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

Parkes Hall 213: Mon, Wed 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

Pop Divas, Drama Queens and Trailblazers: Women in Turkish Popular Culture

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.

Class Attributes

Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area