EXPRESSION TURKISH REFORMS AND REPUBLIC BY USING HUMOROUS LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES: A RESEARCH ON AFACAN COMIC

Abstract

Modernization movement on political, economic, social, cultural fields took place between the years of 1923-1938 after the establishment of Turkish Republic. The early modernization of Republic Period which had different nature took its source from Atatürk Reforms. It aimed to forming and adopting national identity and exhibited itself with a series of reforms. Atatürk considered many reforms necessary so that Turkish Republic could reach the level of contemporary civilization. According to him, the new established Turkish Republic could change many institutions which he took them over from the Ottoman Empire; thus he believed that he could adapt them to the modern world and make progress. With this understanding, institutions remained from the Ottomans were closed between the years of 1923-1928 and the Republic were tried to be institutionalized. Reforms completely revealed as of 1928. In this study, it’s stressed how Turkish Reforms was presented to children through media. Media was a remarkable tool for the establishment of republic. Media was used to reach majority of society, to teach and adopt reforms to people. Atatürk thought that media which is the common voice of a nation had to see value in the first place. Therefore, he mentioned about the importance of media’s mission for protection of republic after the war of independence and explained these missions. In addition to these, he also attributed great importance to raising awareness of children as to the establishment of Turkish Republic and its protection. Children accepted as the carriers of Reforms are always valuable for new generation. Comics and journals customized for children were used for raising awareness of children at that time. Afacan Comic was one of them. Afacan, the first extensive comic, was published between the years of 1932-1945 and contained all reforms and offered an insight into that period. Its humorous side contributed further value to itself in terms of attracting children. In this study, it will be represented how reforms and republic tried to be established through reforms have been presented. Initially, literature review and document analysis have been made and given general information about Afacan Comic in the study which has been mentioned about Turkish Reforms and media’s mission on adopting these reforms to children. Then, historical qualitative analysis has been used to show how republic which is tried to be adopted to children via reforms has been presented in Afacan Comic. The importance of Afacan Comic at reforms introduction and republic have been revealed within the framework of the study which is an example of descriptive historical research.