BANNED FILMS, C/OVERT OPPRESSION: PRACTICES OF FILM CENSORSHIP FROM CONTEMPORARY TURKEY A Dissertation Submitted to the Temple University Graduate Board In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY by Sonay Ban December 2020 Examining Committee Members: Damien Stankiewicz, Advisory Chair, Anthropology Heather Levi, Anthropology Wazhmah Osman, Media Studies and Production Bilge Yeşil, External Member, College of Staten Island, CUNY ABSTRACT This project explores how film censorship shapes film production and circulation at film festivals, public screenings, and theatrical releases since the early 2000s in Turkey. It argues that, over time, mechanisms of censorship under Erdoğan’s authoritarian regime became less centralized; practices of censorship became more dispersed and less and less “official;” and the various imposing actors and agencies have differed from those in previous decades. Though still consistent with longstanding state ideologies, reasons for censorship practices, now more than ever, must be complexly navigated and negotiated by producers and distributors of film, including festival organizers, art institutions, and filmmakers themselves, through self-censorship. Drawing on a number of in-depth case studies of films banned after 2000, this project analyzes these works within the political and social contexts surrounding their releases, as well as ethnographic data based on dozens of extensive semi-structured interviews with cultural producers over five years of fieldwork. The corresponding ethnographic fieldwork research reveals how the political climate in Turkey has affected (and worked to suppress) cultural production, freedom of speech, activism, and political resistance to the Erdoğan regime. It asks how political activism, speech, and events are converted into the visibility of image, sound, and text (as film) ultimately meets up with structures of the states that seek to obstruct or eliminate this mode of political engagement, not just through banning of artistic expression, but also through processes of delegitimization, investigatory targeting, threats, hate speech, and violence. ii To my parents, Yurdanur and Zeki Ban And my sister Lütfiye Ban, Without whom I could not have finished this dissertation –you are the honorary Doctors! Thank you for everything… iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This is the best part! Many people to thank, many instances and experiences to be grateful for because the cliché proves the golden rule: It genuinely takes a big village to write a dissertation and I feel so blessed that it does. Arriving at my second home Philadelphia and starting the Ph.D. journey at Temple, which at times felt nightmarish, tough, consuming, and usually tiring, have nonetheless come to an end by my becoming a doctor because I was lucky to meet great academics, mentors, and more importantly wonderful people along the way. I would first thank my advisor Damien Stankiewicz for sharing his knowledge, so I made progress in my research. Heather Levi is one of the best people with: She always laughed at my jokes any time we ran into each other in the department hallways (thanks for getting my sense of humor!). Your courses, academic knowledge, and guidance have been instrumental, your book is a treasure to read (as I said, I hope one day I can write as eloquent as you do), and your friendship is one that I will always cherish. Over the years, Wazhmah Osman helped me in so many ways that she may not have even realized: Her support on academy-related issues alongside her listening to me in the best and worst times and providing life-saving advice will always stay with me. Thank you, Wazhmah, truly… I want to thank Bilge Yeşil for graciously accepting to be an outside reader and proviDing crucial insights so I can improve my project over the years. As the Graduate Chair, Christie Rockwell supported me so much over the years and helped me when I needed the most –she deserves many thanks. Additional to her friendship and kind heart, Yvonne “the Magnificent” Davis saves all of us, graduate fellows in the department, all the time –she is our rock. I hope I come back to Philly soon, so we continue our wonderful conversations. iv Eran Preis has offered one of the best courses ever at Temple, and I was fortunate to take it. His passion and dedication for work and his students and his joy of life have always been among the reasons I want to be someone like him one day. He always supported me as a researcher and an instructor, invited me to his family’s unique Passover and Hannukah gatherings, and encouraged me to develop my academic and non-academic skills. He is one of my mentors in addition to my honorary grandfather if he ever accepts. Though I have known him for a short time, Andy Lamas is the professor and the wise friend one can ever wish to have in their life: I am one lucky person! Hillary Black’s support over the years was crucial; Ben Wilson, directly and indirectly, taught me more than I could have imagineD about myself and life. My friends at Temple Anthropology deserve pages-long accolades for being the sweetest fellows. They taught me so much, helped me grow, shared good and bad times (mostly bad, of course… joking!), and are responsible for having tears of joy in my eyes anytime I recall their love, appreciation, and kind souls. Dana Muñiz Pacheco, “my dear,” my first friend at Temple even before getting to Philly; Keisha Wiel, my once-lost-but- later-found fellow Aquarius; Dave Paulson, my fellow Waltonitas/roommate, shoulD- have-already-been-a-Simpsons-character pampa; Nathan Jessee, another Waltonitas/roommate, the first anthropology fellow I met in the department and the one I miss joking around with and talking about everything relentlessly the most; K. Eva Weiss, the kindest and the most helping friend of all time; Michelle Hurtubise, the effortlessly graceful, generous, and sweet friend I could ever wish for. Grace Cooper, Elysia Petras, and Heidi Knappenberger have always been supportive and fun friends to be around: You have a friend in me, ladies (also thanks, Heidi, for always laughing out v loud at my jokes and making me believe I am funny)! Though not being able to spend much time together, I always received love, respect, and support when I needed the most from Melissa Krug, Eryn Snyder, Nicole Nathan, and Kristina Nazimova. Lastly, Autumn Zellers: My other sister, fellow Waltonitas, confidante, forever ride-or-die… the list goes on, and thank God, it will go on. One of the best things that ever happened to me is to meet you. We have lived through so much, learned a lot, and always taught and supported each other. I love you to the moon and back, sis! I am looking forward to the day we win the war against the system and anything attached to it that we truly despise. Cheers to that! Many people touched my life in different times and places, and I am fortunate to share good memories with them. Members of İstanPhilly – Emre Çetin Gürer, Başak Taraktaş, ilhan Zeynep Karakılıç, Ezgi Çakmak, Zeyno Üstün, Görkem Dağdelen, Ceren Gamze Yaşar, Selma and Güray Erus; Philly friends Juan Carlos Castrillón Vallejo, Maria Giraldo, Ayşegül Balta Özgen, and Aykun Özgen are the ones to thank for. Knowing that my friendship with Zohreh Soltani transcends time zones and countries is a comfort to my soul. Canan Tanır’s friendship has been unique and so precious while the best troll in town James Parisot still owes me a Tarkan t-shirt for my birthday. My dear friend Yağmur Karakaya’s encouragement, love, and humor have saved the later Ph.D. period, especially the writing process. My high school sweethearts Şerife Seda Kucur Ergünay, Zeynep Seval, Esma Elif Şafak Sarıkaya have always been, genuinely, there for me for more than half of our lives no matter where we have been in the worlD. They are my precious! Ayfer Baş is my dear friend that I can always count on and trust her sincerity –so glad to have her! Tuğçe Çetinkaya has been one of the rare gifts of my vi otherwise miserable corporate work life. I love her heart, incessant joy of life, and pure friendship. Paul Benjamin Osterlund always supported and respected me as a friend and an academic; I am grateful to know him. Onurcan Enginsu and İsmail Utku Kıyak are the lifelong friends I can always count on (but we all know this friendship requires enjoying puns and jokes of both good and poor quality and, with Onurcan, pledging loyalty to Month Python). Life without Deniz Çoral would have simply suckeD: She is my anchor, relentless reviewer, constant supporter, and forever companion of silliness, gossip as well as wisdom. Kevser Pınar Üstel is the one and only friend anyone needs. We have lived through so much that I feel like we were born already knowing each other. I have nothing but love for her and feel lucky she is my friend. My forever woman crush Özlem Barsgan is a gift sent from heaven (or which [higher-than-this-life] place anyone believes in): As I always say to her, I would have been so jealous if she is someone else’s best friend (but, hey, she is mine!). Life is always bearable with her. Writing a dissertation on film censorship in Turkey laid many challenges in my way. There were times where I lost my self-confidence and strength to continue this long journey. Yet, I have a debt of gratitude for my informants who graciously accepted to be part of this research, shared their knowledge, experience, and goodwill over the years, and supported me in many ways they do not even know.