TV: Deutschland 83 - Close-textual analysis

Scene 1: Garden/BBQ scenes (East & West Germany)
4.58 – 8.20 and 34.00 – 37.20

Technical codes – particularly mise-en-scene:

• 80's fashion(less bright and vibrant)-east
• war/solider uniform- east - different design and colour scheme to east 
• diagetic sound - 80's music ( german)-east
• bigger garden and larger food variety -west
• more vibrant colours in the west- costume and settingetc.. (the younger generation in the west arent conforming to old fashion styles and ways)

Representation of East & West Germany / Family / Gender

• east-poor but happy
• east- mother and son/ west- traditional family two parents two children (boy and girl)
• west- a lot more privileged
• west families- more proper and upperclass?
• gender- adil daughter is dressed in pink and the son is in green and blue (gender stereotypes reinforced) 
• family in the east is seen as alot more valuable than in the west - alot closer in the east 
• east vs west - martin and the aunt- "that reagan is a danger to mankind"-east and west conflict
• coffee-Nescafe- heavily valuable item in the east compared to the west
• setting in the east is more gritty and grungy 
• music in the west is more ominous and all music heard is mostly in English
• west- martin starts BBQ - male dominance
• east - mother of martin starts BBQ - female dominance 
• the male dominance could be seen as historically incorrect 

Scene 2: Martin/Moritz first sees the West German supermarket
14.30 – 20.25

Technical codes – particularly mise-en-scene

• west - more wealthy, variety , chandelier(POV shot)
• 80's fashion- changes clothes to fit west fashion standards- very different to the west -more vibrant and more branded(puma shirt)-eye catching
• supermarket scene-critical-perfectly packed shelves-pastiche to pop art
• colour of vehicles -life in the west is literally brighter 

Audio codes – particularly music

• high paced-tension-non diagetic(martin/moritz is running away)
• lyrics of sweet dreams reflect martin/moritz position-diagetic sound
• when he wakes up in the west-sense of wonder an amazement reflected through music 
• songs in west are all western songs (cultural imperialism)where as in east its all german music

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

• west-urban(over the shoulder shot of bonn 
• west supermarket- variety, matins facial expression, because he is from the east, is shocked and in awe
• gender-"what does Annette want?"- sexism undertones
• reference to car and apartment is seen as a luxury in the east
• "true luxury in the west..."
• police in the west are eating ice cream care free- liberty, communal

Audience pleasures

• 80's nostalgia
• tension-high attention when running away- visceral pleasure- non diagetic 

Scene 3: Training montage scene when Martin/Moritz learns how to be a spy
20.40 – 22.40

Make notes under the following headings:

Technical codes – particularly camerawork and editing

• montage-editing- fast paced
• final shot-low angle-superiority, martin in danger
• split screen- modernised editing
• wipe transition
• jump cuts
• mise-en-scene:supermarket products- emphasise difference in the east and west
• shots from behind other objects - reinforces spy genre

Audio codes

• music- past paced
• 80's music- thumping 80's soundtrack
• modern voice over- dialogue merge
• 'ping'-SFX- when products on screen 

Audience pleasures

• montage sequence-diversion
• nostalgia 
• pleasure of recognition: James Bond
• German audience- nostalgia, identity of product
• surveillance for other counties: German culture  

Intertextuality

• James bond- getting new gadgets- mise-en-scene
• makeover scenes
• rocky training montage
• post modernism
• gameshow style : audio codes

Scene 4: Briefcase scene when Martin/Moritz is stealing the NATO nuclear plans
31.13 – 33.30

Make notes under the following headings:

Technical codes – particularly camerawork and editing

• shots- filmed through things -motif(spy genre)
• closeups- documents, draw, keys 
• raegan signature, top secret -close ups

Audio codes – diegetic and non-diegetic sound

• low/ slow music- suspense etc...- non diagetic
• when draw doesn't close- music intensifies and tension 
• diagtetic sound- breathing- stress, tension, exaggerated 

Audience pleasures

• high attention - what if moritz get caught
• diversion: pace + excitement 
• personal relationship - doesn't want moritz to get caught