TATORT (CRIME SCENE) MIGRATION, 1-10
“If you’re curious about what was going on in Germany during the 70s, then just watch some of the “Tatort” episodes from that time” Gunther Witte, TV-journalist, inventor of the “Tatort” series.
TATORT (CRIME SCENE)
In an interview with Gunther Witte, retired TV-journalist and inventor of “Tatort” (Crime Scene), named the following three basic principles of his crime series:
Realism, affinity to locations, social relevance.
Keeping to these principles made “Tatort” a reflection of the people, the places and the time and Witte is sure that is what guarantees the show’s success to this very day.
What do these principles trigger in the viewer?
Realism is important for authenticity. It makes references to current affairs accepted by the viewer. Affinity to locations gives viewers the possibility for cultural and regional identification. Social relevance provides an opportunity for socio-critical reflection and controversial discourse.
MIGRATION
This topic only became prevalent in the mid 90s since it only gained socio-political importance then and public discourse started to develop. While only 11 episodes covered the theme of migration in the 70s (core theme of 7 episodes), there were already 24 episodes during the 80s (core theme of 11) and in the 90s there were a total of 46 episodes (core theme of 28). It is noteworthy in the “Tatort” series that the theme is also covered by the detectives’ characters: Ivo Batic is Croatian and Mario Kopper’s mother is Italian.
TATORT MIGRATION 1-10 (CRIME SCENE MIGRATION 1-10)
The 10 episode DVD installation explores how the theme of migration was dealt with in 78 “Tatort” episodes in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (co-production countries) from 1973 to 2005.
Every episode deals with a different topic:
Résumés, Human Trafficking, Culture, Work, Love, Laws, Rituals, Music, Language, Locations.
Title and editing of the episodes as well as the presentation form make reference to the given format - crime series, television, home cinema. The footage was not modified in content or form, it was simply edited in terms of quotations.
That is how TATORT MIGRATION 1-10 not only deals with the representation of migration but also the series itself and television as a medium.
Presentations
In the context of Projekt Migration, Kölnischer Kunstverein, Köln, 2005
Diagonale, Festival des österreichischen Films, Hotel Weitzer, Graz, 2006
In the context of Vertrautes Terrain, Aktuelle Kunst in & über Deutschland, ZKM, Zentrum für Kunst und Medientechnologie, Karlsruhe, 22.5.2008 - 21.9.2008
Concept, Realisation
Gustav Deutsch
Scientific cooperation, research
Dörte Nimz
Research and selection
Gustav Deutsch, Hanna Schimek
Advice research
Christina Ortner, Gunther Witte
Editing
Gustav Deutsch
Supervisiory Artist
Hanna Schimek
Organisation, logistics
Virginia Friedlaender-Koof
Technical advice, DVD mastering
loop media, Manfred Neuwirth
Installation-design
Gustav Deutsch
Installation-realisation and building control
Karin Haas
Installation-construction
Swen Bruckner, Peter Ewig, Mareike Frisch, Helli Hecht, Markus Karstiess, Joern Kruse, Frank Sulzer, René Zeh
Support
Cutting Crew, Rolf Königs/AUNDE Group
