The perception of Turks in German caricatures in the context of orientalism (1909-1918)

This dissertation examines how the East was represented through caricatures published in prominent German satirical magazines between 1909 and 1918, including Simplicissimus, Kladderadatsch, Fliegende Blätter, ULK, Der Wahre Jacob, and Jugend. The primary aim is to uncover the orientalist narrative structures underlying these representations and to highlight the ideological functions of visual culture. Utilizing visual discourse analysis, the study demonstrates that humor served as a powerful medium for reproducing and disseminating cultural stereotypes. The Ottoman Empire is portrayed as an exotic, irrational, and backward "other," frequently depicted with orientalist symbols such as the crescent, fez, mosque, hookah, and traditional garments. The "Sick Man" metaphor and caricatures of Abdulhamid II functioned as ideological tools reinforcing perceptions of Ottoman weakness and the necessity for Western intervention. However, in the context of the Gallipoli Campaign and the Turkish-German alliance, the Ottoman Empire was also represented as a symbol of heroic resistance, allowing for more positive depictions. Another key finding is that these orientalist portrayals were not fixed but dynamically shaped by contemporary political and military developments. By revealing how visual culture operated as a means of ideological persuasion, this study contributes to both the field of Orientalism and broader research in media and propaganda. It underscores the significance of caricature as a historical source that reflects and influences public opinion, national identity, and international relations in early twentieth-century Germany.