From Ottomania to Action Thrillers: Inside Turkish TV Dramas

In this course students will examine the rise, global reach, and cultural impact of Turkish television series, especially over the past two decades. Turkey ranks second, after the United States, in the export of its television series worldwide. Through close viewing and discussion of various diziler (soap operas), we will explore how these shows incorporate historical themes, melodrama, romance, urbanity, and social issues. We will also analyze how they shape narratives related to identity, power, and morality in Turkey and beyond. As cultural texts, Turkish TV dramas provide insights into changing perceptions of the past and present. Students will approach the diziler through the lens of broader media trends in the Middle East, with a focus on their audience reception, their impact as a form of soft power, and the various outcomes of their international circulation.