Selim İleri’nin Hikâyeleri’nde Kent/Kentleşme Meselesi
The Problem of City/Urbanization in Selim İleri’s Stories

Summary/Abstract: Among the issues that Selim İleri was concerned with as an artist and an intellectual is architecture. The urbanization and transformation of İstanbul is embedded in all of his works. The destruction of the old İstanbul, the unsuccessful modern urban development, and the city as a location of modern life are narrated in his stories. The degeneration of the traditional architectural style of İstanbul, the unplanned urbanization and destruction of the traditional architectural style intertwined with nature are highlighted. The capitalist economic context of the contemporary human relations in the city as the heart of modern life, the psycho-social dissociation of the urban people, and the resulting societal corruption extend the issue beyond pure architectural sensibility. The transformation of İstanbul is criticized within stories in terms of architectural and social reflections. There is a deep yearning for The Old İstanbul with its nature, architecture and human relations. The topic of the city/urbanization could be discussed in the context of several concepts in the stories. The urbanization of İstanbul as an architectural problem, social life and corruption resulting from this change, and the nostalgic discourse on the Old İstanbul are some of the motives addressed hereby.

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