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Art is a very important aspect of Turkish culture. Some of the first Turkish people, the Anatolians of 8000 BC, considered paintings and pottery to be the key part of their civilisation. They were also the first people to produce landscape paintings. During the Ottoman Empire paper marbling and shadow puppets were the common forms of art, and they still continue today. Today carpet-weaving is also an important artistic medium.
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The theatre of the Ottoman Empire began in the middle of the nineteenth cenutury, highly influenced by French and other western theatre. This form of theatre was controversial, and theatre critic Teodor Kasap called for new form based on more traditional theatre styles that did not imitate western ideas. Playwrights and poets like Namik Kemal considered traditional styles to be primitive and strongly opposed Kasap’s ideas. The Tulat theatre was traditional
idea, an improvisational style that was presenting according to the actor’s style and skill, but was not popular among the Turkish. Some then began saying that plays should better reflect Turkish culture, and audiences should be trained to understand this. In 1878 the Ayasterfanos Treaty introduced cencorship to plays, meaning plays had to have approval from a Security Directship, and the penalty for playing an unapproved play could even be death.
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Music in Turkey is sometimes a good reflection of Turkish culture. Turkey has its own classical music and Turku folk songs, both traditional music past down through generations. Ottoman millatary music is a style decribed as monophonic and a very important part of Turkish history and culture. Some of the common and unique instruments used in Turkish music include the ney, the tamblu, the
kopuz and the cogur. When the Turkish Republic was founded in 1923 five composers were sent to study music in Europe, and they came back to introduce modern music styles to Turkey. Turkey has produced a variety of religous music, like Islamic Psalms. More recently urban, rock and pop styles have been used for most of Turkish music.
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The Turkish film industry began in the 1920’s with the introuduction of the Republic of Turkey. However, it wasn’t until the 1960’s that the films reflected Turkish social and political issues, and wasn’t focused on themes similar to the western films. Turkey may not have a rich and extensive history in film, but films accurately reflect some aspects of Turkish life.
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The fashion of Turkey has changed dramatically. In the nineteenth century Turkish woman would wear long, heavy silk clothing to represent family wealthy. With the impact of American influences in clothing styles, the Turkish people now wear very different clothing from the traditional folkloric clothing of this period, stereotypical of the region. In summer they wear thin colourful silk clothing, while in the cool winter or in the colder parts of Turkey they prefer warm, dark clothing made of wool or cashmire.
Fashion designers are always trying to include original Turkish designs with American themes, but only on Bayram days do the Turkish wear traditional clothing. Fashion is perhaps the greatest reminder of how American styles can influence traditional ideas and culture.
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