A Clash of Cultures: Turkey and Germany

Instructor: Professor Charlotte Armster
               Department of German

Turkish citizens, known only as "guest workers" in the 1960s, have today become a vital cultural force in Germany. Fully integrated into German daily life, Turks are now an important part of German society with Turkish films, literature, music, food, etc. creating a diversity never known in Germany and invigorating German cultural life. The transition has not been unproblematic, however, and many cultural and religious divisions exist. Foremost are religious differences. The increase of an Islamic population in Germany (and Europe) has also meant a clash of values, of behavior, of expectations. As elsewhere, the phenomenon of multiculturalism challenges the usual notions of national and personal identity, gender, and culture.

The primary goal of this seminar is to examine how these clashes are perceived and represented in literature and film. Shuttling back and forth between two worlds, we will discuss the problems of immigration, assimilation, and cultural identity. We will read literature, translated into English but written by German Turks, some born and raised in Germany but who nevertheless have strong ties to Turkey and to Turkish culture. An integral part of the course is the inclusion of award-winning films currently being co-produced and filmed in both Germany and Turkey. We will examine issues of politics, sexuality, dress and behavior, as well as societal and parental expectations. And we will focus on issues of assimilation, immigration, identity, and cultural vitality.