Our second television close-study product is critically acclaimed German cold war spy drama Deutschland 83.
Just like our work on Capital, we need to know everything about Deutschland 83 - from textual analysis of key scenes to how it was funded, distributed and promoted. The notes from the lesson are here:
Historical context: The Cold War
The Cold War was a political dispute between the Eastern Bloc (the Soviet Union – Russia and 14 other states) and the Western Bloc (USA and NATO allies including the UK). It took place from 1947 to 1989.
There was never large-scale fighting between the two sides but on at least two occasions the world came close to a fully-nuclear World War 3.
The Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a symbol of the Cold War, constructed after the Berlin crisis of 1961.
It divided Communist-controlled East Berlin and NATO-supporting West Berlin. East Germans were not allowed to cross the border for a better life in the West – many were shot trying to climb over the wall.
The East German government eventually allowed people to freely cross the border on 9 November 1989.
1983: a critical year in the Cold War
The Cold War almost boiled over into nuclear war in 1983 when a NATO exercise called Able Archer caused some politicians in East Germany and the Soviet Union to believe the USA was planning a nuclear first-strike.
Deutschland 83 screening
We will watch the CSP episode - Season 1, Episode 1 - in class. It is also available here on the All4 website for streaming Channel 4 programmes.
Deutschland 83: case study blog tasks
Work through the following tasks to build a detailed case study for Deutschland 83. This will give you plenty of background information to use in an exam question. Remember, for this CSP the question could be on any of the key concepts: language, industries, audiences or representations.
Reviews and features
Read the following reviews and features on Deutschland 83:
1) What positive aspects of Deutschland 83 are highlighted in the reviews?
a good show to show differnces between two parts of the same country.
2) What criticisms are made of the show?
There is lack of actual drama and that the show is showing everything in a very simplistic way but it wasn't like that when it took place.
3) Why did the Telegraph suggest that Deutschland 83 did the 'period' aspect of 'period drama' so well?
They did that by using the spy genre to show the two different sides of their country.
4) Find three 'below the line' comments from either of the Guardian articles. What did the audience think of Deutschland 83? Do you agree with the comments?
Interviews and behind-the-scenes video features
Channel 4 News: Matt Frei interviews Jonas Nay
1) What does Jonas Nay say about growing up in a united Germany?
He says that he is proud of his country Germany now for being united and that a lot of young people don't know about the division in germany.
2) The Channel 4 News interview is conducted in German with English subtitles. How does this reflect Channel 4's remit as a public service broadcaster and their target audience? (Clue: revise your work on Channel 4 and Public Service Broadcasting here!)
They conducted it in germany to shows how they are trying to show everything to be authentic and real.
3) Interviewer Matt Frei asks about the current political situation in Germany. Why might this interest the Channel 4 News audience?
This might interest channel 4 audience to find out what the current affairs are in the country
Behind the scenes clips
The All4 website has a range of clips from behind the scenes of Deutschland 83. Watch the following:
Making Of: Why Should You Watch Deutschland 83
Watch this short promotional clip for Deutschland 83.
1) Why should audiences watch Deutschland 83 - what does the clip offer viewers?
it is very interesting to wtach spy gnere as it can be realted to james bond which means that this show can interest younger and older genrations.
2) Why is history an important aspect of the appeal of the show?
this is because it helpes to teach the younger generation about germany's past.
3) What technical aspects are highlighted in the video?
costume and production shot.
Making Of: Set Design
Making Of: Set Design
Watch this interview with Production designer Lars Lange.
1) Why were the set design, costume and props so important for Deutschland 83?
This is all important because these things can reflect a lot in the representation for that period.
2) How historically accurate was the setting, costume and props?
They tried their best to make sure that everything seems real by making sure that they are using te documents which they used 30 years ago and the technology that was used that time like the telephone and the small camera.
3) Why were the props, costumes and music such a key audience pleasure for Deutschland 83?
They were key to audience to the audience because these are the type of things which make things look real and are the things which can visually represent the time era.
Textual analysis: trailer
1) The opening of the trailer uses sound and editing to draw the audience in. Explain why this is effective.
This is effective as it usess face pace editing and sounf o 80's to build tension fo rth audience.
2) What audience pleasures are suggested by the trailer? Think about Uses & Gratifications theory (Blumler and Katz).
3) How does the trailer use action and enigma codes (Barthes) to encourage the audience to watch the show?
4) Pick three shots/scenes from the trailer that capture the spy thriller sub-genre. Why might this appeal to an audience? Try and apply Neale's genre theory 'repetition and difference' (the original notes on genre theory are here).
1)Digital clock countdown- intertextuality- classic spy movie shot- also plays as an enigma code
2)Sudden gun pulled by maid- creates thrill
3)Hotel room fighting scene- repetition- uses intertextuality to paint picture of story-line to audience
2)Sudden gun pulled by maid- creates thrill
3)Hotel room fighting scene- repetition- uses intertextuality to paint picture of story-line to audience
5) Pick three examples of mise-en-scene from the trailer that capture the 1983 setting the confirm the sub-genre of period drama. Why might this appeal to an audience?
The props like the camera and teelophone,the costume wore in the two different armies and the setting shown.
6) The trailer uses the song 'Two Tribes' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Why did the producers select this soundtrack for the trailer?
This is because they're show was tragetted at foreign countries and this type of music is easily recognised in the uk and america.
7) The only words heard in the trailer are in English. Why do you think the UK trailer avoided subtitles or German dialogue?
This is because they might think that people will judge this show to be a foreign language show.
Production and industry context
Production and industry context
Deutschland 83 was produced by German production company UFA Fiction and distributed internationally by FremantleMedia International. It was broadcast on RTL (Germany), SundanceTV (US) and Channel 4 (UK) as well as many other broadcasters around teh world.
1) What kind of company is UFA Fiction and what shows have they produced?
UFA Fiction is a German award winning film and television Company and a unique leader in the German film and television market, offering a remarkable portfolio of films and series which have strongly influenced the German production landscape
2) What kind of company is Freemantle Media International and what do they produce?
2) What kind of company is Freemantle Media International and what do they produce?
3) How does Deutschland 83 reflect the international nature of television production?
This reflects the international nature of television production because what happened in Germany was very historical and could have resulted in world war 3.
Walter Presents
1) How does Channel 4 introduce 'Walter'?
it introduces the show with high key lightning and the movement of one of the charcter.
2) What audience are Channel 4 trying to appeal to with the 'Walter Presents' series?
they are trying to appeal to audience all around the world.
3) How does the 'Walter Presents' series reflect the changing nature of television in the digital age?
Marketing and promotion
Read the Channel 4 press pack interview with writer Anna Winger. (If the link doesn't work, you can find the text from the interview here).
1) How did she use the historical context and real-life events to create a successful drama?
This is done by using the sub-genre of spy and mystery.
2) Anna Winger discusses the use of music. Why might the soundtrack attract an audience?
This might attract them as this type of music is known by the target audience.
Read this Channel 4 press release on the success of Deutschland 83. (If the link doesn't work you can find find the text from the article here).
3) List the key statistics concerning audience figures. Why is considered the most successful foreign language drama?
4) How does the news release describe the drama?
They describe the drama to be very interesting.
International marketing
Look at these two different marketing campaigns - the UK DVD release (left) and the American Sundance TV advert (right).
1) How does the UK DVD cover communicate the sub-genre of the drama?
The DVD cover communicates by the costume and the rockets shown in the DVD..
2) Analyse the mise-en-scene in the UK DVD cover. What does it communicate to the audience?
The costume that he is wearing the suit and the jeans shows the binary opposition of the character.
3) How does the American branding use font, colour and graphics to appeal to an audience?
This appeals to the audience with the vibrant colour used in the font and DVD.
4) Why might the distributors Freemantle Media International have used different marketing campaigns in different countries?
This is because different countries need different marketing which can interest them to watch a show.
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