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Topics in Ottoman Cultural History
been treated mostly in terms of segmented and
isolated fields, giving rise to separate
"histories" of architecture, miniature painting, the other
decorative arts, music and literature.
Furthermore, its relationship with the Imperial
court has been narrowly and superficially
conceived, so that it has frequently been reduced to
a mere "reflection" of the political and
military fortunes of the state or the ruling house, and
simultaneously divorced from the material and
cultural conditions of production, the entire habitus,
of a court society. Against this historiographical
background, and through an ongoing critique of the
prevailing modes of interpretation (including
documentary, formalist retrospective-ideological, or
connoisseurial approaches, as well as more
up-to-date methodologies focusing on reception theory,
the social foundations of art, or identity
issues within art), HIST 625 will be exploring the
possible avenues of "total history" in this regard,
seeking to address questions of "Ottomanization",
"social, political and cultural fluidity", "legitimate
change", "barriers between various classes of
official Ottoman society", "erosion of corporate
distinction", or "cultural experimentations",
and encouraging students to investigate the ways in which
configurations of power and legitimation
(in all their change and continuity) were both expressed by
and constructed through artand culture at
various times. Counts towards fulfilling the seminar
requirement in History subject to the completion of a
major research paper (of around 30 pages)
largely based on primary source materials. For the
possibility of being taken as an upper
undergraduate lecture course, with adjusted readings and
requirements, see HIST 425. Prerequisite :
An adequate command of Ottoman Turkish, through TLL 501-502
or the equivalent, and subject to the instructor's approval.
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