Between East and West: Negotiating Turkish National Identity through Contemporary Visual Media

This thesis examines the representation and negotiation of Turkish national identity in contemporary visual media, focusing on the growing global influence of Turkish television shows and films. Turkey occupies a unique geopolitical and cultural space that is frequently reflected and reconstructed through visual storytelling. However, representations of Turkish identity in both domestic and international media are often shaped by stereotypes and binary understandings of East and West. In this analysis, Turkish identity is explored with particular attention to themes of hybridity, secularism, tradition, and cultural authenticity. Drawing upon Homi K. Bhabha’s concept of the “third space”, the analysis is a qualitative case study approach of ten television series and ten films, selected according to their mainstream global popularity. The findings suggest that certain Turkish television series and films offer more authentic representations than others, making it difficult to draw broad generalizations. However, Turkish television series have achieved greater global success than films by combining Western lifestyles with traditional cultural values more effectively, often supported by universally recognizable melodramatic storytelling tropes. The research also demonstrates that film, television, and social media play a significant role in shaping Turkey’s soft power and international image. Ultimately, this study highlights the importance of nuanced representations for nations and contributes to broader discussions on identity in a globalized society.