The Bridge Flashcards
(21 cards)
what episode is studied?
s3 ep1
where is the show (episode) set
sweden, near the Oresund Bridge which connects denmark and sweden
when was the episode screened in denmark and sweden? name the channels for each country that the episode was shown on.
27th september 2015
sweden - SVT1
denmark - DR1
when was the episode screened in the uk and on what channel
21st November 2015 on BBC4
what is significant about the time (of day) that the episode was screened in the uk
After 9pm which is after watershed, meaning it was not meant for young audiences
This was the slot dedicated to foreign programmes on bbc4
SVT1 and DR1 are both what type of channels? What does this mean?
Public service broadcasters
Funded by a license fee, no adverts - means they can afford to take more risks as there is less pressure to appeal to a mainstream audience
what is bbc4
- a public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC
- is no longer on air but can access on the programmes on bbc iplayer
-home of nordic noir for BBC
what genre is the show (episode)
Scandinavian subgenre of crime drama – Nordic Noir
Who produced it and what is significant about this?
Nimbus Films and Filmlance International
Collab between Denmark and Sweden - means access to more resources, split costs, more actors, and wider audiences
However they decided to follow the Swedish work regulations despite employing both Swedish and danish actors
Who funded the show/episode? What did this mean?
Copenhagen Film Fund 2013
Meant they had to employ more danish cast and crew
Creative Europe media
£1mil grant
Show/ episode was high budget and quality
What is desaturation?
The reduction of colour intensity in an image, resulting in a more muted or washed-out appearance
how does hesmondhalghs cultural industries theory relate to the set product
- use of successful formats is less risky
- vertical integration (swedish/danish coproduction, received funding from several production companies)
- American remake, and a French-English remake were made which minimises risk through the use of a successful plot
how does strauss’ binary opposition theory relate?
- sweden vs denmark
- saga vs hanne
- nuclear vs non-nuclear family
- illusion vs reality
- police vs criminal
how does todorovs narratology theory relate to the product?
- initial equilibrium : martin in jail, saga focused on work, Pettersen and Lillian are married
- disruption : discovery of helle anker’s body
- however there isnt any resolution or new equilibrium
how does neales genre theory relate to the product
typical crime drama elements : police, murder, dark locations, entwined storylines
However incorporates different elements : nordic noir, horror conventions, strong female representations, action genre elements
how does van zoonens feminist theory relate to the product?
women are not sexualised or presented as ‘objects’
how does butlers gender performativity relate to the product
Saga often adopts male traits relating to her honesty, candid discussion about sex and forthright confidence
how does livingstone and lunts regulation theory relate to the product?
show was originally broadcasted after 9pm watershed, and contained a variety of potential issues which garnered some complaints from OFCOM (swearing, violence, sex, threat, and drugs)
how does baudrillards postmoderism theory relate to the product?
- diegetic world of the bridge is a hyper reality as it is a carefully mediated version of the police forces of sweden and denmark as opposed to a completely real one
- pastiche : nordic noir influences; show shares similarities of style with other nordic noirs
- reflexivity : Saga is a nod to other historical fictional characters; she is essentially a high functioning sociopath effected with traits relating to autism, like sherlock holmes
Who regulates the show
OFCOM
What were the problems the show faced with regulation?
Audience regulation
They tried to control who saw it’s more adult content by screening it after watershed when kids were supposedly asleep
But watershed has become a redundant concept as lids have easy access to streaming services like Netflix and bbc player where you can watch the show
Piracy
Developments in technology have made pirating shows very easy which reduces the number of people watching the show legally
To combat this the episodes would be streamed at the same time in Denmark and Sweden to reduce chance of pirating
