Religious motifs in the most watched Turkish series between 2000 and 2010 (The example of Yaprak Dökümü Series)

Research on television watching habits clearly reveals the interest in televison and domestic TV series by the Turkish society. Considering the effects of visual media on the individual and society, it is an inevitable result that the message given through domestic TV series affects the audience positively or negatively. In this research, Yaprak Dökümü, TV series aired and most watched between 2000-2010 in Turkey, was evaluated in terms of religion and values. The frequency and form of usage of messages related to belief, worship, religious verbal messages, behaviors prohibited by Islam, sexuality, violence and values in Yaprak Dökümü have been revealed, and the positive or negative effect of the mentioned TV series on the audience in terms of religion and values was evaluated. The research consists of four chapters. The Introduction section contains topic, problems, purpose, importance, limitations and method of the research. In the first chapter, in which the institutional framework is discussed, basic information about the history of cinema, television and TV series is presented, and the effect of religious motifs in domestic TV series on the audience is revealed. In the second chapter, messages related to religion and values in 40 episodes analyzed. In the conclusion and suggestions section, the findings determined in the research were evaluated and suggestions were made. As a result of the research, it was found that messages about religion are rarely included in the series; verbal messages about religion are used as a part of daily speaking language and these uses are not generally related to religious personality representation. It has been observed that immoral relationships that may be contrary to social values and scenes that encourage sexuality are frequently used and alcohol has become ordinary. On the other hand, lack of the negative religious typology that we are familiar with the old Turkish films and the glorification of values such as love, respect, compassion, solidarity, brotherhood and friendship are the prominent positive aspects of the series.