Historical Epic as a Genre in Popular Turkish Cinema

Abstract

Cinema, born as a part of entertainment industry, became an independent industry in the first half of 20th century. The film genre, which had a notable role in the industrialization of cinema, is not only a cinematic fact but also a social case including several economic, cultural, and ideological tools. The historical epic, which is one of the major film genres, emerged with the medium itself. Despite its Italian origins, the historical epic has remained largely American because of Hollywood's financial and technological possibilities. As the spectacular nature of this genre has been more visible than historical realities, these films have become notable parts of the entertainment industry. This chapter examines the historical epic as a film genre in popular Turkish cinema and its place in Turkey's entertainment culture and industry, particularly observing its prototype, The Conquest of Constantinople (1951), then evaluating its advanced example, Conquest 1453 (2012).