Deutschland 83- Case Study

Introduction: Reviews and features

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

Positive aspect: 'Martin is superbly played by Jonas Nay', 

'Deutschland 83's first episode of eight was the most-watched foreign-language drama in UK history.' 

'American-German husband-and-wife team Anna and Joerg Winger created an irresistible export: a funky exercise in pop nostalgia underpinned by actual events' 

Criticism: 'It’s a perfect moment in a near-perfect series.'

'With the least ambiguous title ever'

'Massive hype only generated 3 million viewers for its co-maker RTL (just above the channel’s average). It was beaten by The Voice on the other side.'

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

'By focusing the story around Martin Rauch, a young East German border guard going undercover in the west, it doesn’t just make the viewer empathise with a Stasi agent on a human level – in the way The Lives of Others did – it makes us engage with the socialist regime’s worldview, in which a military exercise in West Germany poses a potentially existential 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?

Someone commented that: 'The whole series was something of a learning experience for me. I think that's why I loved it so much. Always happy to have my knowledge topped up!' I agree with this comment as I believe 'Deutschland 83' really does teach you more about German life in those times as well as information about the Cold War. 

Another person commented that: 'I was in West Germany in the summer of 1983 and I thought the programme makers captured the mood of the time perfectly.' I believe this is really good as the show have stuck to what actually was happening at that time instead of making up fictional stuff. 

Another person commented that: 'Great show with a superb soundtrack!' which I agree with as I believe the soundtrack was amazing and accurate with the time frame and situations. 

Promotional interview

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

Jonas Nay said that he believes there is no such thing as West and East Germans, he also mentions that he grew having that freedom and mobility of being able to think what he likes to think and say what he likes to say. 

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!)

Channel 4's remit is to 'deliver high-quality, innovative, alternative content that challenges the status quo.' By which having an interview in German definitely reinforces this sense of innovative and alternative content as usually in Britain we would mainly only see interviews in English however here we have an interview in German which would even possibly bring in fans of the show from Germany to watch this interview as they would be able to understand it. 

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

A Channel 4 News audience would be interested in the current political situation in Germany as they like hearing about international news as well as alternative/niche news that would only catch the attention of a small target audience. 

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: 

-360 degree camera movement circling Martin when talking to Edel and his sister created sense that things are closing in on Martin and that he is under surveillance which leads to a sense of paranoia. 

- Over the Shoulder shot/ Tracking shot = identification with Martin

-Contrast in East, camerawork seems to accompany Martin to his mum's birthday party rather than threaten him. 

-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. 

-Huge contrast in mise-en-scene between East and West- Two houses. 

Audio Codes: 

-Diegetic sound in the party in the East - conversation/chatter and music. Song is significant (99 Luftballons) - upbeat pop song helps to capture the positive atmosphere in the East.

-Non-diegetic music used in the West BBQ scene - ominous and threatening.

-Dialogue - conversations between family and guests in West BBQ are uncomfortable/forced. Suggests family is dysfunctional, unhappy.

Representations:

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

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

-Perhaps an example of fetishisation of the working class in the media - it makes East German life seem appealing and positive which is arguably historically inaccurate.

-East Germany= poor, black market: smuggle things from the West (coffee, Shakespeare) 

Audience pleasures:

-Personal identity - family and relationships. Potentially audiences will identify with the differences in social class. 

-Personal relationships - East German party scene is where relationships are first established (both between the characters in the show and between audience and Martin). 

-Surveillance - we learn about the scarcity of western brands in the East (coffee - Nescafe).

-West BBQ scene has undercurrent of tension we expect from spy thriller genre (Steve Neale - genre theory - repetition and difference.)

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

14.30 – 20.25

Technical Codes:

-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.

Audio Codes:

-Music - Sweet Dreams Are Made Of These. Diegetic sound but full of meaning to convey Martin’s first experience of the West.

-Dialogue on bench - emphasises the positives about the East and the dangers of the West. BUT this scene overall seems to present the West and capitalism in a more positive light.

Representations:

-Shot of two policemen eating ice creams is symbolic of the difference between East and West. 

-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:

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

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

Audio Codes:

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

-Dialogue/voiceover - covers a lot of narrative.

Representations:

-East v West - split screen emphasises the brands that are available in the West but not in the East. Also for fruit empty space showed what wasn’t available in the East.

-Representation of women - female assassin feels like a stereotype?

Audience Pleasures:

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

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

-International audience - surveillance (U&G theory) - learning about Germany, 80s gadgets etc.

-Genre pleasures - spy/thriller. 

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

31.13 – 33.30

Technical Codes:

-Close-ups of Martin while picking lock and photographing the documents.

-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; positions audience to be on Martin’s side. 

-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:

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

-Diegetic sound - deliberately increased volume of Martin’s breathing, lock picking, turning pages in briefcase. Creates intensity, tension.

Representations:

-Reality - this is a key scene in establishing D83 as a show based on real events. The close-ups of actual documents from the time help to blur the boundaries between historical fact/real events and fiction.

-East v West - presents West as threat to world security, nuclear war. 

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. Threat of WW3. 

-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. Audience have to want Martin/Moritz to escape here for whole drama series to work. Emotional investment in character. 

-Action and enigma codes - audience think Martin will be caught at any moment. U&G theory - diversion. Visceral pleasure - scene is tense for audience to watch, adrenaline.

-Voyeuristic pleasure - seeing a scene or activity we wouldn’t normally have a chance to see.

Production and industry contexts

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

UFA Fiction is a German award winning film and TV show company. They have produced 'A Thousand Lines',  'Hartz and Herzlich', 'Rolling- Das Quiz Mit Der Munze', 'Heligoland 513' and many more. 

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

Freemantle have been creating, producing, distributing and investing in content worldwide for over 100 years. As a global producer, Freemantle are expert at working with creative talent from all over the world to translate ideas into award-winning productions for every major market. They have produced shows such as 'The price is right', 'Deadliest Catch', 'The Responder', 'Supermarket Sweep' and many more. 

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

Deutschland 83 has been broadcasted around the world by the company Freemantle in partners with UFA Fiction which has made them successful globally, especially in the USA and the UK however not in Germany. 

Walter Presents

1) How does Channel 4 introduce 'Walter'?

Channel 4 introduces Walter as an successful company who produce only the best and high-quality shows that will keep their audience on their toes and enjoy their shows. In addition Channel 4 presents Walter as producing shows that are action packed filled with action codes throughout such as guns, cars flipping over, blood, dead bodies etc. which will obviously excite an audience. 

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

Channel 4 are trying to appeal more to a younger audience I would assume as they showed many shows with young protagonists and many action codes that would interest younger generations however I would also argue they are also trying to target the older generation due to Deutschland 83 as it brings in an element of nostalgia for an older audience as it is a period drama. 

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

As live television views are declining in numbers, more and more people especially younger generations are watching TV shows on on-demand platforms therefore Channel 4 aims to promote the 'Walter Presents' series to attract more audiences to watch these shows on their on-demand service to increase profits and streams. 

Marketing and promotion

Trailer

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

Surveillance: Deutschland 83 is set in Germany 1983 and it shows to viewers how life was in Germany during the East and West conflict. In addition the show also provides information on the Cold War which was very important event in history as it nearly led to WWIII. 

Personal Identity: Deutschland 83 is also a coming of age story as it follows main protagonist Martin as he navigates going into adulthood and dealing with this top secret mission which was not easy to settle into as a young adult which certain teenagers and young adults can relate to. 

Diversion: Deutschland 83 also provides a lot of entertainment and diversion for its audience as it's a spy thriller genre which is an extremely exciting genre and keeps an audience on their toes at all times. It allows an audience to escape from reality and live vicariously through Martin. Not only that Deutschland 83 also shows some romance and upbeat music which highlights a more uplifting genre and that it's a hybrid genre therefore reaches more audiences and makes it more enjoyable. 

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

The trailer uses many action codes such as guns, explosions, Martin running away and jumping off a balcony, lockpicking cabinets, opening a briefcase etc. This makes it very evident that the TV show is a spy thriller as it contains many action and enigma codes that reinforce this genre as mentioned above. The trailer entices the audience to watch the show in order to find out why all these things happened in the show due to the many enigma codes that are planted in the trailer in order to purposefully keep the audience in the dark so that they become encouraged to watch the show in order to find out. 

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

The UK trailer avoided subtitles and German dialogue to appeal to a British audience as usually many TV shows are in English that are showcased on TV in the UK. Nevertheless international dramas are becoming more popular however it is still mainly enjoyed by niche audiences unless a TV show becomes insanely popular, therefore using avoiding using German dialogue may appeal more to a British audience. 

Press pack

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

'The original seed of the idea was based on something that happened to my husband when he was doing his West German military service in the 1980’s. He was a radio signaller in West Germany, listening to the Russian troops in East Germany. Occasionally the Russians would greet him by name. So they knew that he was listening and he knew there must be a mole at his base – but he never figured out who the mole was. It could have been a boss or a colleague. My idea was to tell a story form the point of view of the mole. At the time of the fall of the Wall there were more than 2000 Stasi agents undercover in West Germany. In recent years, there have been some movies about the 1980s in East Germany but few about the West, so I liked idea of seeing it all through the eyes of someone who has never been there before. Our main character, Martin/Moritz, is a kind of an Alice in Wonderland.'

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

'Music was key to the story from the beginning. The top 100 songs of 1983 are still on the radio all the time! It was just an incredible year of pop culture and the songs really travelled, maybe because music videos started around that time as well, so there was a visual component for the very first time.' The soundtrack may attract an audience as it brings an element of nostalgia for individuals who listened to these songs growing up.

Press release

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

After launching with 1.49 million viewers, the first episode has now consolidated with 2.5 million viewers, overtaking the launch of The Returned (9th June 2013) on Channel 4 which previously held the record with 2.2 million. The series forms part of Walter Presents, a brand new on-demand service showcasing the world’s best foreign-language drama.

2) How does the press release describe Deutschland 83?

Set against the real events, culture wars and political realities of Germany in the 1980s, Deutschland 83 is a stylish coming of age story, framed within a suspenseful thriller. Season 1 culminates with the true story of a nuclear stand-off in late 1983, caused by a NATO war game and botched intelligence on the East German side.

International marketing

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

The UK DVD cover focuses on our young protagonist Martin who is listening to music on a cassette player which reinforces this coming of age drama. In addition we see graffiti on the Berlin Wall behind Martin which may indicate an urban area where young people live and grew up in. The DVD cover also communicates this change between teenage years and adult years as the teenage years are presented as colourful, romantic, joyful whereas the other side (growing up) as bleak, melancholy, serious. 

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

The font in both is sans serif which reinforces young, modern, informal which portrays that this show is targeted to a modern audience. In the American poster, colour is used very vividly through the bright blue and pink scheme which is used to grab your attention and show that it is a thrilling, exciting and action packed series. In the UK DVD cover Martin is grey possibly to portray that he has had his identity stolen from as he's forced to become an undercover spy. 

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

The distributors have used different marketing campaigns in different countries as different countries have different cultures and values, the same marketing campaigns may not appeal to both audiences. In addition the North America and East Germany had more conflict due to Ronald Reagan's speech which started the scare in East Germany.