Postmodernism & Deutschland 83: blog tasks

 

Media Magazine - A Postmodern Reimagining of the Past

Media Magazine 73 has a feature exploring Deutschland 83 as a postmodern media product. Read ‘Deutschland 83 - A Postmodern Reimagining of the Past’ in MM73  (p18). You'll find our Media Magazine archive here - remember you'll need your Greenford Google login to access. Answer the following questions:

1) What were the classic media representations of the Cold War?

often fit a stereotypical binary ‘good vs evil’ The Cold War – the state of tension and hostility between the Soviet bloc countries and the West from 1945 to 1990 – has inspired a series of film and media texts within the spy genre. These texts often present the East and West as binary opposites through codes and conventions. The communist East is presented grey and stark, no billboards, culture or entertainment and strict limitations of citizens’ movements and availability of certain foods (e.g. coffee and bananas). The capitalist West, in contrast, is a world of department stores, restaurants and cars, pop-culture and entertainment and free movement.

2) Why does Deutschland 83 provide a particularly good example for postmodern analysis? 

for postmodern analysis due to its exploration of identity, history, and the blurring of lines between East and West, all while engaging with tropes of espionage and Cold War narratives in a way that subverts expectations and highlights the constructed nature of reality

3) Pick out some of the aspects of the opening of episode 1 and explain why they are significant.

BBQ / garden party scenes - Western family (Edel family) is shown to be dysfunctional and unhappy. The BBQ scene feels awkward and forced. 

Strong contrast in the East German party scene with close family, friends enjoying themselves, relaxed atmosphere. 

Perhaps an example of fetishization of the working class in the media - it makes East German life seem appealing and positive which is arguably historically inaccurate

4) How does the party scene at Martin's mum's house subvert stereotypes of East Germany in the Cold War?

Strong contrast in the East German party scene with close family, friends enjoying themselves, relaxed atmosphere  compared to how  it is perceived in the media as ruff and evil.

5) What aspects of the episode set in West Germany offer postmodern elements?

Mise-en-scene - use of colour and costume. Iconic Puma logo red T-shirt as a colourful contrast to the dull East. 

Supermarket shelves full of colour and stacked high. Almost an example of postmodern art and designed to emphasise the difference between East and West.

6) Finally, how does the article apply postmodern theory to Deutschland 83 and link it to the potential target audience?

Postmodern theory suggests a skepticism towards overarching, unifying narratives, which "Deutschland 83" embodies by presenting a complex, morally ambiguous Cold War era, rather than a simple good vs. evil narrative.  The show's episodic format and focus on individual characters' experiences, rather than a grand historical arc, aligns with postmodern audiences' preference for fragmented, non-linear storytelling The show's setting in 1980s East and West Germany, a period of intense geopolitical tension, allows for a nostalgic look at a time that is both distant and relatable to a younger, post-Cold War generation. East German party scene is where relationships are first established (both between the characters in the show and between audience and Martin). 

Postmodernism Factsheet

Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and open Factsheet #54: Introduction to Postmodernism. Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets. If you need to access this from home you can find our factsheet archive here (you'll need to use your Greenford login).

1) Read the section on Strinati's five ways to define postmodernity. What examples are provided of the breakdown of the distinction between culture and society (media-isation)?

The characters Bruno and Borat have more ‘reality’ for film audiences than their creator Sacha Baron Cohen. Cohen’s films rely on the fact that the characters he creates are seen as ‘real’ people and he is able to get away with saying and doing things that a ‘real’ person could not. Cohen is only ever interviewed ‘in character’ so his creations have a voice but he does not.

• In The X Factor contestants perform cover versions of cover versions of songs (they copy copies). In a Queen themed night John and Edward sang ‘We Will Rock You’ – but they performed ‘the

2) What is Fredric Jameson's idea of 'historical deafness'? How can the idea of 'historical deafness' be applied to Deutschland 83?

Jameson argues that postmodernity is characterized by a weakening of historicity, a sense that history is no longer a vital connection to the present. He sees this as a symptom of late capitalism, where the focus is on the immediate and the present, rather than on understanding the long-term historical context. This "historical deafness" manifests as a difficulty in grasping the significance of historical events and their ongoing impact. While Deutschland 83 is set in a specific historical period (1980s East Germany), the series could be interpreted as reflecting a certain detachment from the deeper historical context of the Cold War for example  The focus on the spy thriller aspect of the series might overshadow the broader historical context of the Cold War and the division of Germany. The characters' motivations and actions might be driven by immediate circumstances and personal desires, rather than a deep understanding of the historical forces at play. The series might not fully explore the long-term consequences of the Cold War and its impact on the lives of the characters. 

3) What examples and theories are provided for the idea of 'style over substance'?

e.g.

• People are strongly influenced by branding when buying products. The label sometimes becomes more important than the product itself and packaging more important than the contents. People will pay high prices for products which bear the logo of a fashionable label regardless of the actual quality of the product.

 • The modern rise of celebrities launched through reality television programmes such as Big Brother can be seen as the culture celebrating style over substance. Many celebrities are now famous for being famous rather than for an identifiable talent

4) What examples from music are provided for the breakdown of the distinction between art and popular culture? Can this be applied to Deutschland 83?

 This can be applied  to Deutschland  83  with and Campbell’s soup cans in the supermarket

(low art) and Pop music (low art) often samples classical music (high art) showing the difference of them and how they are used.

5) What is bricolage? What examples of bricolage can be found in Deutschland 83?

 Bricolage is juxtaposing  of old and new texts  images  ideas and narrative  to create new meanings this is used  in Deutschland 83 such as  the Regan speech on tv in the opening seen.

6)   How can the audience pleasures of Deutschland 83 be linked to postmodernism? Read 'The decline of meta-narratives' and 'Media texts and the postmodern' to help answer this. 

Deutschland 83 blends 1980s nostalgia with a deeper, more personal look at the Cold War, challenging the usual good vs. evil narrative. Through the eyes of Martin, an East German soldier torn between conflicting loyalties, the show  feels less like a grand, clear-cut tale and more like a messy, uncertain experience. It mixes genres and tones, offering both playful 80s references and a look at the morally gray choices people make in difficult times, inviting viewers to rethink  their belifs

7) Now look at page 4 of the factsheet. How does Deutschland 83 demonstrate aspects of the postmodern in its construction and ideological positioning?

Deutschland 83 demonstrate aspects of the postmodern in its construction and ideological positioning  in the supermarket where the create a whole supermarket to look like western supermarket. 

8) Which key scenes from Deutschland 83 best provide examples of postmodernism? Why?

 opening sequence 

Bricolage- Regan speech 

Hyper reality- historical deafness.

 supermarket scene

Bricolage - martin in the super market scene 

Pastiche- tv, shop front boarding.

hyperreality- of the  supermarket  and intertextuality  and pop culture realty's.

There is a lot of challenging work here - you will have plenty of time to complete it so take it slowly, read around the subject and re-watch the scenes from the first episode on All4 to help develop impressive academic answers to these questions.