Berlin in Television Drama Series: A Mediated Space

Authors

  • Susanne Eichner Aarhus University
  • Lothar Mikos Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen "Konrad Wolf" in Potsdam-Babelsberg

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2421-454X/7141

Keywords:

Berlin, locality, brand image/value, television/film production, German TV series

Abstract

Since the early days of film Berlin and the film studios in its suburbs was an important site of production. Signature films for film historians such as Metropolis and The Blue Angel were shot at the UFA studios in Babelsberg. Throughout its history Berlin was and is a popular place for media productions with the city functioning as a text, full of meaning that turns into branded value. The article will investigate the complex relationship of historical and societal events and Berlin as a production site and an imaginary landscape respectively cityscape. Based on the analysis of national and international drama series we will argue that the increasing importance of Berlin as production site and location goes hand in hand with an increasing mediated imagination of the city as a cinematic respectively televisual space that is able to represent past events such as the Nazi regime and the cold war and actual events such as organised crime, counter terrorist activities, and an intercultural life in a modern metropolis.

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TV Series and Films Cited

Abschnitt 40 (2001-2006)

Auf Herz und Nieren (2012)

Berlin – Symphony of a Great City (1927)

Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980)

Berlin Babylon (2017-)

Berlin Station (2016-)

Blochin (2015)

The Blue Angel (1930)

Borgen (2010-2013)

Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

Bridge of Spies (2015)

Cabaret (1972)

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

Captain America: Civil War, 2016

Charité (2017)

Christiane F. (1981)

Death Dance (1912)

Deutschland 83 (2015-)

Für alle Fälle Stefanie (1995-2005)

Good Times, Bad Times (1992-)

Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Hochhausgeschichten (1980-1981)

Homeland (2010-)

The Hunger Games – Mockingjay 1+2 (2014/2015)

In the Face of Crime (2010)

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

The International (2009)

Johanna (1987-1989)

The Joyless Street (1925)

KDD – Berlin Crime Squad (2007-2009)

Klinik am Alex (2008-2009)

Der Kriminalist (2006-)

Ku’damm 56 (2016)

The Last Laugh (1926)

Liebling Kreuzberg (1986-1988)

The Lives of Others (2006)

Mata Hari (1920)

Metropolis (1927)

Monuments Men (2014)

Nosferatu – A Symphony of Terror (1922)

The Pianist (2002)

Praxis Bülowbogen (1987-1996)

The Reader (2008)

Sense8 (2015)

Sonnenallee (1998)

Die Stadt und die Macht (2016)

Die Straßen von Berlin (1995-2000)

That’s Life (2005-2007)

The Team (2015)

Turkish for Beginners (2005-2008)

Unknown (2011)

V for Vendetta (2005)

Verrückt nach Clara (2006)

Weissensee (2010)

Wolff’s Turf (1992-2006 & 2012)

Zahn um Zahn (1985-1988)

Downloads

Published

2017-07-27

How to Cite

Eichner, S., & Mikos, L. (2017). Berlin in Television Drama Series: A Mediated Space. Series - International Journal of TV Serial Narratives, 3(1), 41–49. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2421-454X/7141

Issue

Section

Productions / Markets / Strategies