Ecocriticism in Turkey

Abstract

      Ecocriticism has gained visibility in Turkish academia in the early 2000s. This essay offers a brief analysis of the status of the field in Turkey and sheds light on the growing interest in ecology in both academic and non-academic circles. I first overview the academic conventions and publications that provided the initial momentum for the birth of Turkish ecocriticism. I examine past and current trends in ecocritical studies by surveying the latest academic publications, literary works and traditions that lend themselves to ecocritical analyses, and specific ecological questions pertinent to Turkey’s geography. I then address future directions for research in the field and investigate the expanding interest in ecology across different disciplines such as film, visual arts and media. I conclude the essay by highlighting the interdisciplinary platforms that bring together researchers and practitioners to enable new forms of environmental criticism and activism at a time of immense neoliberal growth.