Abstract:Last three decades witnessed fast growing of the cities in Turkey. After many dramatic changes in the physical and social environment as the consequences of the disproportionally increasing population...Last three decades witnessed fast growing of the cities in Turkey. After many dramatic changes in the physical and social environment as the consequences of the disproportionally increasing population by the migrations, the cities leaded the problems in the transport, safety and other facilities (lack of auto parking, relaxing, sport and divers leisure activities) Regarding to these facts, the locals had unavoidably alienation and left the city centre to live in the ‘bubbles’: the big residences, blocks or villas in the isolated sites of the city’s outskirts. Thus, especially the metropolitan cities were transformed from a location to a consumed space. This seeking of ‘bubble’ was manipulated by the politics which emphasized the building constructions under the title ‘urban renovation’. Whereas the cultural heritage became under threat because of the lack of belonging, the basic concept of the common city life which was providing the cultural interaction with the environment became limited.
This presentation focuses on the cultural impact of Taksim Gezi Park movement. According to the observations in Izmir and ethnography among Izmir Festival participants which was conducted in the same period of the manifestations, the awareness of place process begins which would be later the memories of the participants and make new senses within the historical places and public spaces, specially parks and squares. The participants who leave their ‘bubbles’ to protest the government for their individual rights have a collective experience with the divers groups. This experience which provides a reconnection to the city make them learnt fundamental citizenship components: to conceive the meaning of public area and to take responsibility of his environment.
As a result, Taksim Gezi Park movement has become not only a political and social case, but also a cultural process in which the individuals ‘taste’ citizenship values; not to live only in its own pure and the comfortable bubble, but to learn live with the diversity and interact responsibly with the location.Read More
Publication Year: 2014
Publication Date: 2014-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot