Abstract
My aim in this paper is to survey the journey of Turkey’s postmodern historical fiction, referred to as “historiographic metafiction” by Linda Hutcheon (1988). This genre of postmodern fiction designates a narrative with two predominant features: (a) it is principally a retelling of a historical occurrence from a counter-position against the supposed factuality of the original story, and (b) it contains the self-reflexivity of its author, which enables him/her to question the boundary between fact and fiction, if there is any at all. Obviously, Hutcheon’s conception of this particular category of postmodern fiction was mainly derived from an approach which stresses inherent narratological characteristics in the writing of history, as argued by Hayden White and other historiographers. My research questions in this study are: How successfully is historiographic metafiction used by postmodernist writers in Turkish literature? When we consider the rise of nationalism in Turkey and in the world, can postmodern literature offer an alternative to authoritative discourses? Has postmodernism been able to challenge traditional representations in Turkey? An analysis of selected works of contemporary Turkish literature will supply an answer to these questions.
Highlights
My aim in this paper is to survey the journey of Turkey’s postmodern historical fiction, referred to as “historiographic metafiction” by Linda Hutcheon (1988)
In 2011, Turkey no longer remained in last place, having passed Romania, whereas its rate dropped to 31% (Mercy and BeckDomżalska 2016)
Why would anybody think the novel, especially the postmodernist novel, could offer resistance against the mighty armada of nationalism reinforced by the dual torpedoes of populism and conservativism? If there is potential for such resistance, what is the bona fide value of literature in a country where the majority of the population barely reads and barely understands what they read? I would like to answer these questions by indicating possible solutions in certain postmodern Turkish novels when dealing with increasing chauvinist nationalism in Turkey
Summary
My aim in this paper is to survey the journey of Turkey’s postmodern historical fiction, referred to as “historiographic metafiction” by Linda Hutcheon (1988). I would like to answer these questions by indicating possible solutions in certain postmodern Turkish novels when dealing with increasing chauvinist nationalism in Turkey.
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