Beating on the banks of the Bosphorus is the cultural heart of Turkey - the hustling and bustling
city of Istanbul. Looking over one shoulder you will see high-rises and mega malls sprawling to the
furthest edges, and over the other shoulder will rise the domes and spires of grand mosques puncturing
the skyline. The diverse geography of this historic city is a physical, architectural reflection of the political,
social, religious, and economic shifts Turkey has endured throughout centuries of change in government
and society. These changes not only manifest in physical spaces, but also produce numerous social spaces
that are just as varied as the landscapes in which they are formed.
This thesis utilizes visual analysis as a method for exploring how patterns of social, political,
economic, and religious change in Turkey lead to the formation of new products and identities, and in
turn, how these changes spur people to claim certain social spaces. As the public image of Turkish women
has historically served as an indicator of change and modernity in Turkish society, this thesis examines
images in Turkish women’s magazines in order to gain an idea about particular realities that may inform
the creation of new Turkish social spaces, especially for women.Bachelor of Art
