KARAGOZ SHOW IN ISTANBUL ORAL CULTURAL ENVIRONMENTS

Karagoz, one of the Turkish performing arts, has been important in Istanbul oral cultural environments for centuries and popularized by the public. In the late 19th century, after opening of theaters and cinemas in Istanbul reduced the interest in Karagoz shows. Despite reduced interest, Karagoz artists continued to play in various oral cultural environments after the proclamation of the Republic. During the first years of the Republic, Karagoz shows continued in oral cultural environments with the support of the public houses. After the closure of public houses in 1952, this situation has changed and a period in which Karagoz began to be forgotten has started. The Karagoz artists, who didnt support by government, continued to perform Karagoz shows in some places by their own possibilities but they were not successful to keep their shows alive. As a result of widespread use of television in 1970s and the military coup in 1980, Karagoz became a show for children and remembered only during Ramadan. In this study, the situation of Karagoz show in oral cultural environments between 1923 and 1980 was explained. Although, Karagoz is accepted as a show for children and Ramadan for today, it attracted both adult and children and could be seen in Istanbul oral cultural environments every month of year before 1980. In the study, it was determined by the help of examples from Aksam, Kurun and Milliyet newspapers published during Republic period that Karagoz was performed in oral cultural places like coffeehouses, parks, gardens, cinemas, theaters, restaurants and show centers