Turkey’s Tigers
Directed by Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill
Thursday, January 31
7 pm Varsity Theater
Free and open to the public.
A surprising look at modern Turkey, the crossroads of East and West. For years, Turkey has been run by a stridently secular business and political elite, while its devout Muslim citizens have been pushed to the political and economic fringes. But now, even the most committed Muslims are embracing Western-style capitalism and commerce—and are ascending in Turkish society at the ballot box and in big business. This Wide Angle documentary captures a modern—and to many Westerners, surprising—face of Islam rarely seen in the American media. The program follows prominent members of Turkey’s up-and-coming business community—including two rival fashion entrepreneurs, one of whom has founded his company on Islamic principles—as they develop and carry out their manufacturing and marketing strategies. In addition, Turkish political cartoonist Salih Memecan discusses his work, Islam’s relationship with the West, and the benefits of Turkey’s association with Europe with anchor Daljit Dhaliwal. (57 minutes) Introduction and discussion led by UNC Prof. Banu Gökariksel.
Part of the Cinema of the Global Middle East Film Series, Ackland Film Forum
Sponsors: North Carolina Public Radio WUNC is the Official Media Sponsor of the Ackland Film Forum. Cinema of the Global Middle East Film Series sponsored by ART\Islam, Carolina Center for the Study of the Middle East and Muslim Civilizations, and Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies.