New Directions in Turkish Film Studies Conference XII
5-7 9 May 2011, Kadir Has University, Ä°stanbul
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Does cinema do philosophy? Does philosophy benefit from cinema?
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The theme of this yearâ??s conference is
philosophy, both as a means of enriching the
existing frameworks of film theory, film
history, and film analysis, and as a space for
us to realize the potential provided by cinema
in our engagement with daily life and our perception of the world.
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This conference is concerned with what this
relationship between cinema and philosophy means
in Turkey and asks the following questions: Have
contemporary philosophical movements influenced
cinema in Turkey? Has Turkey developed a unique
visual language that rests on a philosophical
agenda? Are there any particular worldviews,
ways of looking and comprehensive philosophical
backgrounds behind Turkish and world cinema?
What makes it difficult for the Turkish cinema
to reflect on itself and its production process?
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The call for papers incorporates not only
academic theories of philosophy framed by
certain schools of thought, but also the forms
of 'philosophical' thinking that have been
effective in the functioning and perception of
cinema and related artistic and cultural fields
in different historical periods. The possible
subjects for the conference may include newly
reformulated concepts like nostalgia, memory,
loss, grief, melancholy, soul and body, as well
as theories and movements like realism,
romanticism, expressionism, hermeneutics,
phenomenology, psychoanalysis, feminism, and
Marxism. Currently, some concepts have opened up
productive spaces and grounds for reconsidering
issues such as the center-periphery conflict,
the balance between the two, and democracy.
Concepts of class, equality, freedom and justice
have created a gravitational pull. Therefore,
all areas that have been in dialogue with
philosophy from past to present (anthropology,
sociology, positive sciences, linguistics,
ethics, etc.) can be included into the framework
of the conference so long as they are
operationalized in relation to cinema and
philosophy. Moreover, papers may cover the
historical process, the ideological
sensibilities of the period, the engagement of
the artists to the historical discourse of the
period, and the reflections of this engagement
on creating characters, narrative styles and
techniques, the worldviews of the characters,
the ways of seeing provoked by cinema, the
reasoning of the artists as well as their
ethical and aesthetic premises. We are looking
forward to your paper and panel proposals for
Turkish Film Studies Conference XII.
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Those who would like to respond to the open call
for the conference are kindly requested to send:
·   a 400-500-word presentation abstract,
·   three key words summarising the subject,
·   a short biography of 100-200 words.
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Those who would like to propose a
pre-constituted panel consisting of 3-4 presentations are requested to send:
·   a 250-300 word statement describing the panel,
·   a short biography of the organizer,
·   information required for each of the
individual contributions that comprise the panel.
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Please also state the preferred language of the
presentantion in the application, since this is
bilingual (Turkish/English) conference without simultaneous translation.
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Contact person: Oznur Sahin
 <mailto:(oznur.sahin /at/ khas.edu.tr)>(oznur.sahin /at/ khas.edu.tr)
Deadline:Â February 28, 2011
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The main objective of the conference is to
create a productive platform to encourage new
perspectives on Turkish Film Studies by
gathering academics, film makers and cinephiles
interested in cinema of Turkey under the same
roof. The edited versions of the selected papers
from previous conferences are regularly
published by Baglam Press. These volumes have
formed the first comprehensively and
systematically institutionalized works on cinema
of Turkey. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this process.
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Advisory Board:
Tevfik BaÅ?er (Kadir Has University)
Deniz Bayrakdar (Kadir Has University)
Nevena Dakovic (Univerzitet u Beogradu)
John Hill (Royal Holloway, University of London)
Dina Iordanova (University of St. Andrews)
Cemal Kafadar (Harvard University)
Fatih �zgüven (Film Critic)
Giovanni Scognamillo (Film Critic)
Louise Spence (Kadir Has University)
Hülya Uçansu (Former Director of Istanbul Film Festival)
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Programming Committee:
Tül Akbal Sualp (Bahcesehir University)
Zahit Atam (Film Critic)
Deniz Bayrakdar (Kadir Has University)
�vgü Gökçe (Altyazı)
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Organizing Committee:
Deniz Bayrakdar (Kadir Has University)
Melis Behlil (Kadir Has University)
Levent Soysal (Kadir Has University)
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Conference Assitant:
Ã?znur Å?ahin (Kadir Has University)
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