Deutschland 83: Case Study

 Introduction: Reviews and features

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

It’s a perfect moment in a near-perfect series. Deutschland 83’s first episode of eight was the most-watched foreign-language drama in UK history. With the least ambiguous title ever

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?

• I was left a bit disappointed by the programme. But I guess it was made for an international and/or younger audience that doesn't care much about these details.
• Loved this series. I was in West Germany in the summer of 1983 and I thought the programme makers captured the mood of the time perfectly. East Germany was much less well done (and more cartoonish) but it didn't really matter
• 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!

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? 

Nay was born in 1990 and that was after the Berlin wall collapsed. He describes the feeling of having freedom and mobility important to life and values that. He can think what he wants and say what he wants and like what he likes unlike East Germany where there are more constraits.

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!)

Since Channel 4 is a public service and depends on ad revenue and viewership, a opportunity to expand to a broader audience is a good plan. Since the foreign film industry was booming in the UK, it could help bring more viewieship and inturn might help bring more ad partners.

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

It can help to intrigue the audience with Germany political situation and news since there is not much coverage about it. Especially if there are German viewers among the audience which does appeal to that kind of audience.

Behind the scenes clips

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

They to cover interesting point to attract audiences. One points that appeals to a mass audience is the that the clip talked about how D83 uses accurate history about the cold war. This appeals to type documentary audiences that likes history but wants to learn visually. Another point they covered is that the series was made to appeal towards the young and old audience which again covers a mass audience. 

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

1983 is a important part of world history, so keeping it real but also having a depth of fiction is always important. The directors and producers really wanted to represent the real D83 so they did tons of research including using confidential documents just  for the series. 

3) What technical aspects are highlighted in the video?

They marked that the location and cinematography, production, clothing/costumes and design was what they highlighted.

Making Of: Set Design

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

Realism and mise-en-scene is very important for D83 because it's the key to communicate with the audience what kind of message to portray. Since the cold war is a piece of horror history they need to represent the dominant meaning to the audience so they can't get confused.

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

Most of the scenes and costumes were kept pretty realistic and got + reviews on that. But the producers and directors does want to keep a level of fiction so some scenes and settings were made up.

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

It helps visualise the audience on how it was before in 1983. It also pleases the older generation audience which grew around that time which gives a piece of nostalgia. 

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

• Following martin around (POV / THIRD PERSON VIEW)
• Creates a claustrophobic feel/surroundings closing into him
• Mise-en-scene between east and west house
• Several shots in the East German party of key characters shot over-the-shoulder or through other guests. Emphasises family and friends

Audio codes – particularly music

• Diegetic audio/ambience noise (e.g. chatter)
• Mysterious vibe to the music
• Non-diegetic music used in the West BBQ scene - ominous and threatening.
• Dialogue - conversations between family and guests in West BBQ are uncomfortable/forced. This suggests the family is dysfunctional, unhappy. 

Representation of East & West Germany / Family / Gender

• Scene where Martin gives a item to a man which means there is a hidden war within the family.
• Strong contrast in the East German party scene with close family, friends enjoying themselves, relaxed atmosphere. 

Audience pleasures

• Uses and gratification theory, family and relationships/friends
• Western brands as a gift compared to Eastern brands
• West BBQ has more tension

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

14.30 – 20.25

Technical codes – particularly mise-en-scene

• Camerawork don't want to focus on the main character
• Use of colour and costume (mise-en-scene)
• Supermarket shelves are full of colour and stacked high. Almost an example of postmodern art and designed to emphasise the difference between East and West.

Audio codes – particularly music

• Non-diegetic music in the beginning
• Diegetic music in the shop
• Intense music when he ran away
• Dialogue on the 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.

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

• Shows West Germany to be more luxurious
• Police represented to be more chill (eating ice-cream) compared to the East
• 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

• The mysterious vibe in the beginning
• 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

• Fast pace shots/jump-cuts
• Camerawork during montage
• Splitscreen to represent difference in products between East and the West
• 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.
• 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, fast music
• Voice over which covers the narrative
• Diegetic sound - loud breathing in conjunction with the close-up shots of Martin also help build tension. 

Representation

• East vs West shows the difference between known brands
• Female assassin (representation)

Audience pleasures

• Spy montage = James Bond (e.g. gadgets)
• German nostalgia
• Genre pleasure - spy/thriller

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 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.
• 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 helps build tension

Representation

• 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.

Audience pleasures

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

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

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

Walter Presents

1) How does Channel 4 introduce 'Walter'?

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

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

Marketing and promotion

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

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

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

Press pack

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

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

Press release

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

2) How does the press release describe the drama?

International marketing

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

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

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