Deutschland 83

How are different social groups represented in the sequence you have studied? What role does the use of media language, signs and signifiers have in constructing and presenting these representations as real?

On face value, Stranger Things (released on July 15, 2016) has minimal diversity of social groups - adults, children, as well as the different social groups in high school including; Populars, Jocks, Good-Ats, Brains, "normals", Nerds, and loners. The majority of these basic stereotypes are represented in Stranger Things episode one. However, there are some contradictories to these basic stereotypes. 

Mike and his group of friends, Dustin and Lucas, defy their nerdy stereotype. While nerds are typically depicted in films as the 'loser' as well as being a homebody, the "party" stand up to the stereotypes by being adventurous characters. Despite still being considered "nerds" by playing iconic 80s games such as Dungeons and Dragons as well as being picked on by the bullies of the school, the "party" break free from their cliche depictions.

Another character that contradicts stereotypes is Eleven. She is an androgynous character that disputes the cliches of gender representation. By her gender initially is unclear to the audience it challenges 80s stereotypes and adds contrast to the other more stereotypical characters. To modern audiences, diversity of representations is expected and wanted from a TV drama, therefore, making other characters such as Karen Wheeler and Steve Harrington more digestible to the audience.

Contradictory to that, one could argue that there is a lack of social groups represented in that all the characters fit into certain categories. Karen Wheeler is an archetypal, 80s, stay-at-home mum, with very little involvement with her children and husbands lives other than doing the cooking and cleaning. Therefore, there could be some lacks in the representation of social groups. However, Joyce then contravenes the stereotype by being a working, single parent showing that for every stereotype in Stranger Things there is a contradiction to disobey 80s cliches. 

In conclusion, there is a somewhat diverse range of social groups represented in Stranger Things. While some characters can be categorised into specific stereotypes, others subvert the rules of typicality.  

Stranger Things

TV Drama - Paper 2, questions 3 & 4

Two Questions
3) 30 marks, 50 min (5 min plan)
LIAR, Theorist (optional), Context (stranger thing + Deutschland 83)

4) 10 marks - Theory with Tv Drama

Stranger Things 

ABC, NBC, CBS are the equivalent of BBC in the UK. US network broadcasters must satisfy their advertisers and hold market shares. they are also controlled by federal regulation, they don't want to push boundaries with sex, drugs, alcohol, etc.
The impact of this on content is a reliance on highly formalized genre conventions and normative values that meets mainstream audience expectations but create conservation drama.

Cable television -
launched in the 1970s HBO was the first US national subscription cable channel. other major US players include FX, showtime and AMC. Many are subsidiaries of media conglomerates (HBO/WARNER/FX, Fox).
These subscription-based cable channels can take more risks with content and form.
By the early 200s, The Sopranos and The Wire won awards, audiences and created a water cooler effect.

The trouble with TV in the UK?
UK broadcasters have failed to meet the challenge of the US cable channels move to long-form, with their risk-taking content & style.
BBC and ITV 90s relied on the genre-based, formula drama. Heritage and crime drama are prime examples. Impacts of White Paper/Charter renewal?

Chasing the ABC1 Audience?
Channel 4 & BBC4 have identified foreign language/subtitled long-form shows are rating winners.
Embracing subtitled programs.

content viewing via a TV still dominates the UK
3/4 pf households (UK) have PVR uptake but it has plateaued.
The use of timeshift is increasing.
Growth of SVOD web-based channels such as Netflix, Amazon, Instant Video & Now TV (Sky) is considerable.
Netflix dominates the UK market (158.3 million subscribers) 
Rise of binge-watching started with DVD in the late the 90s/early C21. Particularly due to syndication problems in the UK.
A move from 'water cooler' tv to 'shared universe' fandom (as with cinema)
US long-form drama often uses easter-eggs and mid-season break to generate fun.

Multi stranded narrative = multiple things happening in one storyline

The impacts of fandom - helps spread awareness of the series

- High Quality
- Multiple episodes
- Content can be dark and difficult but innovative
- Time-shifting, easily accessible
- Becomes invested in the story
- Rise of HBO/streaming services
- Being daring with themes, characters, and settings as well as humor, race, gender, and sexuality
- Movies are more expensive to watch and see a whole storyline of (Avengers) - got to finish the whole film
- People like being in the comfort of their own home

Conventions of a TV Drama -
1) LFTVD tends to be more cinematic
2) Stranger Things has excessive amounts of detail = high production value = high level of verisimilitude-appreciated by the audience
3) 'Flow' one chapter flows into the next - makes it easy to binge-watch - enabled by Netflix 'watch next episode' that automatically comes up
4) A subversive world that provides escapism
5) Less traditional storytelling with unexpected twists
6) Encourages audiences to respond with their own media and take part (clay shirky)
7) Enters cultural parlance and embeds into cultures - becomes a text and intertextuality itself - postmodernism
8) Goes beyond the binary (ed characters move beyond simply good or bad etc)
9) Subverts traditional tv drama narratives
10) Novelistic - multiple storylines and characters that arc (stretch) over a number of episodes and seasons
11) Flashbacks that explain a character's background
12) Systemic change -  isn't just focused on one individual character
13) Communities facing challenges and dealing them by embracing or rejecting their own diversity
14) Various locations
15) Stock Characters
16) Multiple narratives
17) 1hr episodes
18) Dramatic cliff hangers
19) High production values

Homicide (1964-1977) - 
The cases and crimes actioned by the Victoria (Australia) homicide squad, with many cases based on true events.
Genre - Crime drama Police procedural, action
Themes -
Narrative - nonlinear narrative
Character Types - Characters' ranks (except for Detective Inspector) changed in accordance with real-life changes in the Victoria Police Force
Camera, editing, sound, and Mise en scene - 
Platform - production firm Crawford Productions for the Seven Network


Deadwood - 
People flee to Deadwood, South Dakota, with the dream of getting rich. However, not everyone can survive the chaos and confusion the town has to offer due to the lack of law facilities.
Genre -  ‎Western‎; ‎Period drama‎; ‎Serial drama
Themes -
Narrative -
Character Types -
Camera, editing, sound and Mise en scene
Platform - youtube, google play

Madmen -
Donald Draper, the creative director at Sterling Cooper in New York, tries to maintain a balance between his exceptional professional life and wavering personal life in the 1960s.
genre - period drama, serial drama
Platform - Netflix, youtube, google play