Deutschland 83 essay

In this essay i will discuss the different theories and theorists that can be applied to Deutschland 83 and use them to analyse different representations and media language.

Neale's genre theory can be applied to Deutschland 83. This genre theory is about what genres are, and about how and why they are created, change endure or decline. As well Neale accentuates the fact that genres are not fixed but constantly evolve this can lead hybrids with other genres which is perfectly example din Deutschland 83. Deutschland 83 is originally a spy genre but due to the advancements in the story and the way its been set out, a clear genre hybrid can be spotted. It includes a Comedy genre as well as a Thriller genre.The conventions of a spy genre is that the main protagonist is usually male, there's features of weapons/tech, Secrecy, dark colour palette and tension and suspense and even plot twists. The conventions of a comedy genre is that lighting tends to be bright, main character usually male and their life isn't running too smoothly. Hybrid of Deutschland 83 conforms to both to a Spy genre and comedy genre show. It contains a male protagonists who's life isn't running smoothly. Deutschland 83 also used a Dark colour palette but subverts from it in a lighted heart moments. As it is a spy genre it contains a lot of  Tech and Weapons , Secrecy, Tension and Plot twists. An example of this is in the first episode in t= 18:10 where Martin is running away from the general and his Aunt in the supermarket and the song 'Sweet Dreams' is playing, this comedic as Martin is dumbfounded of the West and can be seen visually shocked, this helped with a moving camera added to the intensity of the scene as well. Despite it being as comedic it was also a tense scene as Martin found that what had happened today and tried to run away and keeps the audience on the edge of their seat to find out what has happened to him. In the West it used bright colours to accentuate the comedic values this was proved through mise-en-scene and what Martin was wearing during that scene. This can lead to both a democracy and multiculturalism ideology within that episode. 

Todorov's theory of Narratology can be linked to Deutschland 83. Narratology is the study of narrative; in this case, of narrative structure and how the parts fit together to make a whole. Todorov argued that  All narratives can be seen as a move from one state of equilibrium (where nothing need occur) to another, new equilibrium. The disruption to the equilibrium is what drives the narrative towards a new equilibrium. The movement from the initial equilibrium to the new equilibrium entails a transformation (e.g. the hero expresses their heroism and defeats the villain) – this transformation expresses what the narrative values.This is shown in the first episode of Deutschland 83 as the equilibrium for Martin was his everyday life working at border control, living with his mum and being with his girlfriend. The disequilibrium cam when his aunt came into the East in an attempt to take him away and become a undercover spy in the West working for the East. At first Martin did not want to do it but then is forced into when he gets his finger broken and drugged after being questioned by the general. He wakes up in the West in a massive house and only to find another general and his aunt there. After first refusing to do the task, in the end he understood the implications and decided to do it for the good of his country, this has become his new equilibrium and he understood his job and wanted to complete it to go back. 

Van Zoonen Feminist theory is applied in Deutschland 83. In patriarchal culture, the way women's bodies are represented as objects is different to the representation of male bodies as spectacle. Gender is preformative – our ideas of femininity and masculinity are constructed in our performances of these roles. Gender is ‘what we do’ rather than ‘what we are’. Moreover, gender is contextual – its meaning changes with cultural and historical contexts. An example within the first episode is t=7:40 when Martins Mum is in the Kitchen with her sister Lenora this is a perfect example of Van Zoonen as it shows a gender stereotype of women in the kitchen doing domestic chores. This constructs a specific performance which has certain specific historical context of women becoming more domestic. This scene is also significant as it shows a clear divide between the two sisters. Martins Mum is from the East and is proven by the clothes she is wearing which is more of the working class and it accentuates their families social status and class. Whereas Lenora the sister is seen wearing more smart clothing and even has a cigarette in her hand this oozes power and strongly suggests that she is of a higher class and has been from the West of Germany. This shows two sisters and the contrast of lifestyle and class. Another example of Van Zoonen in the text is t=37:24 this wide shot presents Yvonne as the centre of attention and almost as the spectacle. This links to the idea that gender is perfomative and where Yvonne is obliged to perform a classical song  by her father wishes and expectations , which is a vast contrast from her brother who is expected to be a soldier and leader this signify the societies ideas of femininity and masculinity and are constructed within these two roles. This portrays the ideology of feminism and women having equal rights.

Barthes theories of multi stranded narrative, connotation and denotation, enigma code all can be applied/justified in the first episode of Deutschland 83. Multi stranded narrative relates to the idea of a ball of string and this signify the idea that there are multiple story lines within one narrative. 

Hall- 

Deutschland 83 timed analysis

T = 7




Dark Palette, Wide shot to show buildings, Editing shows the location

t=25



forces of evil in the modern world - real life footage makes the drama part documentary , presence of R Reagan adds authenticity to the drama.


t=33



Focused on the foreground, Mid shot, low key lighting muted colours, mise en scene suggests that shes in a higher class/status, body language suggests power, subverts from gender norms of male being in power.

t= 1.55



Difference of ideology, levels of irony/humour

t= 2.59




Neale theory of genre hybridity applies, low angle and colours/lighting

t=3.03



Contrast to beginning

t=5.47




t-7.06



Todorov equilibrium theory applies, Propps theory of the damsel. patriarchal representations of female role apply . Van Zoonen applies

t=7.40



Van Zoonen gender stereotype of women in the kitchen doing domestic chores, Contrast of the east and west. Contrast of class

t=13.04


Disequilibrium Todorov, Foreground, sent on a quest, Propps theory

t=16.59


Mise en scene elements, costume and props. american clothes.

t=18.10


midshot, bright colours shows the West in bright colours , comedic scene , sweet dreams intertextual link that song came out in the year it was set in.

t=31.32



comedic moment cant get in , closeup , music in the background adds to the tension

t=32.16

Genre hybrid, spying

t=33:48.

silent, builds tension, woman wearing yellow dress stands out

t=35:33

the pass that they previously practised fails which is fairly comedic, neales genre hybrid

t=37:41

moving camera looking up , focused on martin

t=38:13

Focused on martin, but in the background see the aunt, builds suspense/tension

t=38:18

shows her perspective of whats going on, midshot

t=42.28

comedic, neales genre hybrid, aunts away with the fairies and dancing

t=43.39

Lowly saturated colours, characters blend in suggest they dont want to be caught

t=43.53

wide shot to show everything that going and shows a woman in a car they should avoid.

t=44.38

Neales genre hybridity, Van Zoonen female views

t=45.29

shows a hand on the shoulder in a close up. Wide shot to show the passing of information

t=46.16

Extreme wide shot that's zoomed at to show isolation and almost power for the female

t=46.23

moving shot of martin running

t=46.37

#

camera stay stills and martin runs to join the group

Long Form TV Drama Deutschland 83

Deutschland 83

Directors - Edward Berger / Samira Radsi

Shot Location - Filmed in Berlin and Potsdam Germany / Stazi museum

Budget- $40Million Germany Biggest Budget

How many countries- USA, Germany , UK, Europe

Revenue- 

LIAR-

Language
Industry
Audience
Representation

Old fashioned Vibe- e.g TV
colourful but muted colours
lowly saturated
shot reverse shot- passing cigarettes
use of real life footage gives authenticity
intertextual link song in the grocery
costume (Verisimilitude)
Handheld shots following character
smooth establishing shots
Animated title sequence with light hearted music but serious visuals
lots of character movement suspenseful music to fit mood
silence for effect
low angle shots


Editing

Throughout the first episode, the pace of camera changes to build suspense. This is evident from when Martin was running away from his aunt and the East Germany generals. Audiences would've became engrossed as the pace increases it leads to increased pressure.
Blue tone to represent a more moody , serious scene this was seen in East Germany.
Throughout the episode there was a use of colours but they were muted colours to conform to the authenticity and when the episode was set.
News footage from real television gives high levels of authenticity and makes it relatable to the audience and relates to the idea of Verisimilitude.

Sound
"Sweet Dreams" is a song by Euthrymics , made in 1983. This is an intertextual link as this song came out the year the episode was set and it accentuates the fact that where it was set and it makes it authentic as possible as the West was allied with America and thus the reason thew song being played in the grocery store.
Use of silence in meeting with the general playing chess, was unsettling.
Amplified  sounds and fast music links to the ideal of paranoria and makes the audience be on the edge of the seats as they're instantly interested.

Mise-en-scene
Verisimilitude - uniforms and offices gives more authenticity
A lot of dark humour within the episode examples are when the Aunt was drugged and dancing, also at the beginning scaring the two thief

Camera Work
Wide shots of buildings establishes shots and builds suspense. As well shows transitions within the episode and it shows off the iconic places.
Shot reverse shot with the aunt and general passing the cigarettes. It builds the pace and tension and it goers back and forth.
Lots of camera movement shows panning and handheld
Match on action and pulling focus when Martin was on the phone to his girlfriend.


Class
Gender
Todorov
Hall
Van Zoonen
4 Micro Elements

Genre Conventions- Spy

Main Protagonist usually male
Weapons/Tech
Double Agent (Plot Twist)
Secrecy
Dark Colour Palette
Tension and Suspension

Genre Conventions - Comedy

Lighting tends to be proud
Main character usually male
Life doesn't run smoothly


Hybrid of Deutschland of 83 conforms to both to a Spy genre and comedy genre show. It contains a male protagonists who's life isn't running smoothly. Deutschland 83 also used a Dark colour palette but subverts from it in a light heart moments. As it is a spy genre it contains a lot of  Tech and Weapons , Secrecy, Tension and Plot twists.

Genre theory is about what genres are, and about how and why they are created, change endure or decline.

Neale argues that genre is a process by which generic codes and conventions are shared by producers and audiences through repetition in media products.

This means that genres are not fixed, but constantly evolve with each new addition to the generic corpus (the body of products in a genre), often playing with genre codes and conventions or becoming hybrids with other genres.

Generic codes and conventions are not just established in media products but in products that refer to these products such as critical writings or advertising and marketing material, what Neale referred to as ‘the inter textual relay’.

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Theories of Representation – Hall

Representation is not about whether the media reflects or distorts reality, as this implies that there can be one ‘true’ meaning, but the many meanings a representation can generate. Meaning is constituted by representation, by what is present, what is absent, and what is different. Thus, meaning can be contested.

A representation implicates the audience in creating its meaning. Power – through ideology or by stereotyping – tries to fix the meaning of a representation in a ‘preferred meaning’. To create deliberate anti-stereotypes is still to attempt to fix the meaning (albeit in a different way). A more effective strategy is to go inside the stereotype and open it up from within, to deconstruct the work of representation.

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Stuart Hall's theory of representation (Guardian Research)

A more western population such as Americans may view Deutschland 83 the preferred reading in the fact that it is a fictional story and almost sympathise for Martin and will see the story from the point of the view the main protagonist. 

An oppositional reading would be more suited to Germans as this was proved as Deutschland 83 lost half its German starting audience with only 1.72m viewers. This could be as the Cold war was still fresh in the minds for Germans and its too close to home. This could be also linked to the Stasi within the political context of East/West Germany.

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The economic context for long form TV drama is summed up in p 154 where its states that the reduction in costs of technology coupled with increased competition (p.   ) has resulted in higher quality long form TV dramas. This includes factors such as

• CGI allowing visual effects even within TV budgets
• Drones allowing arial photography
• The development of high definition cameras, with low lightr sensitivity enabling recording low key lighting set-ups at night.

The developments of streaming technologies has enabled LFTV dramas to be made available on Netflix, BT, Virgin, Sky and Amazon who are actively commissioning proprietary content on their streaming services in order to differentiate themselves from other providers.

• The emergence of low cost streaming services is only possible through the lower cost of computers
• The political drive to create high speed connections
• The cultural contect of changing attitudes as to what constitutes television.

Streaming as a technology has also allowed

• Programmes to be made without obvious segmentation in order to fit advertising breaks
• Less adherence to rigid program lengths
• Less need for traditional narrative elements such as cliff hangers as programmes can be watched as complete series.;

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Viewpoints and ideologies in media language   (p156)

Referring to pages 156 of the OCR media studies book you will refelect of the ideologies influencing media language in TV dramas, these may include

·         Individualism - Deutschland 83 mainly focuses on Martin the protagonist and his journey of going to the west. Phone call to Girlfriend/ Take care of his mother/Shakespeare shows corruption 

·         Consumerism- E.g. In Deutschland is when Martin jumps the wall and runs away from the general. Also, the Shakespeare books and the scene in the Grocery store/trying all the gadgets and spy skills/Puma/ Hypocrisy

·         Patriarchal- The scene at the generals party, Yvonne is expected to sing and show herself off. /Lenora- East German spy leader subverts the ideoalogy  / Anett/ Martins mum in kitchen 

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(p159.)    Todorov’s narratology can be used to analyse narratives of LFTVD’s but the theory has its limitations.   Essentially the dramas can be analysed in terms of how they suggest an initial equilibrium and how they disrupt this equilibrium with an event that creates a drive towards a narrative resolution.

(p161) Todorov’s theory is designed to explain a linear narrative with a distinct ending, a narrative resolution.   As Long form TV dramas are serial narratives (meaning they drive towards a resolution over e.g. the length of a series in order to meet audience expectations however the prime interest in these dramas is in how the resolution is delayed ,  a delay which creates a sense of anticipation by combining the movement towards that resolution with other narrative strands.

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Cultural Context-

• The episode reflects specifically German concerns about cultural amnesia and remembering. The need to remember - recent media products have explored East German experience in a way that represents how ambiguities of that experience were buried in the triumph of the West at reunification
• An example will be the tensions between the East and West
• Spy narrative is of global cultural resonance, despite its local origin , and helps explain the international success of its series
• The representational complexity of the programme reflects the context of the high expectations of LFTVD.

Historical Context-

• The episode explores the German division in 1983 : the East poor, controlled and firmly ideological: the West rich, free but self-doubting
• The complex and ambiguous representations in Deutschland 83 reflect the difficulties faced by Germany in coming to terms with its past., the political and military tensions of the early 1980s in divided Germany. The collapse of communism in 1989 meant that much more East German experience was swept under the carpet. 

Political Context-

• The representation of concern in both Germany about american sabre about rattling may reflect either contemporary German political confidence, as the lead in European politics or a liberal critique of american republican politics by the programme american writer or both 

Economic Context-

• The complexity of the characteristics and representations reflects the economic pressure to create quality flagship programming. 

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Levi Strauss Levi Strauss’s idea of the binary opposition – that the system of myths and fables was ruled by a structure of opposing terms such as hot/cold, male female can be applied to LFTVD.

The opposites of way of life between East/West - west is more richer and more modernised whereas the east is more poorer 

Male Leader/Female Leader 

State:Family - Lenora is more interested in the East Germany state rather her than her own sister 

Martin wants to be back home with his girlfriend and family 

Manipulation/love-  becoming a spy/lying to his girlfriend 

Danger/Safety- always in danger and safety isn't given yet

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Stereotypes 

• Walter is a stereo typically ruthless spymaster
• Young people at the party are stereotypical pleasure-seeking teenagers
• Martin flawed young man with lack of self control 
• General Jackson Black male - Gung-ho american military man 
• Yvonne troubled and rebellious young teenager