Back to selection
76459-01 - Seminar: Folklore and National Identity in Turkey (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers | Hasan Münüsoglu (hasan.munusoglu@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | The relationship between the emergence of folklore and the construction of national identity has been the subject of extensive research. Nation-states, shaped through political processes, have strategically employed folklore to foster social cohesion and reinforce a shared cultural heritage. Similarly, in the formation of modern Turkey, folklore has been utilized as a tool to imagine a shared cultural identity. The transition from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic of Turkey was marked by nationalist ideological shifts, which played a decisive role in shaping folklore. This process often disregarded the multi-ethnic and multicultural composition of Anatolia. Since the adoption of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage at the 2003 UNESCO Conference, folklore studies in Turkey have increasingly focused on intangible cultural heritage. This course will examine Turkish folklore studies through an anthropological approach, analyzing their intersections with national identity, nationalism, and cultural representation. 1. Introduction and Scope of the Course 2. Modernity, Politics, and Folklore 3. In Search of a National Identity: The Emergence of Folklore 4. The Legacy from the Empire to the Republic: Türk Ocakları, Halkevleri and Folklore Studies 5. Race and Culture: The Establishment of Anthropology, Institutionalization, and Folklore 6. Institutionalizing Folklore: Pertev Naili Boratav and the Liquidation of Leftist Professors 7. Folklore under the Framework of Ethnology: The Case of the Faculty of Language, History, and Geography 8. Folklore Journals in Turkey: Türk Folklor Araştırmaları, Milli Folklor, Folklor/Edebiyat 9. Reconstructing Turkish Folklore: Intangible Cultural Heritage 10. Turkish Folklore Congresses: A Critical Evaluation 11. Folklore in Tourism and the Question of Authenticity 12. Folklore Museums and the Representation of Identity 13. The Outsiders: Where Do Ethnic Groups Stand in Turkish Folklore? 14. Folklore Studies in Turkish Universities in the 21st Century |
| Learning objectives | - Analyze the emergence and institutionalization of folklore as a discipline within the context of Turkish intellectual history. - Critically evaluate the role of folklore in shaping and reinforcing Turkish national identity discourses. - Assess the strategic uses of folklore in modern Turkey with reference to cultural policy, education, and popular culture. |
| Bibliography | Öztürkmen, A. 1998. Türkiye’de folklor ve milliyetçilik, İletişim Yayınları, İstanbul Birkalan-Gedik, H. 2021. “Folklore “Outside” the academe: tracking and critically reassessing folklore knowledge in Turkey 1950s–1980s” Cultura Analysis, Vol. 19.2, s. 101-129. Aykan B. 2015 “‘Patenting’ Karagöz: UNESCO, nationalism and multinational intangible heritage”, International Journal of Heritage Studies vol. 21, no. 10. s.949-961. Ben-Amos, D. 1971. “Toward a definition of folklore in context” The Journal of American Folklore, vol. 84, no.331, s.3-15. Dundes, A. 1971. “Folk ideas as a unites of worldview” The Journal of American Folklore, vol. 84, no.331, s.3-15. Kartarı, A. 2014. The Culture and Education Policies and the Cultural Sciences in Turkey, Ethnologia Balkanica, vol. 17. S.283-296. Örnek, S. V. 1977. Türk halkbilimi, Türkiye İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları, Ankara. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Thursday | 10.15-12.00 | Rosshofgasse (Schnitz), Sitzungsraum S 184 |
Dates
| Modules |
Modul: Antike / monotheistische / aussereuropäische Religionen (Bachelor's degree subject: Study of Religion) Modul: Religion, Narration und Medien (Master's degree subject: Science of Religion) Module: Advanced Near & Middle Eastern Studies (Bachelor's degree subject: Near & Middle Eastern Studies) Module: Migration, Mobility and Transnationalism (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources (Start of studies before 01.08.2026)) Module: Topics in Near & Middle Eastern Studies (Master's degree subject: Near & Middle Eastern Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | The seminar is structured around lectures, student presentations, and group discussions. A syllabus and a selection of required readings will be provided at the beginning of the course. Students are expected to complete the assigned readings in advance and to actively contribute to discussions. Each student will give one presentation during the semester. Assessment is based on active participation and the presentation. The course is graded on a Pass/Fail basis. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Nahost-Studien |