Deutschland 83: case study blog tasks

Introduction: Reviews and features

Read the following reviews and features on Deutschland 83:

The Guardian - Your next box set: Deutschland 83
The Guardian - Deutschland 83 Pity the Germans don't like it

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

One positive aspect would be that in the review it is mentioned that the series is near perfect and that Deutschland 83's first episode of eight was one of the most watched foreign language drama in UK history. One criticism however would be that it only generated 3 million viewers for its co-maker RTL.

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

The article revealed that by focusing the story around Martin it doesn't just make the viewers empathetic towards a Stasi agent on a human level but it makes us engage with the socialist regime's world view instead. However it then focuses onto a stereotype that Stasi officers are cruel who blackmail family members and fake reports for political end.

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?

 

One review states that they loved it so much due to the show topping up their knowledge, this links to U&G's theory of surveillance.

Another review states that they started watching the show and they are enjoying it so far.

A final third review is that the soundtrack was amazing and the title sequence is great and that others should hold their cynicism.

Promotional interview

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

He says that he liked the fact that he was free and was able to speak and say what he wanted without being controlled or monitored.

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?

Channel 4's main goal is to educate their target audience, this is done by focusing on the language barrier and breaking through this by having English subtitles. This not only engages the audience but it causes them to learn about the show and the background behind the show.

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

The average person watching Channel 4 news may be interested in current public affairs and the history of affairs which have happened throughout many countries, this engages the reader and causes them to learn about the current political state of Germany.

Textual analysis: Audience pleasures and representations

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

4.58 – 8.20 and 34.00 – 37.20

-Use of tracking shot, eye line match, 360 degree camera shot and a recurring motif of camera shots filmed through objects ie a door.

-Camera movement places audience in the party scene.

-East is presented as more relaxed and more fun, a sense of warmth is created whilst in the west a military presence can be detected, tense atmosphere. Fetishization of working class.

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

14.30 – 20.25

-Costume and branded clothing is presented, more colourful supermarket presented however all the fruit is untouched.

-The music in the store is a classic nostalgic hit, fast paced non diegetic music when martin is running away, music line "some of them want to use you"

-east is presented as healthy and the west is presented as a society which is unhealthy and controlled by the government. police casually seen eating ice-cream, symbolic of freedom in west compared to east.

-Soundtrack, 80s nostalgia, dialogue in supermarket links to cold war

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

20.40 – 22.40

-Montage clips are used along with fast paced clips. jump cuts and split screens are also used.

-sound bridge using dialogue, 80s music which adds pace and impact to montage sequence.

-Brands are presented, pleasure also generated through spy thriller, gadgets, learning about Germany etc.

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

31.13 – 33.30

-high angle shots through blinds (links to recurring motif), eye-line match also used along with fact paced jump cuts, close up of Martins face when he reacts to the information.

-tense music which builds up, loud diegetic pick locking sound which creates a heightened sense of tension.

-spy thriller, gadgets, lock picking, action and enigma code for audience pleasure, users may also experience visceral pleasure.

Production and industry contexts

Deutschland 83 was produced by German production company UFA Fiction and distributed internationally by Fremantle International. It was broadcast on RTL (Germany), SundanceTV (US) and Channel 4 (UK) as well as many other broadcasters around the world.

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

UFA Fiction operates as a production unit and it is part of the international media and entertainment company called Fremantle. They have produced the following famous shows:  Danni Lowinski, March of millions, The Tower and they are currently producing Bella Block, Donna Leon, Soko Leipzig and Soko 5113.

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

Fremantle operates the global production business of the Bertelsmann-owned RTL group and have produced: Hole in the wall, Got talent shows, Take me out, The X factor ect.

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

Deutschland 83 reflects the international nature of television products as by being produced by a company with global subsidiaries with the intent to appeal to global audiences. Companies like Fremantle and UFA fiction have taken into account the inclusion of modern ideologies to suite to consumers.

Walter Presents

1) How does Channel 4 introduce 'Walter'?

"Walter" is presented as someone with a varied and unique taste of tv dramas which all in someway or another link together.

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

Channel 4 is trying to appeal to an audience which is more open minded but likes TV dramas with elements of tension mixed within. This is done by presented various interesting scenes in the video which engages the viewer.

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

"Walter presents" reflects the changing nature of television as it is more open minded and contains more adult scenes. Moreover one could say that it appeals to younger audiences who are part of the LGBT community. Also, more television in the digital age is foreign but has English subtitles in an attempt to connect with the world.

Marketing and promotion

1) What audience pleasures are suggested by the trailer? Think about Uses & Gratifications theory (Blumler and Katz).

One may enjoy the fact that there is an undercover spy as they would like spy movies, There is also an element of visceral pleasure. This is created through the constant tension which is presented in the trailer and in the scenes of the show itself. Another audience pleasure which can be linked to Uses and Gratifications theory is surveillance as through watching the trailer one will be able to learn about the cold war and the origins of how everything started and the experiences of living in Germany at the time(1983).

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

At the start a clear difference/division is established as seen by the split screen which separates the east and west. This is an enigma code as it poses the question to the audience of why there is a difference. Moreover, more establishing scenes are shown which help to construct a plot within the trailer and reveal to the audience not in full what may happen in the show, this captures the audiences attention as the viewer may want to find out what happens fully.

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

By avoiding the use of German dialogue or subtitles the audience will be able to understand the trailer, by having subtitles the viewer may have to spend more time reading which may disinterest them from the trailer.

Press pack

Read the Channel 4 press pack interview with writer Anna Winger. 

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

She decided to use the history of her husband combined with historical context to create a successful drama. Her husband was on service in west Germany in the 1980s and he was a radio signaller that listened to Russian troops in east Germany but occasionally the Russians would say his name meaning that there was a mole on his base. Moreover, in the interview Anna states that information about Able Archer had just been declassified and it helped with the production of the show as they used it as a backdrop for the climax of the series.

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

Music was the key to the story, the top 100 songs from 1983 are still on the radio all the time stated by Anna. Soundtrack can attract an audience because when audiences listen to songs that they have heard of before it creates a warm/comfortable environment making them more engaged and more interested to watch the show.

Press release

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).

1) List the key statistics concerning audience figures. Why was it considered the most successful foreign language drama?

After Deutschland 83 launched with 1.49 million viewers, the first episode reached 2.5 million viewers which overtook the launch of the returned on channel 4 which previously held the record at 2.2 million views. This means that Deutschland 83 was successful at capturing an audience.

2) How does the press release describe Deutschland 83?

Grazia: "It's only January but let's call it already: coolest show of the year."

TV Times: "This is the next subtitled sensation...unmissable TV."

The Guardian: "This pacy saga could be your new subtitled obsession."

The Times: "A stylish curtain-raiser for Walter Presents."

The Daily Telegraph: "Great fun, and powered by an irresistible 1983 vintage soundtrack."

The Daily Mail: "Evocative and gripping."

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?

Phrases such as "over the wall" and "under cover" both suggests a spy narrative. Moreover, on the left half of the DVD release a government authority is presented whereas on the right a couple can be seen kissing which can be seen as freedom. These elements captures the readers attention and makes them interested as an enigma code is created as to why there is a divide between the wall. This also communicates the sub-genre of the drama as it links to the idea of the cold war as seen by the copy at the bottom.

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

The bright and bold yellowish copy at the top pops out of the page and captures the readers attention, the font is also a more older font which can be seen in other fonts from the 1980s which creates a sense of nostalgia for the reader. Moreover, iconography of missiles which links to the cold war is used to appeal to an audience which might have a taste in war dramas ect.

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

Different countries have different tastes especially in different cultures as in one culture one colour may seem offensive. The sundance TV advert features more missiles and firepower which Americans may favour in comparison to the DVD release advert as the DVD advert features a more controlling and authoritative style which eastern countries may favour or may be use to.