Deutschland 83 Case Study

 

Deutschland 83

Introduction: Reviews and features

1) Find one positive aspect and one criticism of Deutschland 83 in reviews.

Deutschland 83 is the highest-rated foreign language drama in UK history, but others have called it dull.

2) Why does the second Guardian article suggest the Germans didn't like the show?

They apparently did not like it because it reaffirmed old perceptions of Stasi officers as ruthless officers who blackmail family members and fabricate accounts for political purposes.

3) Find three 'below the line' comments from either of the Guardian articles. What did the audience think of Deutschland 83?

. I lived in East Germany in 1981 and I can say that Deutschland 83 captured the atmosphere perfectly.

. The West German officers have messed up private lives, but they are honest.

. Deutschland 83 was great, and I also hoped it was a sign of things to come on German TV.

Interviews and behind-the-scenes video features

1) What does Jonas Nay say about growing up in a united Germany? 

He supports Angela Merkel and the government, and as he previously said, he loves democracy and mobility, which is why he is proud of his democratic country, which bears such responsibilities to humanity.

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?

It demonstrates that as the popularity of international dramas grows, viewers are becoming accustomed to reading the subtitles and preparing for upcoming foreign subtitled dramas.

3) Interviewer Matt Frei asks about the current political situation in Germany. Why might this interest the Channel 4 News audience?

Since Deutschland 83 was a big hit in the United Kingdom, the British viewers would like to hear it from a German perspective. It shows that Deutschland 83 dealt with a large number of political-related remarks. The public will be interested in hearing Jonas Nay's political viewpoint.


Behind the scenes clips

1) According to the clip, why should audiences watch Deutschland 83?

 It's exciting and it's super entertaining and there are amazing performances and it's a tour, an experience, because there are a lot of surprises because it's a ride because you want to go on the journey with these people.

2) Why is history an important aspect of the appeal of the show?

Deutschland 83 informs the audience on how East and West Germany were split, how they had differing perspectives on political issues, and how West Germany was different and more western than East Germany.

3) What technical aspects are highlighted in the video?

The costumes, singing, cinematography, and production design were all highlighted.


Making Of: Set Design

1) Why were the set design, costume and props so important for Deutschland 83?

When recreating the environment of a certain year and time frame, the smallest details are crucial.

2) How historically accurate was the setting, costume and props?

Other than that, the scenes are made up so certain sites were kept hidden. The scene was very realistic, down down to the devices used during the cold war.

3) Why were the props, costumes and music such a key audience pleasure for Deutschland 83?

Props, costume and music is used to provide a sense of nostalgia. The crowd is fascinated by it all.


Textual analysis: Audience pleasures and representations

Scene 1: Garden/BBQ scenes (East & West Germany)

4.58 – 8.20 and 34.00 – 37.20

• Technical codes – particularly mise-en-scene

. Several shots in the East German party of key characters shot over-the-shoulder or through other guests. Emphasises family and friends present and welcoming atmosphere.

. 360 degree camera movement circling Martin when talking to Edel and his sister created sense that things are closing in on Martin.

• Representation of East & West Germany / Family / Gender

. Strong contrast in the East German party scene with close family, friends enjoying themselves, relaxed atmosphere.

. Western family (Edel family) is shown to be dysfunctional and unhappy. The BBQ scene feels awkward and forced.

Scene 2: Martin/Moritz first sees the West German supermarket 

14.30 – 20.25

• Technical codes – particularly mise-en-scene

. Mise-en-scene - use of colour and costume. Iconic Puma logo red T-shirt as a colourful contrast to the dull East. 

. Supermarket shelves full of colour and stacked high. Almost an example of postmodern art and designed to emphasise the difference between East and West.

• Representation of East & West Germany / Communism & Capitalism / Historical accuracy

. Several shots emphasise representation of East and West - close-up of chandelier, wide shot of luxurious bedroom etc.

. Gender representation: ‘What does Annett want?’ Does this represent traditional gender roles as they were at the time or should we criticise D83 for a lack of depth to female characters?

• Audience pleasures

. Historical reality - Blumler & Katz U&G theory - surveillance. Danger of WW3, reference to Pershing II missiles. Key elements of D83 based on historical fact.

. Music - 1980s references - nostalgia. Faithful reconstruction of Germany in the 1980s.

Scene 3: Training montage scene when Martin/Moritz learns how to be a spy

20.40 – 22.40

• Technical codes – particularly camerawork and editing

. Split screen / editing / graphics used to emphasise difference between East and West.

. Fast-paced editing including jump cuts, typical of montage sequence.

• Audio codes

. Music and SFX: Non-diegetic sound adds pace to the sequence.

. Dialogue/voiceover - covers a lot of narrative.

• Audience pleasures

. Genre pleasures - spy/thriller.

. German audience - nostalgia in terms of products and brands.

• Intertextuality

. Intertextuality - similar to a Bond sequence (particularly with the gadgets)

Scene 4: Briefcase scene when Martin/Moritz is stealing the NATO nuclear plans

31.13 – 33.30

• Technical codes – particularly camerawork and editing

. Close-ups of the documents themselves - words like highly classified, actual details of the missiles and Ronald Reagan’s signature. These are recreations of real documents from the time - emphasising the historical aspect of the show and the way it is based on real events.

. Shot from behind the blinds continues recurring motif of shots through windows or from behind objects. Creates voyeuristic pleasure and also fits the genre of spy thriller. Audience are given the experience of spying by continually using camera shots that give the impression of observing events from a distance.

• Audio codes – diegetic and non-diegetic sound

. Non-diegetic sound - music helps convey the tension of the scene and satisfy genre expectations of spy thriller.

. Diegetic sound - loud breathing in conjunction with the close-up shots of Martin also help build tension.

• Audience pleasures

. Blumler & Katz - Uses and Gratifications theory. Surveillance - the use of real documents and genuine moments from history of cold war educates audience about German/American/Russian history.

. U&G: Personal relationships - this scene is effective because the audience is now invested in the character of Martin. We care about what happens to him which creates the tension in the scene.

Production and industry contexts

1) What kind of company is UFA Fiction and what shows have they produced? 

UFA Fiction is a company established in August 2013 for the UFA's fiction film and television productions. They also produced television shows such as The German X-Factor and Legal Affairs.

2) What kind of company is Freemantle and what do they produce?

Freemantle Productions produces Family Feud, Too Hot To Handle, and American Gods. They produce shows in the Global Film, Drama, and Branded Entertainment categories.

3) How does Deutschland 83 reflect the international nature of television production?

Deutschland represents the universal essence of television since it was produced and transmitted to international countries, making it the most popular foreign language show in the United Kingdom.


Walter Presents

1) How does Channel 4 introduce 'Walter'?

Walter is portrayed as someone who loves their viewers and takes the time to find high-quality shows rather than waste their time.

2) What audience are Channel 4 trying to appeal to with the 'Walter Presents' series?

Channel 4 is attempting to cater to fans with the 'Walter Presents' programme, which is targeted at those who like comedic, thrilling, and dramatic dramas that leave viewers craving more.

3) How does the 'Walter Presents' series reflect the changing nature of television in the digital age?

Walter is implying that international dramas are underappreciated and can be either as good as or better than American dramas.


Marketing and promotion

1) What audience pleasures are suggested by the trailer?

. Personal relationship - The trailer features some tense and thrilling scenes with the protagonist          Martin, which allows the viewer to form an emotional bond with him.

. Diversion - Deutschland 83 distracts the listener by using enigma and action codes.

2) How does the trailer use action and enigma codes (Barthes) to encourage the audience to watch the show?

By use of shots and fast-paced editing of Martin using tools, racing, escaping, and looking for things suggests that the series is exciting and interesting, which will entice viewers to watch it.

3) The only words heard in the trailer are in English. Why do you think the UK trailer avoided subtitles or German dialogue?

Many viewers will be seeing an international subtitled drama for the first time. They would skip the trailer if it had German dialogue so they would not bother translating the subtitles.


Press pack

1) How did she use the historical context and real-life events to create a successful drama?

The crowd is being watched by the East- Soviet Union. Deutschland 83 is about a young man from East Germany who is sent undercover in the West German army as an agent for the Stasi in 1983, during the Cold War installation of Pershing II nuclear missiles.

2) Anna Winger discusses the use of music. Why might the soundtrack attract an audience?

People who lived during this time grew up listening to this song, so listening to it is a pleasurable experience for the viewer. The importance of music in the plot cannot be overlooked.



Press release

1) List the key statistics concerning audience figures.

The first episode drew 2.5 million viewers.

2) How does the press release describe the drama?

They agree that the film, while being subtitled, is really gripping, addictive, and the coolest show of the year.


International marketing

1) How does the UK DVD cover communicate the sub-genre of the drama?

The props and retro filter effect indicate a time frame about 1983, and the analysis at the bottom confirms the notion that the film represents real events, implying that it is a historical drama.

2) How do these use font, colour and graphics to appeal to an audience?

They use an old-western font in the first picture. indicating that the series is set in the past The second image makes use of a large and strong font combined with vivid colours. This is just to get the audience's attention.

3) Why might the distributors Freemantle International have used different marketing campaigns in different countries? 

To reach a larger audience, the distributors Freemantle International used various ad strategies in different countries by using different languages in different countries.