of Cittàgazze, the Torre degli Angeli (Tower of Angels) is a great tower of old-style architecture that stands in the middle of the spectre-haunted city. It was once the home of the philosophers that created Æsahættr, the subtle knife, where it still resides. It is in the Torre degli Angeli that Will Parry fights a young man called Tullio and obtains the blade and later where Giacomo Paradisi, the ex-bearer of the knife, teaches Will Parry how to use it. The knife first appears in The Subtle Knife.
The Clouded Mountain
The Clouded Mountain (also known as the Chariot) is a giant mountain fortress surrounded by mist and clouds. It is home to The Authority (God), Metatron (the Regent of Heaven), and a citadel to all angels apart from the rebels. It is defended with gun emplacements built into the rock and can apparently move under its own power.
It is described only once in the series, in The Amber Spyglass, when Mrs Coulter arrives there in The Intention Craft, to trick the Regent into following her to his death when she plunges him into the empty abyss created by an interdimensional bomb the Magisterium set off to kill Lyra Belacqua. The Clouded Mountain's fate is not revealed, but it can be presumed it was destroyed or captured after Metatron's death in the abyss.
Jordan College, Oxford
Jordan College is a college of the University of Oxford in Lyra's world, and is considered her home.
The Jordan College appears at the beginning of Northern Lights (The Golden Compass) and at the end of The Amber Spyglass, and is the primary setting of Lyra's Oxford.
For detailed information, see the main article.
University of Oxford Botanic Garden
The University of Oxford Botanic Garden, which exists in both Lyra and Will's world, is home to a bench with a special significance to them both. The bench, featured late in The Amber Spyglass, actually exists.
His Dark Materials
Locations
Bolvangar
Bolvangar, meaning the Fields of Evil, is a fictional place where there is an experimental station set up by the General Oblation Board in order to conduct experiments involving intercision, the process of severing a child from his or her dæmon (an external manifestation of the soul in animal form). Large numbers of children have been taken as a result, including children of the Gyptian people and Roger, a friend of Lyra Belacqua and former kitchen-hand from Jordan College, Oxford. Lyra manages to save most of the children who have been kidnapped and return them to the Gyptians, who have come to rescue them. The station at Bolvangar is apparently destroyed in the ensuing battle.)
Bolvangar appears in Northern Lights (The Golden Compass).
Svalbard
Svalbard is the real-life name of an island in the Arctic. In His Dark Materials it is the home of the panserbjørne, large and robust bears that almost always wear their armour consisting of flawless metal. Iofur Raknison, the King of Svalbard and the panserbjørne for a brief time, built a palace of marble and gold on Svalbard that Iorek Byrnison destroyed after killing Iofur Raknison in a fight and becoming king. Svalbard appears only in Northern Lights (The Golden Compass).
Cittàgazze
Cittàgazze (sometimes abbreviated to Ci'gazze out of slang), is a fictional city within an unknown world (and parallel universe). It is occasionally and informally called the 'City of Magpies'.
Cittàgazze is a seaside town, reminiscent of those near the Mediterranean, which seems to have Italian-like roots. Its main features are quaint restaurants and cafés, parasols hung over circular tables beneath trailing plants, wide cobbled roads, and ancient architecture. However, it should not necessarily be considered "old-world". There is mention of electric devices (electric lights and refrigerators) and the world appears to be roughly as technological as our own. Furthermore, the world contains familiar brand names such as Coca Cola.
The world of Cittàgazze is plagued by deadly, ghostly beings called Spectres. They are invisible to pre-adolescents, but once individuals are old enough to see them (and are post-pubescent), the spectres take an interest in them, eating away the people's souls (or dæmon in the case those whose soul has taken an external manifestation) leaving them alive but zombie-like. Spectres cluster around children approaching adolescence and consume them the moment they come of age. However, they avoid the Torre degli Angeli because within the tower is the Æsahættr, an item which they avoid.
Spectres have been common in this world for several generations, however their number was greatly multiplied after Lord Asriel created a huge window through his world into that of Cittàgazze. This huge upsurge of the soul-devouring wraiths is why the city is entirely devoid of adults and is populated by small rag-tag gangs of children called spectre-orphans. Later in The Subtle Knife it is learned that the adults are elsewhere in order to escape the spectres. Ironically, the creation of spectres in Cittàgazze is due to the constant use of the Æsahættr in its vicinity. The knife, which can create windows to other worlds, creates a new spectre every time it is used to open such a window. The world of Cittàgazze was once prosperous, however it had come upon hard times three hundred years earlier and so the philosophers of the guild of the Torre degli Angeli would use the Æsahættr to open windows into other worlds and steal things to regain wealth. This was how the city earned the nickname of the 'City of Magpies', referring to the same thieving characteristic that is inherent in the bird.
The first reference to the city appears in the first volume of the trilogy, Northern Lights (The Golden Compass), as 'the city in the sky' (the city visible in the aurora borealis, an occurrence which, according to the novel, thins the barrier between the dimension in which the story takes place and the dimension of Cittàgazze). The most expansive description of the city is given as Lyra and Will venture into it and other surrounding universes in The Subtle Knife. It is also mentioned in the final volume, The Amber Spyglass, but is no more significant than as a point of transit between Lyra and Will's worlds.
Torre degli Angeli
Perhaps the most significant feature of Cittàgazze, the Torre degli Angeli (Tower of Angels) is a great tower of old-style architecture that stands in the middle of the spectre-haunted city. It was once the home of the philosophers that created Æsahættr, the subtle knife, where it still resides. It is in the Torre degli Angeli that Will Parry fights a young man called Tullio and obtains the blade and later where Giacomo Paradisi, the ex-bearer of the knife, teaches Will Parry how to use it. The knife first appears in The Subtle Knife.
The Clouded Mountain
The Clouded Mountain (also known as the Chariot) is a giant mountain fortress surrounded by mist and clouds. It is home to The Authority (God), Metatron (the Regent of Heaven), and a citadel to all angels apart from the rebels. It is defended with gun emplacements built into the rock and can apparently move under its own power.
It is described only once in the series, in The Amber Spyglass, when Mrs Coulter arrives there in The Intention Craft, to trick the Regent into following her to his death when she plunges him into the empty abyss created by an interdimensional bomb the Magisterium set off to kill Lyra Belacqua. The Clouded Mountain's fate is not revealed, but it can be presumed it was destroyed or captured after Metatron's death in the abyss.
Jordan College, Oxford
Jordan College is a college of the University of Oxford in Lyra's world, and is considered her home.
The Jordan College appears at the beginning of Northern Lights (The Golden Compass) and at the end of The Amber Spyglass, and is the primary setting of Lyra's Oxford.
For detailed information, see the main article.
University of Oxford Botanic Garden
The University of Oxford Botanic Garden, which exists in both Lyra and Will's world, is home to a bench with a special significance to them both. The bench, featured late in The Amber Spyglass, actually exists.
His Dark Materials
Locations
Matilda Harriet Jane Hunter (often referred to as "Mattie") is a fictional character in the Australian soap opera Home and Away. She has been portrayed by actress Indiana Evans since January 2004.
Character
When Matilda’s father, Jack Hunter, decided there was no future on the farm, he sent his youngest daughter and her twin brother, Henry (Tobi Atkins), to boarding school. Matilda and Henry would visit their family during school holidays in Summer Bay.
This became more of a permanent arrangement when their father died and Matilda soon settled into Summer Bay. While at first Matilda was a selfish, snobby "drama queen", she mellowed.
She is passionate about music, movies and horse riding and is kind and caring toward animals. When Matilda met Lucas Holden (Rhys Wakefield), her new neighbour, they soon fell in love. When Matilda's mother Beth (Clarissa House) and Lucas' father Tony (Jon Sivewright) fell in love, they decided to share the same house.
When Matilda and Lucas broke up, Matilda was devastated. As a result of this stress, issues with self-esteem plus having family members Kit (Amy Mizzi) and Robbie (Jason Smith) lost in the bush, Matilda developed bulimia. Having overcome that, she is currently trying to focus on friends, school and a new relationship with Ric Dalby (Mark Furze), whom she lost her virginity to.
She had developed a rivalry with Belle Taylor due to Belle breaking up Cassie Turner, Matilda's best friend, and Ric. Ironically, Matilda, now dating Cassie's and Belle's ex-boyfriend Ric, and Belle, now dating Matilda's ex-boyfriend Lucas, were forced to meet together due to Ric and Lucas' close friendship. Although Belle and Matilda are not the closest of friends, they are no longer arch-rivals.
Then, Beth, her mother died in a car crash. This sent her into absolute shock and devastation which made her run away from home. Along the way she fell into the sea. Lily jumps in after her but a sudden ocean rip knocks her unconscious placing both their lives in danger. However Ric then rescues the both of them from further danger.
After finding out that Ric knew that Tony had slept with her English teacher, Naomi Preston, she began to shut him out and she and Lucas got drunk in the beach party when at Drew's 18th birthday. When Matilda sees Ric with another woman she thinks he is cheating on her. She soon finds out that this is untrue. In an attempt to make her see that he loves her, he gets the engagement ring that her mother left her in her will and gets it shaped and resized.
Then, a new teen named Reuben arrived. She took an instant liking to him and in the process got Ric concerned that she was cheating on him. His suspicions were confirmed when he caught the pair kissing at a party. Despite Ric's attempts to reassure her that they will always be together, Matilda didn't think so. Feeling alone she left Summer Bay with Reuben, determined never to return.
Reuben has tried to kiss her more than once but she resists saying she does not feel that way about him and also they always get interuppted by Ric, who had a punch up with Reuben as he thought they were having sex in his van. It was then confirmed that it wasn't Mattie and it was another girl. Although Ric wanted to try to reason with her, Matilda told him she never wanted to speak to or see him again.
After her best friend Cassie persuaded her to come home, Matilda tried to show Ric they still have a future together, by asking to live with him. Unfortunately, Sally decided it was too early in their relationship for this to happen. Matilda decided to move into the Diner Flat, sharing it with Martha. After sharing the flat with Martha for a bit, Matilda decided it was too much for her so she decided to move back in with Tony and Lucas.
More recently Ric found a pregnancy test in the bin which was Emma's but he thought it was Mattie's. When he said, "We can work this out, I promise," she told him it was none of his business, thinking it was about her cheating on a test. Then he said, "It's my baby," and she told him that she wasn't pregnant. Donald Fisher, the deputy principal, eventually found out that Matilda and her friend, Emma, had cheated on their first HSC exam. After talking to Sally Fletcher about her punishment, Sally and Don decided to take marks off her exam. However, Matilda had already scored below the pass mark, leading her to fail her best subject, Maths.
Lately Matilda and her boyfriend Ric have been going through tough times after Ric's attraction to a married woman called Viv Anderson. There were many problems but they managed to get over it. Recently, Noel Anderson, Viv's husband, suspects Viv of cheating with Ric. However, he was cheating himself with a blonde woman. At the year 12 formal, Ric and Matilda break up after Noel came and accused Ric in front of Matilda. Matilda said that she could not trust him anymore and breaks up. Ric then kisses Viv passionately. The next day Matilda and Ric talk things through and are back together. Or were they? Just a few days later, Viv revealed to Matilda about her and Ric sleeping together. Ric denied this instanly but when Matilda overheard Ric telling his best mate, Lucas, about Viv being pregnant, she knew that enough was enough! She had announced that their relationship was over; this time, it was for ever.
In the upcoming 2008 season, she is set to strike up a long-term relationship with new character, Roman. Although Ric desperately continues to try to win her back, she then says to him "go find some other woman to spend the rest of your life with". So are they really over? Only time will tell.
Family Tree
*Graham Walters (grandfather, deceased) married to Amanda Walters (step-grandmother)
**Elizabeth Walters (mother, deceased), married to Jack Hunter (father, deceased) and Rhys Sutherland (divorced)
***Scott Hunter (brother), engaged to Hayley Lawson
****Noah Lawson II (nephew)
***Kit Hunter (sister), in a relationship with Kim Hyde
****Archie Hunter (nephew)
***Robert Hunter (brother), married to Natasha Andrews
****Ella Hunter (niece)
***Henry Hunter (brother)
Character
When Matilda’s father, Jack Hunter, decided there was no future on the farm, he sent his youngest daughter and her twin brother, Henry (Tobi Atkins), to boarding school. Matilda and Henry would visit their family during school holidays in Summer Bay.
This became more of a permanent arrangement when their father died and Matilda soon settled into Summer Bay. While at first Matilda was a selfish, snobby "drama queen", she mellowed.
She is passionate about music, movies and horse riding and is kind and caring toward animals. When Matilda met Lucas Holden (Rhys Wakefield), her new neighbour, they soon fell in love. When Matilda's mother Beth (Clarissa House) and Lucas' father Tony (Jon Sivewright) fell in love, they decided to share the same house.
When Matilda and Lucas broke up, Matilda was devastated. As a result of this stress, issues with self-esteem plus having family members Kit (Amy Mizzi) and Robbie (Jason Smith) lost in the bush, Matilda developed bulimia. Having overcome that, she is currently trying to focus on friends, school and a new relationship with Ric Dalby (Mark Furze), whom she lost her virginity to.
She had developed a rivalry with Belle Taylor due to Belle breaking up Cassie Turner, Matilda's best friend, and Ric. Ironically, Matilda, now dating Cassie's and Belle's ex-boyfriend Ric, and Belle, now dating Matilda's ex-boyfriend Lucas, were forced to meet together due to Ric and Lucas' close friendship. Although Belle and Matilda are not the closest of friends, they are no longer arch-rivals.
Then, Beth, her mother died in a car crash. This sent her into absolute shock and devastation which made her run away from home. Along the way she fell into the sea. Lily jumps in after her but a sudden ocean rip knocks her unconscious placing both their lives in danger. However Ric then rescues the both of them from further danger.
After finding out that Ric knew that Tony had slept with her English teacher, Naomi Preston, she began to shut him out and she and Lucas got drunk in the beach party when at Drew's 18th birthday. When Matilda sees Ric with another woman she thinks he is cheating on her. She soon finds out that this is untrue. In an attempt to make her see that he loves her, he gets the engagement ring that her mother left her in her will and gets it shaped and resized.
Then, a new teen named Reuben arrived. She took an instant liking to him and in the process got Ric concerned that she was cheating on him. His suspicions were confirmed when he caught the pair kissing at a party. Despite Ric's attempts to reassure her that they will always be together, Matilda didn't think so. Feeling alone she left Summer Bay with Reuben, determined never to return.
Reuben has tried to kiss her more than once but she resists saying she does not feel that way about him and also they always get interuppted by Ric, who had a punch up with Reuben as he thought they were having sex in his van. It was then confirmed that it wasn't Mattie and it was another girl. Although Ric wanted to try to reason with her, Matilda told him she never wanted to speak to or see him again.
After her best friend Cassie persuaded her to come home, Matilda tried to show Ric they still have a future together, by asking to live with him. Unfortunately, Sally decided it was too early in their relationship for this to happen. Matilda decided to move into the Diner Flat, sharing it with Martha. After sharing the flat with Martha for a bit, Matilda decided it was too much for her so she decided to move back in with Tony and Lucas.
More recently Ric found a pregnancy test in the bin which was Emma's but he thought it was Mattie's. When he said, "We can work this out, I promise," she told him it was none of his business, thinking it was about her cheating on a test. Then he said, "It's my baby," and she told him that she wasn't pregnant. Donald Fisher, the deputy principal, eventually found out that Matilda and her friend, Emma, had cheated on their first HSC exam. After talking to Sally Fletcher about her punishment, Sally and Don decided to take marks off her exam. However, Matilda had already scored below the pass mark, leading her to fail her best subject, Maths.
Lately Matilda and her boyfriend Ric have been going through tough times after Ric's attraction to a married woman called Viv Anderson. There were many problems but they managed to get over it. Recently, Noel Anderson, Viv's husband, suspects Viv of cheating with Ric. However, he was cheating himself with a blonde woman. At the year 12 formal, Ric and Matilda break up after Noel came and accused Ric in front of Matilda. Matilda said that she could not trust him anymore and breaks up. Ric then kisses Viv passionately. The next day Matilda and Ric talk things through and are back together. Or were they? Just a few days later, Viv revealed to Matilda about her and Ric sleeping together. Ric denied this instanly but when Matilda overheard Ric telling his best mate, Lucas, about Viv being pregnant, she knew that enough was enough! She had announced that their relationship was over; this time, it was for ever.
In the upcoming 2008 season, she is set to strike up a long-term relationship with new character, Roman. Although Ric desperately continues to try to win her back, she then says to him "go find some other woman to spend the rest of your life with". So are they really over? Only time will tell.
Family Tree
*Graham Walters (grandfather, deceased) married to Amanda Walters (step-grandmother)
**Elizabeth Walters (mother, deceased), married to Jack Hunter (father, deceased) and Rhys Sutherland (divorced)
***Scott Hunter (brother), engaged to Hayley Lawson
****Noah Lawson II (nephew)
***Kit Hunter (sister), in a relationship with Kim Hyde
****Archie Hunter (nephew)
***Robert Hunter (brother), married to Natasha Andrews
****Ella Hunter (niece)
***Henry Hunter (brother)