Cross-dressing in Turkish Cinema : Politics, Gender and National Trauma

"As in western cinema, cross-dressing is a recurrent theme in Turkish film. But what do these films, whose characters typically cross-dress in order to escape enemies or other threats, tell us about the modern history of the Turkish Republic? This book examines cross-dressing in Turkish films in the context of formative events in modern Turkish political history, arguing that this trope coincides with and is illustrative of trauma induced by Turkey's multiple coup d'etats, periods of authoritarianism, enforced secularism and 'modernization'. Burcu Dabak Ozdemir analyses five case study films wherein she reveals that cross-dressing characters are able to escape persecutors and surveillance - key instruments of oppression during Turkey's coups. She shows how cross-dressing in the films examined become a destabilising force, a form of implicit resistance against state power, both political and in terms of binaries of gender and identity, and a means to register moments of national trauma. The book historicises the concept of cross-dressing in modern Turkey by examining what the author argues is a formative trauma worked through in the films examined: the westernization policies of the Kemalist regime whose most immediate symbolic presence was worn - the enforced adoption of western dress by citizens. Of interest to scholars of gender, queer, film and trauma studies, the book will also appeal to students and scholars of contemporary Turkish culture and society."-- Provided by publisher As In Western Cinema, Cross-dressing Is A Recurrent Theme In Turkish Film. But What Do These Films, Whose Characters Typically Cross-dress In Order To Escape Enemies Or Other Threats, Tell Us About The Modern History Of The Turkish Republic? This Book Examines Cross-dressing In Turkish Films In The Context Of Formative Events In Modern Turkish Political History, Arguing That This Trope Coincides With And Is Illustrative Of Trauma Induced By Turkey's Multiple Coup D'etats, Periods Of Authoritarianism, Enforced Secularism And 'modernization'. Burcu Dabak Ozdemir Analyses Five Case Study Films Wherein She Reveals That Cross-dressing Characters Are Able To Escape Persecutors And Surveillance - Key Instruments Of Oppression During Turkey's Coups. She Shows How Cross-dressing In The Films Examined Become A Destabilising Force, A Form Of Implicit Resistance Against State Power, Both Political And In Terms Of Binaries Of Gender And Identity, And A Means To Register Moments Of National Trauma. The Book Historicises The Concept Of Cross-dressing In Modern Turkey By Examining What The Author Argues Is A Formative Trauma Worked Through In The Films Examined: The Westernization Policies Of The Kemalist Regime Whose Most Immediate Symbolic Presence Was Worn - The Enforced Adoption Of Western Dress By Citizens.0of Interest To Scholars Of Gender, Queer, Film And Trauma Studies, The Book Will Also Appeal To Students And Scholars Of Contemporary Turkish Culture And Society. -- Cover Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgement Introduction 1 Framing Turkey and mapping cross-dressing films: Turkish modernization as cross-dressing performance 2 Choreographing theory 3 Ontological security: Meeting point between cross-dressing and national traumas 4 Fracturing language, voice and speech: Whose voice, whose language, who speaks? I cannot hear 5 Fracturing space and time: Where is my home? Where is my nation? 6 Fracturing masculinity and femininity: Why boys like that, girls like this? Conclusion Notes References Filmography Index Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- PART ONE -- Chapter 1: Framing Turkey and Mapping Cross-dressing Films -- Chapter 2: Choreographing Theory -- Chapter 3: Ontological Security -- PART TWO Chapter 4: Fracturing Masculinity and Femininity -- Chapter 5: Fracturing Language, Voice and Speech -- Chapter 6: Fracturing Space and Time -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Filmography