Reviews and features:
1) What positive aspects of Deutschland 83 are highlighted in the reviews?
The positive aspects that are highlighted are the scene where Martin is running running around in the supermarket gives audiences these visions were constructed and links in capitalistic values and nostalgia.The fact that there is a subtle difference that is made between the east and west side of Germany alludes to the differences allowing audiences to get better representations and gives a good portrayal of the historical period.
2) What criticisms are made of the show?
The criticisms made of this show is that even though it provides us with nostalgia there is a lack of drama within the show and offers stereotypes of stasi officers who make fake reports and blackmail which is a negative representation as some audiences may perceive.
3) Why did the Telegraph suggest that Deutschland 83 did the 'period' aspect of 'period drama' so well?
This is because it gives audiences a quite accurate representation of what it was like between the east and west Germany as the differences between the two are made very clear and does this through speech codes used by specific characters like the stassi baddies and the goodies in west Germany creating a conflicting approach.
4) 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 agree with the fact that there is socialist regime view as it conveys a sense of togetherness for the east side as loads peoples lives are getting significantly affected through these changes.
1) What does Jonas Nay say about growing up in a united Germany?
He claims that there is not any east or west Germans and claims there are certain obligations towards humanity as a democratic country.
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!)
This allows audiences to benefit the public rather than commercial interests and provides audiences with alternative content that challenges the status quo.
3) Interviewer Matt Frei asks about the current political situation in Germany. Why might this interest the Channel 4 News audience?
The channel 4 remit includes the fact that it is about stimulating public debates and contemporary issues which means that it can interest audiences as they may also have opinion about the current system in Germany that champion alternative views.
The All4 website has a range of clips from behind the scenes of Deutschland 83. Watch the following:
Making Of: Why Should You Watch Deutschland 83
Watch this short promotional clip for Deutschland 83.
1) Why should audiences watch Deutschland 83 - what does the clip offer viewers?
The show offers viewers unpredictable events and a journey that your able to have with the character itself and what they are going through and has a lot of action within it along with being fast paced and allows audiences to get knowledge about previous history.
2) Why is history an important aspect of the appeal of the show?
This is because there is no other show or movie that provides history about Germany like Deutschland does.
3) What technical aspects are highlighted in the video?
The cinematography of costume and production design are striking and alludes to the movies that the older generations watched in a particular perioud of time.
Making Of: Set Design:
Watch this interview with Production designer Lars Lange.
1) Why were the set design, costume and props so important for Deutschland 83?
The set design and costume along with props helps to establish the setting and create the setting that was familiar back in those days so that it look realistic and audiences can relate to it.
2) How historically accurate was the setting, costume and props?
They were quite accurate but some parts they could not really relate to like the stations that were kept secret and there was not much they could research but made it close to reality as possible.
3) Why were the props, costumes and music such a key audience pleasure for Deutschland 83?
This is because audiences could identify things that looked familiar to the past and gain the sense of nostalgia. This could have also provided pleasures for audiences to see old technology working and see it being used which i quite significant.
1) The opening of the trailer uses sound and editing to draw the audience in. Explain why this is effective.
The music draws audiences in as it is quite dramatic and non diagetic which has a few dialogues that is quite fast paced and helps to intrigue audiences interest by presenting this show in this way.
2) What audience pleasures are suggested by the trailer? Think about Uses & Gratifications theory (Blumler and Katz).
The audience pleasures are diversion and surveillance of the German culture this is because it provides entertainment and allows audiences to have a sense of escapism along with providing audiences with historical culture of Germany during that tie perioud which the older generation can identify with.
3) How does the trailer use action and enigma codes (Barthes) to encourage the audience to watch the show?
There are various action and enigma codes that are used like when the characters are looking is certain directions when something happens which suggests there could be a shift in the narrative arch and it also represents different characters with various aspects of action which heightens the audience expectations.
4) Pick three shots/scenes from the trailer that capture the spy thriller sub-genre. Why might this appeal to an audience? Try and apply Neale's genre theory 'repetition and difference' (the original notes on genre theory are here).
5) Pick three examples of mise-en-scene from the trailer that capture the 1983 setting the confirm the sub-genre of period drama. Why might this appeal to an audience?
These may appeal the audiences as they want to find out more of what he is doing or trying to find.
6) The trailer uses the song 'Two Tribes' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Why did the producers select this soundtrack for the trailer?
This is because there were many historical tribes in Germany and by using this gives a nostalgic element to this show as it familiarises with the show itself.
7) The only words heard in the trailer are in English. Why do you think the UK trailer avoided subtitles or German dialogue?
This may because audiences can understand more than it being sub titled as it is very fast paced and by using English allows audiences to get a quicker and better representation, of this show rather than it being in German which would not intrigue that many people in the UK.
1) Read this Freemantle Media press release on the worldwide success of Deutschland 83. How is the drama described by the distributor? Why was it considered such an international success?
This is because whatever the show is representing has not been represented before and this allows audiences to watch it more and as it follows martin audiences want to know what else secrets he may uncover which means that it has a lot of suspense.
2) Read this Freemantle Media press release on Deutschland 83 becoming Channel 4's highest rated foreign drama. What was the consolidated viewing figure for Episode 1 of Deutschland 83? What praise for Deutschland 83 is included in the press release?
The consolidated viewing figure was 2.5 million and the praise was that it is best known for a foreign language drama which has a culmination of German history and the war.
3) How does the press release promote the Channel 4 'Walter Presents' collection of international TV drama?
They promote it by stating that Walter presents will host more than 600 hours of drama that will be available for all box set viewing in All 4.
Channel 4 introduce Walter as a very hard working person who chooses the best for its audiences and thought his trailer there is a sense of trust that it made between the audiences and Walter suggesting that dramas on this show cannot be bad.
2) What audience are Channel 4 trying to appeal to with the 'Walter Presents' series?
The audiences that channel 4 tries to appeal are a educated audience and hard working who can watch shows for entertainment purposes after a long day to relax.
3) How does the 'Walter Presents' series reflect the changing nature of television in the digital age?
There is a changing nature that is presented because different people have different tastes and preferences and there is something that is suited to everyone is different ways.
Look at the online Channel 4 press pack for Deutschland 83.
1) Read the programme information from the press pack. How does the programme information seek to interest a reader from the first paragraph?
This seeks to interest the audiences as it provides historical information and intrigues audiences as they would want to know more about east and west Germany. The fact that this paragraph states that its is filled with suspense and characters are mentioned provides us with more of a insight as we would want to know what actually happens to him.
2) What does the programme information suggest the main strengths of the programme are?
This suggests that there are gripping scenes which capture and reveal experiences of Germans during that time perioud. This keeps audiences interested because of the differences outlined between east and west are also significant as audiences are able to tell the differences.
3) Read the press pack interview with writer Anna Winger. How did she use the historical
context and real-life events to create a successful drama?
She used experiences from research and applied it to the protagonist in the show by giving more attention to detail.
4) Anna Winger discusses the use of music. Why might the soundtrack attract an audience?
She claims that the use of music was chosen from the hit songs from 1983 and this is significant as it gives the show a historical element and a nostalgia to the audiences.
1) How does the UK DVD cover communicate the sub-genre of the drama?
This communicates the sub genre of the drama because the character is placed on the cover in a uniform holding some communication device and claims that over the wall and under cover giving the audiences a sense that this is a spy theme based show.
2) Analyse the mise-en-scene in the UK DVD cover. What does it communicate to the audience?
The mise en scene of costume is significant as we know that he is on some type of mission and one of the main characters. Also the use of positioning and lighting gives audiences a perception that this a war based show.
3) How does the American branding use font, colour and graphics to appeal to an audience?
The American branding font is quite bold and appealing to the audience that is doing the communication to intrigue audiences with bright colours in the background making the font appear darker.
4) Why might the distributors Freemantle Media International have used different marketing campaigns in different countries?
This is because they want to familiarise audiences with what they know best and by doing different campaigns for both countries it allows audiences to feel more comfortable with what they perceive.
1) What positive aspects of Deutschland 83 are highlighted in the reviews?
The positive aspects that are highlighted are the scene where Martin is running running around in the supermarket gives audiences these visions were constructed and links in capitalistic values and nostalgia.The fact that there is a subtle difference that is made between the east and west side of Germany alludes to the differences allowing audiences to get better representations and gives a good portrayal of the historical period.
2) What criticisms are made of the show?
The criticisms made of this show is that even though it provides us with nostalgia there is a lack of drama within the show and offers stereotypes of stasi officers who make fake reports and blackmail which is a negative representation as some audiences may perceive.
3) Why did the Telegraph suggest that Deutschland 83 did the 'period' aspect of 'period drama' so well?
This is because it gives audiences a quite accurate representation of what it was like between the east and west Germany as the differences between the two are made very clear and does this through speech codes used by specific characters like the stassi baddies and the goodies in west Germany creating a conflicting approach.
4) 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?
- "by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice".
- ''it makes us engage with the socialist regime’s worldview, in which a military exercise in West Germany poses a potentially''
- ''The pleasure came from the little details of life on the other side of the Iron Curtain. 1983 isn't so long ago, but Communist East Germany now looks like another planet: the orange curtains, the cheap clothes, the pathetic excitement of teenagers at listening to illicit western pop music, particularly Nena's original German version of 99 Red Balloons.'
i agree with the fact that there is socialist regime view as it conveys a sense of togetherness for the east side as loads peoples lives are getting significantly affected through these changes.
Interviews and behind-the-scenes video features:
1) What does Jonas Nay say about growing up in a united Germany?He claims that there is not any east or west Germans and claims there are certain obligations towards humanity as a democratic country.
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!)
This allows audiences to benefit the public rather than commercial interests and provides audiences with alternative content that challenges the status quo.
3) Interviewer Matt Frei asks about the current political situation in Germany. Why might this interest the Channel 4 News audience?
The channel 4 remit includes the fact that it is about stimulating public debates and contemporary issues which means that it can interest audiences as they may also have opinion about the current system in Germany that champion alternative views.
Behind the scenes clips
The All4 website has a range of clips from behind the scenes of Deutschland 83. Watch the following:
Making Of: Why Should You Watch Deutschland 83
Watch this short promotional clip for Deutschland 83.
1) Why should audiences watch Deutschland 83 - what does the clip offer viewers?
The show offers viewers unpredictable events and a journey that your able to have with the character itself and what they are going through and has a lot of action within it along with being fast paced and allows audiences to get knowledge about previous history.
2) Why is history an important aspect of the appeal of the show?
This is because there is no other show or movie that provides history about Germany like Deutschland does.
3) What technical aspects are highlighted in the video?
The cinematography of costume and production design are striking and alludes to the movies that the older generations watched in a particular perioud of time.
Making Of: Set Design:
Watch this interview with Production designer Lars Lange.
1) Why were the set design, costume and props so important for Deutschland 83?
The set design and costume along with props helps to establish the setting and create the setting that was familiar back in those days so that it look realistic and audiences can relate to it.
2) How historically accurate was the setting, costume and props?
They were quite accurate but some parts they could not really relate to like the stations that were kept secret and there was not much they could research but made it close to reality as possible.
3) Why were the props, costumes and music such a key audience pleasure for Deutschland 83?
This is because audiences could identify things that looked familiar to the past and gain the sense of nostalgia. This could have also provided pleasures for audiences to see old technology working and see it being used which i quite significant.
Textual analysis: trailer
1) The opening of the trailer uses sound and editing to draw the audience in. Explain why this is effective.
The music draws audiences in as it is quite dramatic and non diagetic which has a few dialogues that is quite fast paced and helps to intrigue audiences interest by presenting this show in this way.
2) What audience pleasures are suggested by the trailer? Think about Uses & Gratifications theory (Blumler and Katz).
The audience pleasures are diversion and surveillance of the German culture this is because it provides entertainment and allows audiences to have a sense of escapism along with providing audiences with historical culture of Germany during that tie perioud which the older generation can identify with.
3) How does the trailer use action and enigma codes (Barthes) to encourage the audience to watch the show?
There are various action and enigma codes that are used like when the characters are looking is certain directions when something happens which suggests there could be a shift in the narrative arch and it also represents different characters with various aspects of action which heightens the audience expectations.
4) Pick three shots/scenes from the trailer that capture the spy thriller sub-genre. Why might this appeal to an audience? Try and apply Neale's genre theory 'repetition and difference' (the original notes on genre theory are here).
- The part where Martin is doing something with a stick and a hand grabs him from the back.
- when he is walking out and a explosion happens behind him
- when the door opens and there is lady that has a gun towards him.
These appeal to audiences because the scenes are similar but they are shot very differently and all have different meanings that go with the same genre. This alludes to what Neale's theory about genre claims as he suggests that “Difference is absolutely essential to the economy of genre” - mere repetition would not attract an audience. This means that as the audience is more intrigued to see different things happening it gives them more of a interest rather than seeing repeated things every time in many shows. Deutschland 83 does this very well as there are different action and enigma codes used differently.
5) Pick three examples of mise-en-scene from the trailer that capture the 1983 setting the confirm the sub-genre of period drama. Why might this appeal to an audience?
- The change of costume when martin comes to the west.
- The use of technology that is not used now.
- The scene where he gets beaten up by a women whilst spying in her room.
These may appeal the audiences as they want to find out more of what he is doing or trying to find.
6) The trailer uses the song 'Two Tribes' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Why did the producers select this soundtrack for the trailer?
This is because there were many historical tribes in Germany and by using this gives a nostalgic element to this show as it familiarises with the show itself.
7) The only words heard in the trailer are in English. Why do you think the UK trailer avoided subtitles or German dialogue?
This may because audiences can understand more than it being sub titled as it is very fast paced and by using English allows audiences to get a quicker and better representation, of this show rather than it being in German which would not intrigue that many people in the UK.
1) Read this Freemantle Media press release on the worldwide success of Deutschland 83. How is the drama described by the distributor? Why was it considered such an international success?
This is because whatever the show is representing has not been represented before and this allows audiences to watch it more and as it follows martin audiences want to know what else secrets he may uncover which means that it has a lot of suspense.
2) Read this Freemantle Media press release on Deutschland 83 becoming Channel 4's highest rated foreign drama. What was the consolidated viewing figure for Episode 1 of Deutschland 83? What praise for Deutschland 83 is included in the press release?
The consolidated viewing figure was 2.5 million and the praise was that it is best known for a foreign language drama which has a culmination of German history and the war.
3) How does the press release promote the Channel 4 'Walter Presents' collection of international TV drama?
They promote it by stating that Walter presents will host more than 600 hours of drama that will be available for all box set viewing in All 4.
Walter Presents:
Watch this Channel 4 trailer for their Walter Presents international drama.
1) How does Channel 4 introduce 'Walter'?Channel 4 introduce Walter as a very hard working person who chooses the best for its audiences and thought his trailer there is a sense of trust that it made between the audiences and Walter suggesting that dramas on this show cannot be bad.
2) What audience are Channel 4 trying to appeal to with the 'Walter Presents' series?
The audiences that channel 4 tries to appeal are a educated audience and hard working who can watch shows for entertainment purposes after a long day to relax.
3) How does the 'Walter Presents' series reflect the changing nature of television in the digital age?
There is a changing nature that is presented because different people have different tastes and preferences and there is something that is suited to everyone is different ways.
Marketing and promotion:
Look at the online Channel 4 press pack for Deutschland 83.
1) Read the programme information from the press pack. How does the programme information seek to interest a reader from the first paragraph?
This seeks to interest the audiences as it provides historical information and intrigues audiences as they would want to know more about east and west Germany. The fact that this paragraph states that its is filled with suspense and characters are mentioned provides us with more of a insight as we would want to know what actually happens to him.
2) What does the programme information suggest the main strengths of the programme are?
This suggests that there are gripping scenes which capture and reveal experiences of Germans during that time perioud. This keeps audiences interested because of the differences outlined between east and west are also significant as audiences are able to tell the differences.
3) Read the press pack interview with writer Anna Winger. How did she use the historical
context and real-life events to create a successful drama?
She used experiences from research and applied it to the protagonist in the show by giving more attention to detail.
4) Anna Winger discusses the use of music. Why might the soundtrack attract an audience?
She claims that the use of music was chosen from the hit songs from 1983 and this is significant as it gives the show a historical element and a nostalgia to the audiences.
1) How does the UK DVD cover communicate the sub-genre of the drama?
This communicates the sub genre of the drama because the character is placed on the cover in a uniform holding some communication device and claims that over the wall and under cover giving the audiences a sense that this is a spy theme based show.
2) Analyse the mise-en-scene in the UK DVD cover. What does it communicate to the audience?
The mise en scene of costume is significant as we know that he is on some type of mission and one of the main characters. Also the use of positioning and lighting gives audiences a perception that this a war based show.
3) How does the American branding use font, colour and graphics to appeal to an audience?
The American branding font is quite bold and appealing to the audience that is doing the communication to intrigue audiences with bright colours in the background making the font appear darker.
4) Why might the distributors Freemantle Media International have used different marketing campaigns in different countries?
This is because they want to familiarise audiences with what they know best and by doing different campaigns for both countries it allows audiences to feel more comfortable with what they perceive.
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