While Turkish soap operas and television shows have always been big, their popularity has exploded over the past couple of years. And not only in Turkey; across the whole Middle East, in the Balkans and in South-America tens of millions of people are glued to the tube, waiting for the next episode of loved shows such as Kara Para Aşk and Ufak Tefek Cinayetler. What is it about Turkish soap operas and TV shows? How is possible that even in Serbia the ““Halal Brad Pitt” Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ is adored?

Illustrated by memorable, decisive TV and soap opera outtakes we speak with experts, creators and most importantly viewers about why Turkish shows and soaps are so popular and important. And this all from comfort of the living room.

Saturday: Part 2

In part two we zoom in on the early 00s to today. Turkish soap operas and TV shows reflect and explore the big issues that society is grappling with. Plots are highly relatable, and uncomfortable topics are addressed: transgression of conventions in a (patriarchal) society with strict rules, the position of women, corruption in politics. What influence does this have on the viewer? How is this dealt with?

And of course we discuss the introduction of satellite television. What was its influence on the living rooms of the diaspora? And how is it possible that the streets in Chile are as good as empty when 1001 is on air?

With Seray Sahiner, Nur Ozgenalp, Murat Uyurkulak and Funda Müjde.
Moderator: Gülden Ilmaz