Ankara : İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent Üniversitesi Ekonomi ve Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Türk Edebiyatı Bölümü, 2011.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Bilkent University, 2011.Includes bibliographical references leaves 197-206.One of the leading dynamics of innovative movements gained popularity in
Ottoman Empire is the argument relating to “adoption of science and technology
of the West” during 19th century. Such argument leads to the growth of a literary
genre based on science at the end of 19th century when advantages and
disadvantages of scientifical and technological developments are attempted to
figure out. It could be asserted that political and social atmosphere of Ottoman
Empire shapened this literary genre can be called as “scientific” as well. In this
case, Fennî Bir Roman Yahut Amerika Doktorları (1888) by Ahmet Mithat, Tarih-i
İstikbâl (1913) by Celal Nuri İleri, Rüyada Terakki ve Medeniyet-i İslamiyye-i
Rü’yet (1913) by Molla Davudzâde Mustafa Nâzım, “Çamlar Altında Musahabe”
(1913) by Yahya Kemal Beyatlı, “Rûşenî’nin Rüyası–Müslümanların ‘Megali
İdeası’ Gaye-i Hayâliyesi” (1914) by Hasan Rûşenî Barkın, “Hülya Bu Ya...”
(1921) by Refik Halid Karay, “Arzîler” (1925) by Abdülhak Hâmid Tarhan and
“Makineli Kafa” (1928) by Behlül Dânâ focus on science and technology in late
19th century or early 20th century have much significance. Since it could be
observed that the reason for the rise in and tendency towards the science lies in
economical and political depression of the age in the light of such works. In these
texts, such themes like westernization, civilizing and development fictionalized are
described to be in parallel with technological power. This common character of
narrations is one of the reflections of Ottoman modernization movements in the
literature.
The effect of science regarded as means of production and/or source of
political power by the intelligentsia of that period is tried to be narrated over
European or American images in the works based on science. The science is
considered to be a technological power and there established a connection between
industrial and political power of the West hence such relations transferred in the
Ottoman Empire in the texts we have analysed. However, "the Western" model shown as an example in terms of science and technology is seen to be criticized
taking Ottoman traditions, religion, culture and identity into consideration. The
variety of values attributed to machinery as a common image in the narrations
specifically is the signifier of pluralism of intelligentsia towards science. These
works not studied in detailed and not included in literary canon in current literature
researches have an important place in terms of giving the meaning of modernity in
Ottoman-Turk literature in 19th and 20th centuries.Uyanık, SedaPh.D
