Introductory Topics in Middle East and North African Studies (290-6-1)
Topic
Women in Turkish Popular Culture
Instructors
Oya Topcuoglu
847/491-2402
Crowe 4-121
Meeting Info
Locy Hall 303: Mon, Wed 2:00PM - 3:20PM
Overview of class
When we think of popular culture, we think of film, music, television, sports and fashion, among other things. But popular culture is never solely an amusement or diversion. Although entertainment is ostensibly the main purpose of popular culture, through the consumption of this ‘entertainment,' popular culture also shapes individual and societal values and beliefs.
In this course, we will examine representations of women in Turkish popular culture and how popular culture generates and articulates understandings of gender and sexuality in contemporary Turkey and beyond. We will also focus on how these representations affect gender roles and expectations. We will consider how differences in identity, class, race, and sexuality may shift the way women are represented and even valued within popular culture. Through critical readings and discussions, we will also explore how women interact with these representations and create their own representations and counter narratives in response. We will study a variety of media, including film, television, music, sports, and social media from the last two decades of Turkish history, to examine popular portrayals of women and what they tell us about women's roles and related tensions and anxieties played out in popular culture. In addition to case materials, we will also read general theoretical works on women, gender, and popular culture from anthropology, gender studies, and media and cultural studies.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- articulate a critical definition of what constitutes popular culture,
- analyze multiple forms and media of popular culture and assess their impact and significance,
- critically analyze depictions of gender in general, and women in particular, in Turkish popular media,
- explain how popular culture influences conceptions and constructions of female identity in Turkey,
- develop an understanding of how popular representations of women affect gender roles and expectations in modern Turkish society,
- research a topic related to popular media and write an essay examining the impact of depictions of gender on current perceptions of women and/or queer individuals in Turkey and beyond.
Teaching Method
Lectures and in-class discussions, engagement in active learning strategies
Evaluation Method
The final grade for the course will be based on the following criteria:
- Class participation and attendance, including active participation in in-class discussions and annotating the readings in Hypothes.is
- One group project/presentation
- One final paper
Class Materials (Required)
All readings, films and music videos will be available on Canvas. An active Netflix subscription is required to watch the TV shows.
Class Attributes
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area