TV: Deutschland 83 case study
TV: Deutschland 83 case study
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.
Yet as if to make up for such a radical premise, it then backtracks into stereotype. Stasi officers are cruel ideologues who blackmail family members and fake reports for political ends.
It’s not all retro-smirking at oatmeal computer hardware and 99 Red Balloons, though (even if the latter is sung at a youthful East German house party as if it is the coolest tune in town). Deutschland 83 is a serious thriller driven by jeopardy of the all-out nuclear kind. Austere-looking East German newsreaders continually pop up against mustard backdrops with updates on the deployment of mid-range Pershing II missiles.
2) Why does the second Guardian article suggest the Germans didn't like the show?
Because the show uses German stereotypes which they may not like
2) Why does the second Guardian article suggest the Germans didn't like the show?
Because the show uses German stereotypes which they may not like
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?
"It was riddled with very silly inaccuracies, which were required for the plot to work."
Do I agree?: I disagree. The show took a lot of independence with historical accuracy to make the story more dramatic, however I believe it does not affect the plot in any way"The last episode was disappointing. All felt a bit rushed and shabby compared to the rest of the series, like they'd run out of Deutschmarks halfway through."
Do I agree?: I agree"Andrew Collins doesn't understand what he's talking about. 'The Bundeswehr’s boffin is hilariously seen pointlessly slotting it into a gaping aperture on his Robotron A5120.' The Bundeswehr is the West German military, not the East German."
Do I agree?: I disagree. The mistake about the Bundeswehr and Volksarmee is a clear error, however I do not think that it takes away from the premise of the show or undermine the plot. In fact I do not think the vast majority of the audience would of noticed this very miniscule error.
Promotional interview
Channel 4 News: Matt Frei interviews Jonas Nay
1) What does Jonas Nay say about growing up in a united Germany?
Most of what he knew about the Cold War he learnt from school but he learnt more about WWII, he also says that he doesn't feel that is he a west German or and east German because when he was born Germany was not divided.
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 has more unique shows and content. It tries to teach something or make a point rather than appeal to a big audience. The German show isn’t mainstream, and it’s meant for a German audience, but the English subtitles show they also want to teach British viewers about the Cold War.
3) Interviewer Matt Frei asks about the current political situation in Germany. Why might this interest the a Channel 4 audience?
Channel 4 viewers like to stay updated on current events, so they might find the information interesting and want to hear from someone who actually lives there now.
Textual analysis: Audience pleasures and representations
We need to consider the audience pleasures of Deutschland 83 alongside various representations created in the first episode.
Type up your analysis from the lesson using the headings below. You may want to watch the key scenes again and develop your notes in further detail - the more specific and memorable your analysis, the better it will serve you when writing an essay on TV drama. Here's a Google doc we have worked on in past Media lessons on this topic - feel free to use these notes alongside your own. You'll need to use your Greenford Google login to access this.
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 has made many hit movies and TV shows like Danni Lowinski, March of Millions, and The Tower.
2) What kind of company is Freemantle and what do they produce?
strong, independent team of creators and one of the biggest companies in the world that makes and sells entertainment, dramas, films, and documentaries.
3) How does Deutschland 83 reflect the international nature of television production?
Deutschland 83 shows how TV production is international. It was made by a company with offices in many countries and includes American ideas and modern storytelling to attract people from all over the world.
Walter Presents
Watch this Channel 4 trailer for their Walter Presents international drama:
We need to consider the audience pleasures of Deutschland 83 alongside various representations created in the first episode.
- Scene 1
- Constant stops → shows lively, talkative community
- Over-the-shoulder shot → follows Martin, placing him as the protagonist
- Run-down house → reflects Eastern poverty, lack of prosperity
- Full table, little eating → highlights Western privilege, contrasts East vs. West
- "99 Luftballons" → symbolizes Western pop culture influence, nostalgia
Scene 2: West German Supermarket (14:30 – 20:25)
- 80s fashion → represents Western influence, pop culture
- Martin’s POV → helps audience identify with his experience
- Fully stocked shelves → intertextual reference to Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup
- "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" → reinforces 80s setting
- TV screens in shop window → consumerism, accessibility for all
Scene 3: Spy Training Montage (20:40 – 22:40)
- Conventional montage → fast-paced, urgency of training
- Jump cuts → show passing time, intensity
- Split screen effect → contrasts East vs. West, binary opposition
Scene 4: Briefcase Scene – Stealing NATO Plans (31:13 – 33:30)
- Extreme close-ups → create enigma, suspense
- Jump cuts → increase urgency, tension
- Shot reverse shot → interaction, secrecy
- Fast pacing → builds intensity
- Archive documents → authenticity, realism
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 has made many hit movies and TV shows like Danni Lowinski, March of Millions, and The Tower.
2) What kind of company is Freemantle and what do they produce?
strong, independent team of creators and one of the biggest companies in the world that makes and sells entertainment, dramas, films, and documentaries.
3) How does Deutschland 83 reflect the international nature of television production?
Deutschland 83 shows how TV production is international. It was made by a company with offices in many countries and includes American ideas and modern storytelling to attract people from all over the world.
Walter Presents
Watch this Channel 4 trailer for their Walter Presents international drama:
1) How does Channel 4 introduce 'Walter'?
Channel 4 wants to attract viewers who love watching the best shows and films, especially those interested in more niche content.
3) How does the 'Walter Presents' series reflect the changing nature of television in the digital age?
The Walter series suggests that most people are watching TV dramas and series through streaming services or by binge-watching on websites and boxsets instead of watching live TV. This means having all episodes available at once is important for people who can't watch on a set schedule and those used to on-demand viewing.
Marketing and promotion
Trailer
1) What audience pleasures are suggested by the trailer? Think about Uses & Gratifications theory (Blumler and Katz).
The split screen shows how Walter’s life is different in the East and West, with the song playing giving clues about the history and narrative, making viewers question the story. The action scenes also hint at conflict in the West and Walter's life.
3) The only words heard in the trailer are in English. Why do you think the UK trailer avoided subtitles or German dialogue?
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?
The first episode of the pilot got 2.5 million viewers, which has stayed consistent. It had more viewers than any other Channel 4 premiere and got mostly positive reviews from the media
2) How does the press release describe Deutschland 83?
The press release calls the drama a 'stylish coming of age story mixed with a suspenseful thriller.'
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?
Channel 4 shows Walter as a mysterious person, only later revealing he’s skilled at reviewing shows and good at his job.
2) What audience are Channel 4 trying to appeal to with the 'Walter Presents' series?Channel 4 wants to attract viewers who love watching the best shows and films, especially those interested in more niche content.
3) How does the 'Walter Presents' series reflect the changing nature of television in the digital age?
The Walter series suggests that most people are watching TV dramas and series through streaming services or by binge-watching on websites and boxsets instead of watching live TV. This means having all episodes available at once is important for people who can't watch on a set schedule and those used to on-demand viewing.
Marketing and promotion
Trailer
1) What audience pleasures are suggested by the trailer? Think about Uses & Gratifications theory (Blumler and Katz).
The trailer provides diversion through exciting action scenes and mystery, with documentary clips and Reagan’s speech suggesting the show will also be educational and historical, providing surveillence
2) How does the trailer use action and enigma codes (Barthes) to encourage the audience to watch the show?The split screen shows how Walter’s life is different in the East and West, with the song playing giving clues about the history and narrative, making viewers question the story. The action scenes also hint at conflict in the West and Walter's life.
3) The only words heard in the trailer are in English. Why do you think the UK trailer avoided subtitles or German dialogue?
: If the trailer had focused more on a slow, foreign language drama, it would have ruined the fast, exciting pace of the trailer. Audiences might not have liked it as much because many people don’t enjoy foreign language dramas because of the language barrier.
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?
The first episode of the pilot got 2.5 million viewers, which has stayed consistent. It had more viewers than any other Channel 4 premiere and got mostly positive reviews from the media
2) How does the press release describe Deutschland 83?
The press release calls the drama a 'stylish coming of age story mixed with a suspenseful thriller.'
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?
Both ads have similar slogans, 'over the wall - under cover/under the gun,' showing it's a spy drama. The DVD cover features Martin with a Walkman, linking the coming-of-age theme and the historical costume drama aspect.
2) How do these use font, colour and graphics to appeal to an audience?
Bright, colorful fonts and posters make the show seem beautiful and appealing to people who might be interested.
3) Why might the distributors Freemantle International have used different marketing campaigns in different countries?
2) How do these use font, colour and graphics to appeal to an audience?
Bright, colorful fonts and posters make the show seem beautiful and appealing to people who might be interested.
3) Why might the distributors Freemantle International have used different marketing campaigns in different countries?
Different countries have different values and pride in their history. The UK tends to focus on surveillance and history, presenting itself as cultured and sophisticated, while the US focuses on its Hollywood image, so their ads need to be eye-catching and stand out. Ads can also highlight parts of the story that will appeal to people in specific countries.
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