Eastern Narrative Traditions and the Identity of Turkish Cinema

Sozen M. F.

BILIG, cilt.50, sa.50, ss.131-152, 2009 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 50 Sayı: 50
  • Basım Tarihi: 2009
  • Dergi Adı: BILIG
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.131-152
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Cultural belonging and identity, Eastern narrative tradition, cinematographic narrative, Turkish cinema, Western cinema
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The aim of this study is to look into the cultural background of the narrative language used in Turkish Cinema. This background is made up of the relations between mentality, narrative traditions and art. The basis that determines the narrative tradition shaped throughout Turkish history is mainly characterized by oral and visual expression and does not depend on an illusionist understanding. This is largely caused by the nature of eastern or Islamic philosophy. The value of a film as an aesthetic and intellectual tool of expression depends primarily upon its sense of cultural belonging and identity and its ability to reflect this in a way that includes an intense intellectual dimension. Therefore, it can be argued that Turkish directors' preference for making (or not making) films based on the fundamental aspects of the art and philosophy produced in Turkish society remains as an important problematic concerning cultural belonging and identity.