The relation of woman audience with melodrama specifically with the film Hıçkırık from a feminist perspective

ABSTRACTTHE RELATION OF WOMAN AUDIENCE WITH MELODRAMASPECIFICALLY WITH THE FILM HIÇKIRIKFROM A FEMINIST PERSPECTIVEFunda CANCinema-TelevisionAnadolu University Social Sciences Institute, February 2007Supervisor: Yrd. Doç. Dr. N. Aysun YÜKSELIn this study, before what the melodramatic films mean to woman audience is studiedfrom a feminist perspective, melodramatic narratives, generally, are tried to be definedconsidering many of their qualities including their historical and cultural backgroundsand also from the perspective of various theoretical approaches. The idea thatmelodramas are related to woman consumers because of the fact that they use thethemes of love, marriage and especially ?confirmation of family institution? at thecenter is considered as the basic subject. Firstly, melodramas are examined as massculture products. Then, how these afore mentioned themes are studied generally inmelodramatic narratives, specifically in Yeşilçam melodramas, are tried to beinterpreted from a feminist perspective.The meanings of the theme of ?confirmation of family institution?, which is thought tohave a basic importance in melodramas are tried to be put forward considering womanaudience. Following this idea, social, economic, politic dynamics of family institutionand its function in the woman?s passive social status are stated. The subject of romanticlove which should also be mentioned together with the family theme is studied in thecontext of patriarchal ideology.The relation of woman audience with Yeşilçam melodramas is tried to be examinedfrom a feminist perspective through the film Hıçkırık, which was made in 1965.Interviews about the film have been made with the ten woman audiece, who have beenwatching melodramas with interest for a long time. The reactions and interpretations ofthe woman audience are evaluated in order to determine in what ways they accept thepatriarchal values or in what points they conflict with these values.