The articulation of Britishness on German screens: From <i>Barnaby</i> to <i>Bridgerton</i>

This study examines the articulation of Britishness to young German audiences through crime and period dramas, as well as the role Britishness occupies within their marketing strategies. Employing textual, genre, and promotional analyses of Midsomer Murders, Sherlock, Killing Eve, Downton Abbey, Peaky Blinders , and Bridgerton , Britishness is conceptualised as a fluid, genre-specific signifier within transnational cultural exchange and as a promotional strategy. By balancing heritage with modernity, these dramas exemplify how national identity is a flexible asset in global content flows. This fluidity highlights the enduring significance of nationhood as a marker of cultural identity and competitive differentiation within global media markets.

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Publication Details

Journal
Critical Studies in Television The International Journal of Television Studies
Published
2025-12-07
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/17496020251404936
Primary Topic
German Colonialism and Identity Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

The articulation of Britishness on German screens: From Barnaby to Bridgerton

Susanne Eichner
Critical Studies in Television The International Journal of Television Studies
German Colonialism and Identity Studies
article

The articulation of Britishness on German screens: From Barnaby to Bridgerton

Susanne Eichner
article en

Abstract

This study examines the articulation of Britishness to young German audiences through crime and period dramas, as well as the role Britishness occupies within their marketing strategies. Employing textual, genre, and promotional analyses of Midsomer Murders, Sherlock, Killing Eve, Downton Abbey, Peaky Blinders , and Bridgerton , Britishness is conceptualised as a fluid, genre-specific signifier within transnational cultural exchange and as a promotional strategy. By balancing heritage with modernity, these dramas exemplify how national identity is a flexible asset in global content flows. This fluidity highlights the enduring significance of nationhood as a marker of cultural identity and competitive differentiation within global media markets.

Critical Studies in Television The International Journal of Television StudiesVol. 21(1)
Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF (DE)
Openalex Percentile: Top 62%
German Colonialism and Identity Studies
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