Urban Research Lab COMM 360 / ARTH 360: Avant-Garde Istanbul: Art, Media and Culture

Laz-Rock band Marsis at a Kadı köy shore concert, Photo courtesy of Adalet Çavdar, Ist anbul Journal of Urban Cult ure

Course Description Delving into Istanbul’s vibrant art and performance scene, and engaging Turkish media through soap operas, film, and advertising, this course examines the contemporary evolution of Turkish culture – its conflicts, resolutions, European and Middle Eastern influences, as well as its own expanding cultural influence within the Arab world. In addition to exploring the city’s architectural heritage, students attend performances and exhibits through the city, and critically examine content of the airwaves and the print culture surrounding them. The course will provide the necessary socio-historical background to comprehend the current situation of art, media and culture in Istanbul. The historical and theoretical context will be accompanied by a series of hands-on field trips. Each week will involve a set of readings and a set of audio-visual material (music videos, short documentaries, etc.). Historical readings/audio-visual material will be connected to the “current” situation of art, culture and media, this “temporal bridges” will be established.

Historical and theoretical knowledge will be supplemented by treating Istanbul as the ‘laboratory’ whereby field trips will be organized as part of the course. Students are expected to come to the field trips having completed the required readings noted at the syllabus. Each student will be asked to keep a daily journal (10 percent of your overall course grade as also noted below), take photos, record videos, and conduct short interviews in the streets and/or places visited. At the end of each visit, students are expected to write a two-page summary of their experience and share with the class in a class blog, which will be counted toward the final grade of the course.

Learning Objectives In this course, the students will be expected to:       

Know more about the concepts of art, culture and media, as well as the main debates around them. Develop basic knowledge of the Middle Eastern and Turkish cultures Develop a deeper understanding of the Ottoman Turkish society and especially the cultural processes involved. Observe and comment on art, culture and media within the context of everyday life in Turkey in general and Istanbul in particular. Develop skills of comparison Carry out an independent research project on the topic and present the results orally and in written form Help their peers to clarify methodologies of their research papers.

Course Schedule 01-14 Basics & the Background: Comprehending the Dynamics of the Ottoman Past The aim of this introductory week is to introduce students to the main background of the course. As a preparation for the following week’s discussions on Art, Culture and Media, this week provides the basic parameters to comprehend the Ottoman heritage from with a long-term perspective. The reading pieces are not directly on art, culture or media, but rather provide a bird’s eye view of the social and economic history of the Ottoman Empire. Readings: İnalcık, Halil and Quataert, Donald (Eds). (1994). An Economic and Social History of the Ottoman Empire, 1300–1914. Cambridge University Press. Chapters 1, 3 & 5. Audio-Visual Material: Sufi Music – Liturgical Folk Poet & Sufi Mystic Yunus Emre (circa 14th Century) – Gel Gör Beni Aşk Neyledi (Look What Love Has Done to Me). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7HA9TY2toc

Cross with Istanbul of today: Mercan Dede (aka, DJ Arkın Allen), “Walking On The Red Sea” (Dreams Of The Sufi Saints), SufiElectronica Ambient Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOFV6Jx_O_Q Ottoman Court Music by the Moldovan Prince and Composer Dimitrie Cantemir (1673-1723) – La Voix d’Istanbul. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BQYRqgrXM8 Ottoman Classical/Court/Muslim Liturgical Music: Tambur Master Osman Bey (1816–1885): Famous Nihavend Peshrev. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpOwWGooca0 Ottoman Architecture: Mimar Sinan (Short Documentary). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8YrijHoDmw 02-14 Quotidian Life & State Regulation in the Late Ottoman Empire The second week continues on the discussion of the bearing of the Ottoman legacy, but more closely focuses on the two major determinants of art, culture and media: Quotidian Life & State Regulation. This week, in this sense, help the students contextualize and comprehend the double dynamics of state regulation and practices of daily life that have also stamped the following Republican period. Readings: Faroqhi, Suraiya. (2005). Subjects of the Sultan: Culture and Daily Life in the Ottoman Empire. I. B. Tauris. Işın, Ekrem. (2003). Everyday Life in the Ottoman Empire. Yapı Kredi Publications. (Chapters 1, 2, 6 and 8) Audio-Visual Material: Shared Songs & Ballads: Katifes (Greek) – Kadifeden Kesesi (Turkish). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuwQY_76KGM&spfreload=10 Istanbul-born Jewish-Greek singer Roza Eskenazi signs (Greek) Zeybekiko / (Turkish) Zeybek https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kesy3NyP2FI Cross with Istanbul of today: Short Documentary on Baklahorani (Greek) Tatavla Festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8NVwJQRFcs Field Trip to the Historical Peninsula: We will visit the most important sites at the historical peninsula, the seat of the Byzantine and the Ottoman Empires, and have a tour of the Grand Bazaar to observe the making of the traditional arts and crafts objects.

03-14 Happy to be a Modern Turkish Citizen: the Kemalist Fiat The third week delineates the process of top-down cultural modernization in the context of ‘nationstate making’ of the Kemalist regime that was established since 1920s. This period of 1920s-1950s was termed as “radical or fundamentalist modernity” by Tekeli, in its programmatic fiat of instituting pro-westernizing, yet at the same time ethnically homogenizing/ ‘Turkifying’- cultural reforms that have given the shape of numerous Republican cultural institutions and formations. Readings: Holbrook, Victoria. (1994). The Unreadable Shores of Love: Turkish Modernity and Mystic Romance. University of Texas Press. Ahıska, Meltem. (2005). Magic Door of Radio: Occidentalism & Political Subjectivity. Metis Publications. Audio-Visual Material: Re-enactment of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s “Last Ballroom Dance: Waltz and (Folk Dance) Zeybek. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J3wGECpCok&list=PLZdp_1Rgs76Lhkcgs16zucoxD2lVIhF Gm&index=1 Atatürk & Istanbul: An uneasy love story (short documentary). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhLeJVepiIc Cross to Istanbul, today: Electro-Choral Cover of the “10th Anniversary March” (Kenan Doğulu). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hoa2LaNG8fM Field Trip to the Republican Cultural Institutions: Radio Building at Harbiye; Süreyya Opera Building at Kadıköy

04-14 Populist Democracy, “T” Stage & Arabesk: Art & Culture ‘opening up’ to the People The fourth week discusses the cultural politics of the multi-party populist democracy since 1950s. This process took Turkey into a clearly pro-“Free World” orientation since the Cold War. In this period, Hollywood, Bollywood and Egyptian cinema have impacted Turkish movie in their “innovative imitation”, urban lifestyles changed and diversified. This period was also the beginning of the arabesk culture, identified as a new urban culture of the rural migrants. Readings: Stokes, Martin. (1994). The Republic of Love: Cultural Intimacy in Turkish Popular Music. The University of Chicago Press. Audio-Visual Material: Cult singer of the “Turkish Art” Music: Zeki Müren’s gazino concert video (short clip): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jln8HTGMDfE

Arabesk music icon Orhan Gencebay’s Dokunma (1970s) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5Q_2Z5KKyE Cross to Istanbul of today: Seksendört’s Rock cover of Gencebay’s Dokunma. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ESw_dg8Jdc Field Trip to Küçükçiftlik Park: Küçükçiftlik Park is owned by the heir of the famous Gazino king. She will give us a presentation on the gazino culture and its links to today’s entertainment forms. Session 05-14 Term Project Proposals Students are expected to make 10 minute presentations on their proposal. Session 06-14 Art, Media & Culture in Istanbul since 1980s This week will give a general overview of the art, media and culture scene in Istanbul since 1980s. The year 1980 was a critical turning point, superimposing the military coup d’etat with the promarket, neo-liberal economic reforms. Both changes transformed the art, media and culture scene drastically. We will summarize the main determinants of these transformations. Readings: Yenal, Zafer & Ahıska, Meltem, The person you have called cannot be reached at the moment: Representations of Life Styles in Turkey, 1980-2005. Ottoman Bank Archives and Research Centre. Audio-Visual Material: Documentary on the Galata Bridge and the Rock Culture of the Youth Session 07-14 ‘Plastic Arts’: Cooptation, Corporatization & Resistance This week will concentrate on painting, sculpture and other ‘plastic arts’ in Istanbul. We will discuss the main trends of cooptation of oppositional forms of art by financial interests, the increasing ‘social responsibility’ projects by big corporations, opening up of large museums and various resistance efforts by artists. Readings: Şenova, Başak. (2011). “Exploring the City: Perceiving Istanbul through its Cultural Productions”. International Journal of Urban & Regional Research. Vol 2, no 11. Field Trip to the Istanbul Modern Museum, Siemens Gallery, Elgiz Museum of Modern Art: We will be visiting three of the most important contemporary art museums, all of which are launched and supported by big corporations and philanthropic businesspeople.

Session 08-14 Cinema in Istanbul: the Form in search of a Soul This week will focus on cinema in Istanbul since the last two decades that saw a dramatic increase in the number of feature movies produced. Also in this period, numerous moviemakers, directors and actors found international recognition and won important prizes. We will discuss this rise in conjunction of the sector’s search of a new soul, combining oriental and western influences. Readings: Arslan, Savaş. (2011). Cinema in Turkey: A New Critical Introduction. Oxford University Press. Field Trip: TÜRVAK Museum of Turkish Cinema, Beyoğlu: We will be visiting the first and only Cinema Museum where the experts will also give us a presentation on the portrayal of Istanbul in Turkish Cinema. Session 09-14 The Music Scene: Hybridity, Authenticity and Glocality This week will concentrate on the music scene in Istanbul since the last two decades when numerous music styles ranging from Rock to Hip Hop, from Flamenco to Salsa came into innovative collaborations with local and traditional forms of music. We will watch many music videos to make content analysis of them in the context of major changes such as hybridity, authenticity and glocality (global-locality) Readings: Aytar, Volkan. (2014). Entertainment and Leisure Consumption in Istanbul. New Market Press. Audio-Visual Material: Kardeş Türküler – Mirkut. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwYcGW_InfU Kardeş Türküler – Tencere Tava Havası (Sound of Pots and Pans). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-kbuS-anD4 Öykü & Berk Gürman – Evlerinin Önü Boyalı Direk (Flamenco – Ballad crossover) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ8h45gXmic Field Trip to the Live Music Establishments in Istanbul: We will be visiting four different live music establishments in Istanbul: DoRock Club, Hayal Kahvesi, Beyoğlu, Nayah Reggea Club & the Hall Electronic Music Club. Session 10-14 Performing Arts This week will focus on the performing arts, such as ballet, modern dance, theater, live comedy shows and puppetry. We will discuss the main parameters having important influences on the performing arts scene in Istanbul. We will analyze the state-sponsored, corporate-supported as well as independent performing arts initiatives. We will also evaluate the main changes since the Gezi Park protests, whereby numerous governmental attempts reportedly emerged, to silence

oppositional voices within the performing arts sector. Readings: Yardımcı, Sibel. (2012). Istanbul’s Festivals: Consuming the City and Its Cultures. Goteborg Cultural Institute. Session 11-14

Presentation of Daily Journal & Blog Entries

Session 12-14 Media in a Fragmented Metropolis This week will concentrate on the print and audio-visual media in Istanbul since the last two decades. We will discuss the liquidation of the so-called “media cartel” (ie the pro-military and staunchly secularist media conglomerates) and the emergence of pro- and anti-government media clusters. We will also have a special session on the impact of Turkish TV series on the Balkan and Middle Eastern countries. Readings: Lüküslü, Demet. (2015) “Overcoming censorship with creative tactics: The TV Series Leyla ile Mecnun as a cult series of the youth culture in Turkey”. French Journal for Media Research. Vol 14. Sözeri, Ceren. (2013). “The Political Economy of the media and its impact on the freedom of expression in Turkey”. Turkey’s Democratization Process. Carmen Rodriguez, Antonio Avalos, Hakan Yilmaz, Ana I. Planet (Eds). Routledge Studies in Middle Eastern Politics. Session 13-14 Final Evaluation: Istanbul’s Art, Media & Culture This final session before the Term Project/Paper Presentations will open up a general debate on the current situation as well as the possible future orientations of the art, media and culture in Istanbul. The students are required to share their comments, open up discussions and provide their general/specific evaluations Session 14-14 Final Paper/Project Presentations In this final week, the students will submit and present their final Term Papers or Projects. A general discussion and evaluation of the course will also be opened up.

Supplemental Course Materials Yenen, Serif. Quick Guide Istanbul. http://serifyenen.com/travel-writer/books/quick-guideistanbul/quick-guide-istanbul-kapak/

Evaluation Attendance and Class Participation Proposal of the Term Paper/Project Daily Journal Blog Entries Final Paper/Project

20% 10% 10% 20% 40%

Grading Alliance programs utilize the follow standard grading policy well accepted by most US institutions. Excellent

A+ 97100% A 93-96% A- 90-92%

Good

B+

87-89%

B B-

83-86% 80-82%

Acceptable

C+

77-79%

C CUnsatisfactory D+ D DFailing F

73-76% 70-72% 67-69% 63-66% 60-62%