The problem of autonomy in the series sector: A Bourdieuan approach

TV series is one of the prominent sectors in Turkey in terms of the production volume it has had since the 2000s, due to the audience it has reached, the national and transnational markets it is active in, and the added value it provides to the country's economy. The sector, which created its own rules and doxas, in Bourdieu's words, with its features such as the increase and diversification of production volume, the formation of several sub-industries, the activation of associations and professional organizations, and the institutionalization of the organization and division of labor, presents the appearance of a field in the 2000s. TV series, which is one of the sectors that create the most added value in the creative industries, stands out with its diversified products in digital and traditional broadcasting channels, and its relationship with the social sphere is getting stronger day by day. For this reason, it is important to investigate the role of this field in the production of public value. This study focuses on commercial production practices of TV series in Turkey. It aims to reveal the unique structural dynamics of the field and the struggles taking place in these dynamics. In this way, it becomes possible to reveal the autonomy potential of TV series in Turkey, whose importance as a cultural production area is increasing day by day. The traces of autonomy are traced by focusing on the agent who carries out the symbolic production in the field. The theoretical and methodological ground of the study is based on Pierre Bourdieu's field theory. Bourdieu's field theory makes it possible to focus on the relationship between the structure and agent, to define the ongoing struggles for autonomy in this field structured with commercial production dynamics and moreover, the role of the agent shaped by the structure in these struggles. The study gains importance by presenting a holistic approach to the autonomy dynamics at both macro and micro scales.