Ankara : Bilkent Üniversitesi Ekonomi ve Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Türk Edebiyatı Bölümü, 2002.Thesis (Master's) -- Bilkent University, 2002.Includes bibliographical references leaves 74-78.Modernity, which occurred first in Western Europe, paved the way for
important changes in the area of aesthetics. Through the transformation that
happened in the area of aesthetics, arts gained new contents and functions.
As a matter of fact, these developments led to the emergence of specific
notions for art, literature and literary criticism rooted in modernity. This “new”
literature and literary criticism grew in the public sphere including salons,
cafes, newspapers and periodicals. Following the establishment of the
bourgeoisie’s power, both literature and literary criticism became
independent of politico-cultural struggle and turned into a special discourse
and autonomous area. In countries like Turkey, the flow of these
developments followed different routes. The ruling elites of Turkey tried to
create a Westernized literature and literary criticism.
In this context, Nurullah Ataç is one of the critics who made genuine
contributions to those efforts by evaluating many aspects of the
Westernization problematic. N. Ataç’s understanding of art, literature and
criticism was rooted in the modernist frame. He claimed that Turkish elites
must throw away most of what hindered Westernization. To attain this goal,
Ataç asserted that the ruling elites should not make concessions including
the people and their traditions. According to him to the maximum possible
extent, life and arts must be redesigned through these ideals. This outlook
makes him unique and distinguishes him from the other intellectuals of his
time.Akyıldız, KayaM.S
