NEW ERA INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY SOCIAL RESEARCHES

“LIKE TRUTH IS BEAUTY, BEAUTY TRUTH” BIOPOLITICS, THE SOCIETIES OF THE SPECTACLE AND THE STONE GODS

Mahinur AKSEHİR — 2024-10-29

Michel Foucault’s concept of biopolitics, intertwined with Guy Debord’s concept of the society of the spectacle, serves as a critical lens for analyzing the post-apocalyptic world depicted in Jeanette Winterson’s novel The Stone Gods. This article explores how this community’s extreme fixation on aesthetics, DNA modification and genetic enhancement aligns with Debord’s notion of society as the spectacle functions as a tool for the operation and the application of biopolitics as Michel Foucault conceptualizes it. Guy Debord, presents a scathing critique of modern society’s transformation into a spectacle, where images and representations dominate social interactions. This article highlights the parallelisms between Debord’s observations, and the fictional community composed by Winterson, where individuals are consumed by their obsessions on their appearances, fostering a culture of a fake self-worth and an obsession with plastic surgeries. Foucault’s biopolitics, on the other hand, examines the relationship between power, politics and life and this interrelationship exposes how control mechanisms that originate from these infiltrate even the most intimate and/or personal aspects of human existence. Winterson’s portrayal of genetic fixing, extreme plastic surgeries and the extreme desires to conform to beauty standards epitomize the societal power dynamics rooted in biopolitics. Winterson’s novel, in this respect, serves as a compelling literary work that sheds light on the complicated interplay between biopolitics, the society of the spectacle and the human body as a space for the operation of power. It demonstrates how these concepts converge to create a disturbing vision of a future/present society marked by extreme obsession with appearances, genetic manipulation and an entailing erosion of individuality.

WAR-THEMED POEMS BY SOLDIER POETS AND WESTERN GARRISON POETS IN THE 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES

Yasin MUTLU — 2024-10-29

Wars, and consequently military service, have always held great significance for the Turkish nation. This reality has also influenced Turkish literature, notably affecting Turkish Folk Literature. This study examines the impact of wars on Âşık (Minstrel) Literature in the 16th and 17th centuries, focusing on prominent soldier-poets and poets from the Western Garrisons of that period. The term "Western Garrisons," or "Maghreb Garrisons," refers to the Ottoman Empire’s term for Algeria, Tunisia, and Tripolitania in the 16th and 17th centuries. There were various conquest troops deployed by the Ottoman Empire, primarily janissaries, assigned to conquer these regions. Among these troops, a unique group of minstrel poets emerged—referred to as Western Garrison Poets or Maghreb Garrison Poets. This group expressed not only the excitement of conquests and the glory of victories but also the pain of separation from their homeland, the longing, the hardships of war, and their yearning to return home. In this study, the role and importance of the Western Garrison poets and other notable soldier-poets of this era in Turkish War Literature and Âşık Literature are analyzed through the theme of war.

THE PLACE OF THE CONCEPTS OF BIGOTRY AND ROMANTICISM IN SECTARIAN SUPPORT

Merve ÖZER — 2024-10-29

This article deals with the effects of taassup and romanticism in the formation process of Islamic sects. While sects are considered as natural structures that have emerged through the combination of different perceptions and understandings, intellectual differences between these structures have sometimes resulted in Deconfliction and other Deconfliction. While sects are expected to produce a rich heritage of thought, it has been criticized that this heritage turns into hatred and hostility due to taassup. In the first part of the study, the concepts of sect, sect, taassup-imitation and taassup-romance were examined in depth; in the second part, the social effects of sectarian bigotry have been analyzed in the light of historical examples. This article has been written in order to provide an understanding of sects as a human entity and to expose the devastating consequences of bigotry on social and religious structures.

CONSUMPTION ICONS AND IDEOLOGY: COCA-COLA, KINDER SURPRISE EGG, AND STARBUCKS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SLAVOJ ŽİŽEK

Gülçin SAĞIR KESKİN — 2024-10-29

The main purpose of this study is to comprehensively discuss Slavoj Žižek, one of the most interesting and influential philosophers of our time, within the framework of the notion of ideology. There are different definitions and approaches related to the concept of ideology in the literature, reflecting its multidimensional and complex nature. Our study aims to deeply examine how Žižek approaches this concept, based on his discourses on the notion of ideology. Within the scope of the research, a specific evaluation will be made through brands like Coca-Cola, Kinder Surprise Egg, and Starbucks, which have become symbols of today's consumer culture. These brands are important examples in terms of showing how ideology manifests in our daily lives and is reproduced through consumption practices. Fundamental works and texts where Slavoj Žižek addresses the notion of ideology will be examined; in this context, traces of the philosopher's critiques of ideology will be pursued. In the first part of the study, Žižek's views and theoretical framework concerning the concept of ideology will be presented by directly referring to his own statements and texts. In the second part, the brands Coca-Cola, Kinder Surprise Egg, and Starbucks will be analyzed to concretize Žižek's critique of ideology and to deepen the discussion through current examples. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of ideology's functioning in modern society by evaluating Žižek's unique approach and critiques of the concept of ideology through specific brands that are symbolic elements of consumer culture. As a result, it will be emphasized that ideology is a complex phenomenon that is not limited to political and economic structures but also includes cultural and psychological dimensions. Thus, the role and impact of ideology in today's society will be addressed from a deeper perspective in light of Žižek's thoughts.

ETHNOGRAPHY OF TURKS: KARABAKH DISHES

Hacer HÜSEYNOVA — 2024-10-29

This study examines the impact of geographical, climatic, economic, and traditional factors on local agricultural products and the subsequent reflections on nutritional culture across different regions. Within this context, varying dietary preferences—from seafood to livestock products—are explored as part of a nutrition culture shaped by regional and climatic conditions. Karabakh cuisine, as a distinct representation of this cultural diversity, is a part of Azerbaijani cuisine but maintains unique characteristics. The article presents descriptions and preparation methods of hot and cold dishes, desserts, and beverages typical of Karabakh cuisine and contrasts these with the cuisines of other Turkic peoples, grounded in the distinct flora and fauna of the region.

Using an ethnographic approach, the study analyzes the historical roots and cultural elements of Karabakh cuisine through comparative references to ancient sources and epic narratives. This reveals the unique food culture of Karabakh based on specific plant and animal species and its region-specific dietary patterns.