The Intersections of Traditional Turkish Art, Religion, and Culture in Contemporary Istanbul

FAIN: FT-279249-21

Rose S. Aslan
California Lutheran University (Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-2787)

Research in Istanbul for a book on the place of traditional Islamic art in modern Turkey.

This project applies an interdisciplinary approach grounded in religious studies, and, over the summer, I will complete qualitative fieldwork among networks of artists in Istanbul. This research will result in a monograph on the history, production, and consumption of traditional art in contemporary Turkey. The project explores if and how traditional Turkish art is determined to be "Islamic" and modern and how different values are incorporated into Turkish artists' work through their art. The rise of neo-Ottomanism and political power of the Islamist AKP party has inspired a rising group of middle-class religious Turks who proudly embrace their religious identity. Supported by the pro-Islam government, traditional Turkish art has become increasingly popular and plays a significant role in expressing piety in a public context. This project reveals how art, spirituality, and culture influence each other and together shape society in Turkey.