READING ISTANBUL IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE LITERARY CITY

Course Objectives: Istanbul is a bad romance for too many. Life in it is difficult yet leaving it behind is almost impossible. Located in the west of the east and east of the west, Istanbul has always been full of conflicts and possibilities. This is a city, conquest of which resulted in the start of a new epoch in history. Having been the capital of two empires, namely the Byzantine and the Ottoman, its inhabitants keep finding themselves walking through history. Istanbul constantly offers magnificent views and exciting encounters, together with many sorts of hardships and problems to its residents. Since the vast majority of the world population have started to reside in cities, urban conflicts abound. In the case of Istanbul; the city’s integration to the global city network, the European migration crisis, and a violent urban transformation justified with the high risk of an earthquake are added to the conflicts. Istanbul is a megacity which becomes more and more difficult to survive in each passing second, yet somehow managing to keep its charm as one of the most interesting and fascinating metropolises of the world. Unsurprisingly, such a city has always been the inspiration and setting for a significant amount of literary output. In this course while we trace this output we will enjoy high quality literature and gain knowledge about the city. While reliving the urban experience, unfamiliar and familiar, through the selected fictional texts, we will try to look at our city with a completely fresh perspective. All primary and secondary sources to be read here are in English, the literary texts are translated from Turkish to English by reliable translators. Hence, the course welcomes both foreign and native students to this journey into the depths of the city through space and time.

Course Content: Istanbul: globalization, urban transformation, and gentrification Istanbul in literary arts: novel, short-story, poetry Setting in literary fiction: analysis of a narratological category Nostalgic discourse on Istanbul The gendered city