I find that overall your blog is very enjoyable and illuminating. The list above looks very comprehensive in terms of Turkish politics. If I could wish for a fancy issue for you to write about, it would probably be the left parties galaxy in Turkey (let's say those that have been inside or around HDP recently), both historically (1965-1980 and 2002-2014) and nowadays.
Hi Simon, thank you for this! I agree, it would be interesting to take some time to look at the left. My problem is that my book (still under review) and academic work (ongoing PhD thesis) is on the right, so it's much easier for me to write on them. The right is also very much in power, which makes them more relevant to write about from a current affairs perspective.
I have some ideas relating to the left, but they're not as well-grounded as I'd like them to be. I might read some of the key books on left and review them, perhaps use them as entry points to the periods you mention.
I think I find the politics of language posts the most interesting, but I read everything you send. "A Turk in Palestine" was memorable for the personal touch.
I do appreciate the "what I'm reading/watching" posts, even though I forget to come back and comment if I actually watch any of the recommendations. I tracked down "Ahlat Ağacı" a couple of months back and enjoyed it; probably should have mentioned that while it was still fresh in memory.
I'm currently watching "Kübra" on Netflix, who seem to have made a deal with Çağatay Ulusoy that he is the only Turkish male actor permitted in a lead role.
I agree with this comment. Insights into language (the Türkiye article, unpacking the term "reis", etc.) are extremely interesting and constitute the kind of analysis that is difficult to find in English anywhere else. I'm not surprised they're among the most read.
Articles covering the use and misuse of the figure of Mustafa Kemal, as well as of nationalism in Turkey are equally interesting. Deep dives into the politics of Turkey were helpful in the lead-up to the election to make sense of the landscape as a distant observer.
I actually enjoy writing the language pieces a great deal. I don't know why I haven't written one in a while. I've got one in the drafting stage though, and plan to do more of them!
Fantastic! Looking forward to it. Let me add that the writing style in the blog, candid (including in 1st person) and succinct, makes for particularly enjoyable reading without undermining the quality of the analysis whatsoever. It's a break I enjoy from more formal news and coverage. Cheers!
Thanks Zutano, always great to hear from you. I don't like most of the Turkish Netflix series, but do report back on Kübra!
My wife and I watched Şaşıfelek Çıkmazı recently, and loved it. we've been meaning to cover it, so be on the lookout for that. It's pretty old and doesn't have subtitles, but you sound like your Turkish is pretty advanced, so shouldn't be a problem. I like the shows from the 1990s for various reasons, but mostly because the actors came straight out of the theatre and were strong improvisors.
Nah, my comprehension is still too slow for native speakers at full speed. I'll make some crappy AI subtitles as a crutch to get through.
Kübra turned out to be one of the better Netflix stories. Hard to talk about it without spoilers, but it imagines effects on society when a guy starts a cult. I've complained before about pacing when Turkish writers try to adapt to the shorter Netflix episodes, but here everything builds up nicely to the last episode.
I actually wrote up a review of Andropoz (Man on Pause) back when it came out in 2022, and my point was precisely that Turkish writers weren't yet used to the short format, but since they were now writing for Netflix, they were getting getting steadily better at it. I didn't end up publishing that post. Not sure why.
I find that overall your blog is very enjoyable and illuminating. The list above looks very comprehensive in terms of Turkish politics. If I could wish for a fancy issue for you to write about, it would probably be the left parties galaxy in Turkey (let's say those that have been inside or around HDP recently), both historically (1965-1980 and 2002-2014) and nowadays.
Congratulations and thank you!
Hi Simon, thank you for this! I agree, it would be interesting to take some time to look at the left. My problem is that my book (still under review) and academic work (ongoing PhD thesis) is on the right, so it's much easier for me to write on them. The right is also very much in power, which makes them more relevant to write about from a current affairs perspective.
I have some ideas relating to the left, but they're not as well-grounded as I'd like them to be. I might read some of the key books on left and review them, perhaps use them as entry points to the periods you mention.
Thanks, I do need to go back to some of these.
I think I find the politics of language posts the most interesting, but I read everything you send. "A Turk in Palestine" was memorable for the personal touch.
I do appreciate the "what I'm reading/watching" posts, even though I forget to come back and comment if I actually watch any of the recommendations. I tracked down "Ahlat Ağacı" a couple of months back and enjoyed it; probably should have mentioned that while it was still fresh in memory.
I'm currently watching "Kübra" on Netflix, who seem to have made a deal with Çağatay Ulusoy that he is the only Turkish male actor permitted in a lead role.
I agree with this comment. Insights into language (the Türkiye article, unpacking the term "reis", etc.) are extremely interesting and constitute the kind of analysis that is difficult to find in English anywhere else. I'm not surprised they're among the most read.
Articles covering the use and misuse of the figure of Mustafa Kemal, as well as of nationalism in Turkey are equally interesting. Deep dives into the politics of Turkey were helpful in the lead-up to the election to make sense of the landscape as a distant observer.
Thanks for your writing!
Thanks ljbernasconi!
I actually enjoy writing the language pieces a great deal. I don't know why I haven't written one in a while. I've got one in the drafting stage though, and plan to do more of them!
Fantastic! Looking forward to it. Let me add that the writing style in the blog, candid (including in 1st person) and succinct, makes for particularly enjoyable reading without undermining the quality of the analysis whatsoever. It's a break I enjoy from more formal news and coverage. Cheers!
Thanks Zutano, always great to hear from you. I don't like most of the Turkish Netflix series, but do report back on Kübra!
My wife and I watched Şaşıfelek Çıkmazı recently, and loved it. we've been meaning to cover it, so be on the lookout for that. It's pretty old and doesn't have subtitles, but you sound like your Turkish is pretty advanced, so shouldn't be a problem. I like the shows from the 1990s for various reasons, but mostly because the actors came straight out of the theatre and were strong improvisors.
Nah, my comprehension is still too slow for native speakers at full speed. I'll make some crappy AI subtitles as a crutch to get through.
Kübra turned out to be one of the better Netflix stories. Hard to talk about it without spoilers, but it imagines effects on society when a guy starts a cult. I've complained before about pacing when Turkish writers try to adapt to the shorter Netflix episodes, but here everything builds up nicely to the last episode.
I actually wrote up a review of Andropoz (Man on Pause) back when it came out in 2022, and my point was precisely that Turkish writers weren't yet used to the short format, but since they were now writing for Netflix, they were getting getting steadily better at it. I didn't end up publishing that post. Not sure why.