Fidan Cheikosman

Thesis title: Gendered Turkishness in Everyday Istanbul Through Elif Shafak’s and Orhan Pamuk’s Literature from an Aesthetic, Feminist, and Sociocultural Perspective

Biography

Background

Fidan is a fourth  year PhD candidate in Comparative Literature (Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies) at the University of Edinburgh. Her doctoral research is currently being supervised by Dr. Fabien Arribert-Narce and Dr.Ines Aščerić-Todd.

In Fidan's vibrant dissertation on Comparative Literature, she delves into the captivating exploration of Turkish identity within the contemporary novels of Elif Shafak and Orhan Pamuk. With a multifaceted approach, Fidan traverses the intricate landscapes of aesthetics, feminist, and socio-cultural theories to unravel the nuanced tapestry of Turkishness as it intertwines with gendered conceptions. Through the lens of Shafak's and Pamuk's literary works, Fidan uncovers the rich layers of identity embedded within the fabric of Istanbul's metropolis. From the poignant narratives of everyday life emerge profound revelations, illuminating the stark disparities between male and female experiences within the cityscape. The meticulously selected novels, ranging from Pamuk's "Istanbul: Memories and the City" to Shafaks's "10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World," serve as vivid portals into the heart of the identity discourse. Fidan's dissertation is a compelling exploration of how these visionary authors challenge conventional perceptions, offering unique insights into the intricate interplay of identity, perception, and societal norms. At its core, Fidan's research is a testament to the transformative power of literature, as it illuminates the myriad way s in which storytelling can shape our understanding of self and society. 

Central to Fidan's thesis is the exploration of how renowned authors like Elif Shafak and Orhan Pamuk depict Istanbul as a battleground for gender experiences, amplifying the significance of gender and sexuality in shaping individual perceptions. Within their texts, Istanbul emerges as a canvas where the male and female experiences intersect, unraveling hidden truths about everyday Turkish life. From the echoes of cultural memory to the stark realities of violence against women, from the rigid gender boundaries to the complexities of transnational relations and religious fundamentalism, each page of the selected novels become a portal into the intricate sociocultural dynamics of the nation. 

Fidan asks questions that unravel the intricacies of identity in Shafak's and Pamuk's novels. How doo Shafak and Pamuk weave the tapestry of gender into the fabric of their narratives? What secrets do their novels reveal about the connection between identity and gender? Fidan explores how everyday experiences take centre stage, becoming powerful conduits for exploring identity in unique and compelling ways. Within  the urban landscapes painted by these authors, geography emerges as more than just a backdrop - it becomes. stage upon which characters' experiences unfold, guided by the invisible hand of gender. Fidan's dissertation sheds light on the truth of female existence in Istanbul, uncovering the nuanced ways in which gender shapes the lived experience of the city. Through her analysis, seemingly mundane details blossom into unexpected revelations, offering a new lens through which to view the gender-defined boundaries of self-perception and belonging. 

Qualifications

January 2021 - Present - PhD., Comparative Literature (Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies), University of Edinburgh

September 2018 - May 2020 - M.S.c, Publishing: Print & Digital Media, New York University

September 2015 - May 2017 - BA, Magna Cum Laude, Departmental Honours, Comparative Literature, French Literature and Culture, University of California, Los Angeles 

Responsibilities & affiliations

July 2023 - Present - Member, National Women's Studies Association 

May 2022 - Present - Member, Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association

February 2022 - Present - Member, Ottoman & Turkish Studies Association

February 2022 - Present - Member, Middle East Studies Association (MESA)

February 2022 - Present - Member, International Comparative Literature Association 

February 2022 - May 2022 - Independent Researcher, Department of Western Languages and Literatures, Boğaziçi University

Undergraduate teaching

2021 - French 1B Literature and Civilization 

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

No

Research summary

Fidan's research interests and specializations are concentrated within the theoretical and methodological frameworks within the Turkish and larger Middle Eastern and Islamic context. At the moment, she is largely focused on the gender-dichotomy as it exists within the Turkish novel.

 

  • Comparative Literature
  • World Literature (Turkish, Russian)
  • Gender Studies
  • Comparative Nationalism
  • Representations of Urban Space in Literature
  • Surrealist theory within everyday studies 
  • Museum and archive studies
  • East-West Literary Relations
  • Geo-Politics

Past project grants

March 2022 - May 2022 - Turing Scheme Grant

Conference details

"The Kemalist Illusion: A Comparative Tale of Nationalism Through Elif Shafak’s and Orhan Pamuk’s Non-Fiction." The Middle East in Myth and Reality. University of Iceland. Reykjavik, Iceland. 22-24 September 2022. 

“Literary Representations of Constantinople: Orhan Pamuk’s Ottoman Characters and their Western Travels.” Travelers in Ottoman Lands: The Balkans, Anatolia and Beyond. University of Sarajevo. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina . 24-27 August, 2022.

"Istanbul, A Metaphor City: A Literary Illustration of Turkishness." International Conference on Thinking the City through Fragmentation and Reconfiguration: Aesthetic and Conceptual Challenges. Colégio Almada Negreiros. Lisbon, Portugal. 01-03 June, 2022. 

"The Dangers of the Syrian Woman from the Lens of Mainstream Turkish Media." International Conference on Xenophobia in the Media. Sakarya University. Sakarya, Turkey. 30-31 May 2022. 

"But Where Are You Really From?: An Ode to Children of the Diaspora." National Black History Month Conference. Scottish Graduate School of Social Science. October 2021.

"The Dangers of the Syrian Woman from the Lens of Mainstream Turkish Media Outlets," in Xenophobia in the Media: Critical Global Perspectives, eds. Senthan Selvarajah, Nesrin Kenar, Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, and Pradeep Dhakal (London: Routledge, 2024), https://www.routledge.com/Xenophobia-in-the-Media-Critical-Global-Perspectives/Selvarajah-Kenar-Shaw-Dhakal/p/book/9781032557038#. 

"The Possession-Possessor Dichotomy in the Turkish-Museum Novel," Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction (November 2023), https://doi.org/10.1080/00111619.2023.2279046

 

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