System and Culture in Format Adaptation

This article explores strengths and weaknesses of common methods and frameworks in studying format adaptation, primarily in television series, but with some findings applicable for television entertainment formats as well. The article problematises how work on transnational remakes of television series as well as studies of format adaptation in general predominately focuses on either using text-based readings of cultural similarities and differences or explanations rooted in the media system such as, for example, a new channel’s profile or norms and traditions in the programming interface of a particular channel or country. The article examines the dominant literature and theories on the subject, illustrating that there is an ongoing debate among researchers as to which framework is more powerful and precise in accounting for format adaptation. It becomes apparent that studies favouring the one approach greatly over the other are often comparing apples and oranges. Finally, the article aims to show how existing research most often compares original and remake in their final forms, overlooking the creation process, the dilemmas of the creatives behind the transformations, and the effect their preconceptions have on the finished results

The Kim Wall Murder Serialized: Ethics & Aesthetics in High-Profile True Crime

This article investigates the dramaturgical, aesthetical and ethical implications of making television on the back of a high-profile, internationally appealing and very recent murder case: the Kim Wall murder. During a trip in his self-made submarine, Peter Madsen, a known amateur space rocket and submarine builder, abused and murdered Kim Wall, a young Swedish journalist, who was supposed to do an interview with him. Less than three years later, a range of true crime productions had been made about the case, and this article analyses three of them. Preliminary findings suggest that meta-communication is highly important in high-profile true crime productions such as these, and that creators have to walk a thin line

Ironic Europe: Gender, Power & Geopolitics in Killing Eve

BBC America’s television series Killing Eve (2018 - ) can be read as a classic clash between East and West, male and female, but with a twist: some of the (gender) roles have switched, and the show – while certainly also buying into classic stereotypes – seems interested in nuances and a humoristic play with the viewer’s expectations. This article explores the female protagonist and antagonist roles in seasons 1-3 of Killing Eve in light of contemporary gender stereotypes and representations. It links this analysis with a consideration of how national culture and locations are constructed in the show, exploring the notion of ‘secondary markers of location’ and illustrating a connection between challenging stereotypes and the corporate purpose to promote BBC America’s channel brand