BUA Institution

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Description of Research

In Turkey, a considerable number of traditional singer-poets, known as âşıks, migrated to the urban centers after World War II as part of the broader waves of rural-urban migration. This project aims to shed light on how these âşıks developed various strategies through which they (re)defined social and cultural framing of making music in urban milieu, adapted the changing sound technologies and engaged in expanding music market.

Where in the world has your career been largely based until now?

Before I began to conduct my research in Berlin, my career had been largely based in Canada and Turkey.

Why Berlin?

I chose to be a member of academic community in Berlin since this city provides significant opportunities researchers  to build up their careers. That the Berlin universities have well-established academic programs, such as the Institute of Musicology and Media Studies that I’m affiliated with, offer vibrant research environment which fosters international collaboration. Researchers also have the opportunity to focus on their own studies thanks to various funding opportunities. Last but not least Berlin is amazing city to live in it!

What fascinates you about your research area?

Throughout my academic career as a historian, I have been deeply fascinated by both global and Turkish history of the 1960s and 1970s. I believe these decades marked a period when modernity—and its emancipatory social and cultural dynamics—flourished in powerful and transformative ways. In my research, I strive to trace the legacy of these emancipatory forces in social and cultural life.

How will your research change the world?

My research, which focuses on both collective and individual agency and the transformative power of human beings throughout history, serves as a reminder to contemporary societies— increasingly constrained by dominant economic and political forces—of their enduring capacity to effect change in the world.

What major short-term goal are you currently working towards with your research?

For my project, I am planning to organize a small workshop that will bring together experts on the singer-poet tradition in Anatolia to discuss the changes and transformations this musical genre underwent during the 1960s and 1970s. I will coordinate this event in collaboration with Utku Öğüt, a lecturer at the Institute of Musicology and Media Studies. Our aim is to publish the papers presented at the workshop as part of an edited book

How did you become interested in your specific topic?

I remember that, as a child, my mother and father often listened to Mahsuni Şerif—one of the most prominent âşıks in the urban context of the 1960s and 1970s. Later, as I pursued a career as a social and cultural historian, I came to understand the profound impact that Mahsuni Şerif and many others had on Turkish history. That realization is what first drew me to this subject as a focus of scholarly research.

What is your preferred way to communicate your research to the broader public or other
specific sectors beyond academia? Where can we see, hear or read you next?

I prefer to share my work through the events and activities of trade unions, political parties and movements, and other community-based organizations. I am also committed to contributing to the published periodicals and websites of these groups, as a way to engage more directly with broader audiences and support their ongoing struggles.

What did you want to be when you grow up?

I’ve always wanted to be a dramaturgist for a theater company.

If you could have a radical career change for a week, what would it be?

I could have walked in the Lycian way for a week

Rumour has it that nobody is perfect. Which skill or ability have you really had to work on
in your career (or are you perhaps still working on)?

I think I need to write faster! Even though I read extensively and frequently share my ideas with colleagues, I’ve always found it difficult to sit down and actually put my thoughts on paper

What is something surprising that people might not know about you?

I’m passionate about going to my village, picking mushrooms in nature, and enjoying them with a glass of Turkish rakı!

What were some challenging or discouraging moments in your career?

I felt depressed after graduating from university in Turkey. Although I was eager to pursue an academic career, I couldn’t find a position as a teaching assistant at any Turkish university, and I had to take on other jobs just to make a living. I finally found relief when I was admitted to a university in Canada as a PhD student and teaching assist

Who is the most interesting or inspiring person you have ever worked with?

My supervisor, Gavin D. Brockett and my friend and theater director Fatih Önal

Is there anyone else in the Berlin-Brandenburg area that you would love to collaborate with?

I’d love to collaborate with  Prof. Camilla Bork from Freie University.

What would be the greatest professional achievement you could ever aspire to?

To establish an institute dedicated to historical studies on the social and cultural life in Republican Turkey.

What do you wish you’d done differently in your career until now?

I wish I had contributed in the community events more often.

How does the academic culture in Berlin differ from the
academic culture you are used to?

The academic culture in Berlin gives more time and importance to the research activities than the academic culture in Turkey. More significantly, I think, opportunities for the international collaboration are larger in Berlin.

Has Berlin had any surprises in store for you?

I found the academic environment and culture just as I had expected. I need to say that I’m very pleased to be a part of this vibrant academic community. For the surprise factor, I need to say that natural and built environment of the city has captivated me.

What would your advice be for colleagues at home
interested in a research stay in Berlin?

I sincerely believe that they’ll find an enchanting academic environment and city life in Berlin. I’d advise the prospective guest academicians to follow the academic events closely and participate in the networks that foster international collaboration. Moreover, I’d certainly tell them to begin searching for an accomodation long  before they move to Berlin.