مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Life in Istanbul in Karagöz, the Turkish Shadow Play

Abstract :

With a significant place in Turkish performance arts, karagöz shadow play went through its development and maturation process after the 16th century in Istanbul. The play, which spread to other countries after having taken its final shape here, has remained among the essential elements in Turkish entertainment culture for ages. It was performed in the court, palaces, coffee houses and outdoors in the Ottoman period and thus gained recognition among large audiences.The information provided by many works in addition to the accounts of chiefly Evliya Çelebi and various foreign travelers reveal that shadow play was quite popular in Istanbul life. Various sights regarding the life in Istanbul appear predominantly in karagöz shadow play which became a part of the daily life of the people in Istanbul. Various parts of Istanbul, recreation spots, vocations, sports activities and daily events in addition to various customs and traditions and the beliefs of the people have been reflected on the karagöz screen. This reflection caused the Turkish shadow play Karagöz to become a source of reference in order to shed light upon particularly the life in Istanbul in the Ottoman period.