Hunts become Hunters
The aim of this research is to investigate how internet-based digital platforms offer opportunities for women’s cinema. The space that digital broadcasting platforms in Turkey open up for women’s stories and representations and the possible changes that these platforms demand for the narrative and narrative forms of the content produced by women constitute the general framework questions of the discussion:
Does the emergence of different women’s narratives due to the shifting proliferation of the feminist movement in Turkey and around the world enable the empowerment of women’s stories told on digital platforms? The research will examine the representation and agency of women in these narratives by considering the psychological changes of the characters, the elements of the story, the repetitions in the stories, and the tendency of the narrative to imitate life. Within the scope of the research, series and movie texts will be analyzed, content and narrative analysis will be made and interviews will be conducted with the groups watching these texts through participant observation.
I aim to turn this research into an article and prepare a new research proposal.
Research Results
The portrayal of “strong female leads” in Turkish series on Netflix signifies a shift towards diverse and complex representations, reflecting the creative freedom of digital platforms. This evolution showcases female characters navigating societal expectations, professional environments, and personal relationships, embodying resilience, intelligence, and emotional depth. However, challenges persist in achieving egalitarian representation, with the male gaze and patriarchal norms subtly influencing portrayals.
My future research will deepen the understanding of these dynamics by comparing strong female leads in Turkish series with those in other global media, providing insights into the thematic and narrative strategies employed. Audience reception is crucial in determining the success and impact of these narratives.
The continued support of the CAIS Institute is vital, providing access to resources and networks. This research aims to foster transformative dialogue and advocacy for gender equality in media representation, enhancing our understanding and promoting inclusive storytelling globally.
Conference Presentations:
- Kotaman, A. (2024, May 25-27). “No Woman Should Be Silent”. 1st Symposium on Women in Audio Visual Culture. Okan University. (To be published in the proceedings book).
- Kotaman, A. (2024, June 10-12). “Series in the Light of the Visibility Economy”. International Women, Discourse, Action Colloquium. İzmir.
Approved Fundings:
- Kotaman, A. (2024). Unveiling the construction of “strong female leads” in Turkish series on Netflix [Fellowship research, IMT Lucca Advanced Studies].
Media Coverage:
- Kotaman, A. (2024) Susma Bitsin Platformu. “Representation of female characters in local TV series and digital platform TV series, changes, ruptures CAIS project presentation“ [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNIg29jyPuo
Main research topics
- Female gaze
- women’s cinema
- representation
- feminine subjectivity and agency in cinema and television
Curriculum Vitae
- Guest Lecturer, New School, 2021-
- Research Fellow, University of Bonn 2020-2023
- Registered Fellow in Higher Education Academy
- The International Visual Methods Conference (IVMC), Steering Committee
Publications and Lectures
- Kotaman, A., & Şener, G. (2023). Video activism in feminist movements in Turkey. Feminist Media Studies, DOI: 10.1080/14680777.2023.2258292Instagraö
- Kotaman, A. (2023, April 17). Women’s Movement in Turkey and its reflections. Paper presented at the 5th annual Consortium Scholars Conference, “The Plight of Women and Minorities Under Authoritarian Rule,” Université Paris 8.
- Kotaman, A. (2023, March 27-30). The Untold Stories. Paper presented at the III Congreso Internacional de Estudios Español, MariCorners, Madrid.
- Kotaman, A. (2022, August 10-14). Voices of the Silenced: New media Practices of Testimonial Collection in Turkey. Paper presented at the XXVIII VISIBLE EVIDENCE 2022, Images of History, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Gdańsk. Retrieved from https://2022.visibleevidence.org/programme/
- Kotaman, A. (2022, May 5). Walking as a Feminist Resilience. Paper presented at The New University in Exile Consortium Spring Conference.