Transnational Life: Where’d I Be Happy? A Research on the Films of Immigrant Directors From Turkey Living in Austria

Authors

  • Hasan Gürkan İstanbul Arel University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2017.159

Keywords:

Turkish-Austrian Migrant Cinema, Multiculturalism, Trans-culturalism, Umut Dağ, Hüseyin Tabak

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the representation of different cultural notions in Turkish-Austrian Migrant Cinema. This study is based on migrant problem, hybrid identities and national values, taking Austria as a sample. Turkish-Austrian migrant films include multiculturalism, Turkish national values and Turkish national cinema narrative by keeping optimism and hope. The sampling of this study consists of films by Umut Dağ and Hüseyin Tabak. The films by both of these directors focus on traditional values of Turkish culture, the reflection of these values on Austria and cover the features of immigration from Turkey to Austria. The films portray Turkish immigrants going back and forth between Turkish and Austrian cultures in their daily lives. The films of these directors show the experiences in during and post-migration processes and emphasize the phenomenon of not belonging either culture. 

Author Biography

Hasan Gürkan, İstanbul Arel University

Hasan Gürkan is an Ass.Prof.Dr. in the School of Communication at İstanbul Arel University in Turkey. He holds his Ph.D. from İstanbul University Department of Radio, Television and Cinema. He is currently doing his post-doc research in the department of Journalism and Communication Sciences Institute at the University of Wien about migration and Austrian-Turkish immigrant directors’ films. He has also written the books of Counter Cinema and Journalism Practices. He focuses counter cinema, Hollywood Cinema, alternative media and alternative cinema, cinema and representations, cinema and migration, and gender communication, and gender studies on. 

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Interview: Hüseyin Tabak (director), 03.02.2016

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Published

2018-06-29

How to Cite

Gürkan, H. (2018). Transnational Life: Where’d I Be Happy? A Research on the Films of Immigrant Directors From Turkey Living in Austria. CINEJ Cinema Journal, 6(2), 6–31. https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2017.159

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2017): Fall 2017

Section

Articles

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