Adventures of the Graphic Novel in Turkey

Abstract

This chapter describes how the graphic novel was initially translated, adapted, and appropriated in the Turkish cultural and literary polysystem from the West in the early years of the Turkish Republic (1923). The transfer enabled the graphic novel to be used as popular genre to contribute to the construction of a national identity of Turkishness through icons and heroes of Turkish history going back to Central Asia before moving to Asia Minor (Anatolia). Hence, the evolution of the graphic novel in Turkey goes parallel with the growth of popular culture under the influence of state-led westernisation efforts in the Turkish society. The initiatives towards creating a modern, west-oriented society necessitated the dissemination of culture among layers of society which was producing its dynamics to absorb these efforts within the frame of economic and social developments on a global scale. Steps towards creating a modern Turkish literature and to enrich culture and strengthen a national identity fit in with the adoption of the graphic novel genre in the early years. The translations enabled Turkish artists to develop their own examples in the genre to produce an awareness of national identity and links with history in a creative and easily comprehensible way. The graphic novel as an accessible form of production became a part of the developing cultural polysystem. According to Tynjanov, literature of a nation or culture contains a multi-layered structure of elements which relate to and interact with each other.1 The evolution of the graphic novel in the Turkish polysystem comprised several layers of texts, i.e. visual texts, and verbal texts. It does not hold such a significant role now in the cultural polysystem but has become an influential genre in creating global fantastic icons, norms and images. © Inter-Disciplinary Press 2016. All rights reserved.