Deutschland 83: case study blog tasks
Introduction: Reviews and features
1) Find one positive aspect and one criticism of Deutschland 83 in reviews.
The one positive review would that it was the most viewed and like language drama. This is because the drama is rounded upon the dark humour of Martin. However, a criticism would be that it is morally composed.
2) Why does the second Guardian article suggest the Germans didn't like the show?
It suggested that the Germans didn't like the show because of the staci agent from a sympathetic nature which makes him seem not changeable however another reason stated would be because that it made it seem that everyone on the east side hated the west and made the west seem like a threat.
3) 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?
Gucci - I've lived in east Germany in 1981 and can say Deutschland 83 captures it perfectly.
"German series often suffer from poor production value and screenplays are either obsessed with complexity or are dull and boring" - However Deutschland 83 was well filmed with a great narrative that is easily follow able.
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?
Jones Nay states that grew up in small town in united Germany which he wanted to become an actor but was more successful in the UK, he had learnt about world war II which was interesting to him about what his nation had went thorough.
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?
This reflects Channel 4 idea of being innovative and high-quality as they conducted the interview in German to reach to their target audience because they want to into depth about the show.
3) Interviewer Matt Frei asks about the current political situation in Germany. Why might this interest the Channel 4 News audience?
This would interest a channel 4 audience as it majors in news so that means that it will link the show as it is a political genre show which means the current situation will link to their show.
Behind the scenes clips
Making Of: Why Should You Watch Deutschland 83
Watch this short promotional clip for Deutschland 83.
1) According to the clip, why should audiences watch Deutschland 83?
Audiences should watch this show because it is innovative, fun, interesting and full of surprises such as twists.
2) Why is history an important aspect of the appeal of the show?
The history is important because it shows the real events that many Germans had gone through and gives stories and light to those experiences that east and west Germans had because of the Berlin wall and the cold war.
3) What technical aspects are highlighted in the video?
The technical aspects would be the Mise-en-scene, cinematography and setting.
Making Of: Set DesignWatch this interview with Production designer Lars Lange.
1) Why were the set design, costume and props so important for Deutschland 83?
It is important because the Mise-en-scene develops its own story as it relates to what those people had gone through.
2) How historically accurate was the setting, costume and props?
The settings that was shot was realistic to those times with the iconography of buildings and their different cultures .
3) Why were the props, costumes and music such a key audience pleasure for Deutschland 83?
It was key audience because of personal identity as the memories could relate to those who had been alive whilst the cold war. Another audience pleasure that was key would've been surveillance as not only gives a narrative but teaches what people had to go through.
Textual analysis: Audience pleasures and representations
Scene 1: Garden/BBQ scenes (East & West Germany)
4.58 – 8.20 and 34.00 – 37.20
Make notes under the following headings:
Scene 2: Martin/Moritz first sees the West German supermarket
14.30 – 20.25
Make notes under the following headings:
When Martin first sees the West German supermarket he is stunned at the options available. The layout of the products are set to look like the colours of the pop art movement as they are bright and minimalistic. This can be seen as the American influence on West Germany and the music at the supermarket is an anti-war song being played to show that West doesn't war this would refer to an passive aggressive tone towards the east. The audience pleasures could be towards the nostalgic moments of the rise of pop culture in music and art back in the 80s from the US and other capitalist countries.
When Martin first sees the West German supermarket he is stunned at the options available. The layout of the products are set to look like the colours of the pop art movement as they are bright and minimalistic. This can be seen as the American influence on West Germany and the music at the supermarket is an anti-war song being played to show that West doesn't war this would refer to an passive aggressive tone towards the east. The audience pleasures could be towards the nostalgic moments of the rise of pop culture in music and art back in the 80s from the US and other capitalist countries.
Scene 3: Training montage scene when Martin/Moritz learns how to be a spy
20.40 – 22.40
Make notes under the following headings:
The training scene is traditional with the cinematography of a spy genre film such as a Bond movie. This is because of the editing being shot by shot of the training. The intertextuality is seen through the typical props in a spy/action movie such as cameras, guns and secrets hiding spots. The audience pleasures are taken into account as they would give hits to a spy film such as bond which will widen their audience.
The training scene is traditional with the cinematography of a spy genre film such as a Bond movie. This is because of the editing being shot by shot of the training. The intertextuality is seen through the typical props in a spy/action movie such as cameras, guns and secrets hiding spots. The audience pleasures are taken into account as they would give hits to a spy film such as bond which will widen their audience.
Scene 4: Briefcase scene when Martin/Moritz is stealing the NATO nuclear plans
31.13 – 33.30
Make notes under the following headings:
Production and industry contexts
1) What kind of company is UFA Fiction and what shows have they produced?
UFA fiction is a production company and have shown
- Deutschland 83'
- Deutschland 86'
- Deutschland 89'
- The same Sky
- The physician
2) What kind of company is Freemantle Media International and what do they produce?
Freemantle media international is a company that distributes and produces film and television programmes.
3) How does Deutschland 83 reflect the international nature of television production?
This TV drama reflects international nature of television production through their audience pleasures and intertextuality as all tv shows have elements taken out of other tv shows or movies for audiences to relate too.
Walter Presents
Watch this Channel 4 trailer for their Walter Presents international drama.
1) How does Channel 4 introduce 'Walter'?
Channel 4 introduced 'Walter' as an expert in TV analysis and expert.
2) What audience are Channel 4 trying to appeal to with the 'Walter Presents' series?
2) What audience are Channel 4 trying to appeal to with the 'Walter Presents' series?
They're trying to appeal to younger audiences interested in the media industry and the production and distribution of films and tv shows.
3) How does the 'Walter Presents' series reflect the changing nature of television in the digital age?
Walter presents reflect the changing nature of the digital age as we becoming more reliant on easy consumption of the media that traditional forms of media is being bankrupted due to streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon.
Marketing and promotion
Trailer
1) What audience pleasures are suggested by the trailer? Think about Uses & Gratifications theory (Blumler and Katz).
The audience pleasures for this trailer would be surveillance as it gives hints to the historical events of 1983 and the East and West Germany crisis. This would link to diversion too as they give it a dramatic twist to the historical perspective.
2) How does the trailer use action and enigma codes (Barthes) to encourage the audience to watch the show?
They used (Barthes) action code through the scene where the timer is shown given it an element of suspense and then the protagonist Martin running.
3) The only words heard in the trailer are in English. Why do you think the UK trailer avoided subtitles or German dialogue?
They probably did this for suspense and to create a curiosity about the TV drama so that more people can watch it.
Press pack
1) How did she use the historical context and real-life events to create a successful drama?
The historical significance and the realities that Anna Winger used was the reason for the success of Deutschland 83' this is because she felt that the realism is what caught the audience and with the dramatic twists.
2) Anna Winger discusses the use of music. Why might the soundtrack attract an audience?
She uses a nostalgic music range that was present in the 80s which was contrasted with each scene from the East and West Germany that Martin was in.
1) List the key statistics concerning audience figures. Why is considered the most successful foreign language drama?
The first episode generated 2.5 million views for Channel 4. This was the most watched tv show in their times. It is considered the most successful because of the views it had generated.
2) How does the news release describe the drama?
The news had described the TV drama as "The next subtitled sensation".
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 UK DVD cover communicates the sub-genre of the tv drama as the iconography of the radio and headphones will refer to spy gear and his costume is of a traditional workplace attire especially in being a spy.
2) How do these use font, colour and graphics to appeal to an audience?
The use of bold colours such as purple, blue, dark pink and black is appealing as it creates a sense of confusion and contrast between the tv drama and the poster. The graphics of the nuclear missile links to the historical context of capitalism and communism and the cold war tensions.
3) Why might the distributors Freemantle Media International have used different marketing campaigns in different countries?
They would've used a different marketing campaign because it wouldn't appeal to the masses in the US or the UK.
3) How does the 'Walter Presents' series reflect the changing nature of television in the digital age?
Walter presents reflect the changing nature of the digital age as we becoming more reliant on easy consumption of the media that traditional forms of media is being bankrupted due to streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon.
Marketing and promotion
Trailer
1) What audience pleasures are suggested by the trailer? Think about Uses & Gratifications theory (Blumler and Katz).
The audience pleasures for this trailer would be surveillance as it gives hints to the historical events of 1983 and the East and West Germany crisis. This would link to diversion too as they give it a dramatic twist to the historical perspective.
2) How does the trailer use action and enigma codes (Barthes) to encourage the audience to watch the show?
They used (Barthes) action code through the scene where the timer is shown given it an element of suspense and then the protagonist Martin running.
3) The only words heard in the trailer are in English. Why do you think the UK trailer avoided subtitles or German dialogue?
They probably did this for suspense and to create a curiosity about the TV drama so that more people can watch it.
Press pack
1) How did she use the historical context and real-life events to create a successful drama?
The historical significance and the realities that Anna Winger used was the reason for the success of Deutschland 83' this is because she felt that the realism is what caught the audience and with the dramatic twists.
2) Anna Winger discusses the use of music. Why might the soundtrack attract an audience?
She uses a nostalgic music range that was present in the 80s which was contrasted with each scene from the East and West Germany that Martin was in.
Press release
1) List the key statistics concerning audience figures. Why is considered the most successful foreign language drama?
The first episode generated 2.5 million views for Channel 4. This was the most watched tv show in their times. It is considered the most successful because of the views it had generated.
2) How does the news release describe the drama?
The news had described the TV drama as "The next subtitled sensation".
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 UK DVD cover communicates the sub-genre of the tv drama as the iconography of the radio and headphones will refer to spy gear and his costume is of a traditional workplace attire especially in being a spy.
2) How do these use font, colour and graphics to appeal to an audience?
The use of bold colours such as purple, blue, dark pink and black is appealing as it creates a sense of confusion and contrast between the tv drama and the poster. The graphics of the nuclear missile links to the historical context of capitalism and communism and the cold war tensions.
3) Why might the distributors Freemantle Media International have used different marketing campaigns in different countries?
They would've used a different marketing campaign because it wouldn't appeal to the masses in the US or the UK.
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