Incest as a private/social conundrum: A brief analysis of Atlıkarınca movie and the mother’s reaction to the incestuous husband within the context of Ethics of Care

Abstract

Incest, which is also the main theme of the movie Atlıkarınca (2011) (Merry-Go-Round), has been observed both in ancient and modern societies. As a lathomenon, despite mostly being kept as a secret, it has been one of the most brutal realities and practices of families and societies for centuries. Even though many countries have their own prohibitive laws regarding the issue, in Turkey it is still considered a taboo, and in Turkish Penal Code there is no article openly discussing incest. For this respect, Atlıkarınca can be thought as a brave step for bringing up the topic into the scene as a private and social dead-end and a conundrum. The movie reveals the physical and psychological demolition that incest brings to a family, and leaves questions in the viewers’ minds about whether the mother’s way of handling the situation is righteous or not. Also, since the movie is about a social reality, it serves as a documentary both by reflecting a social reality and symbolic narration. In the light of these, this study aims to analyze the movie in terms of social and legal deficiencies and problems in law and society and seeks to explain the mother’s reaction to the incestuous father within the context of Ethics of Care as developed by the American Feminist writers Carol Gilligan and Nel Noddings.