The role of turkish tv series in the formation of perception about turkey and turkish people: Examples from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jordan and Kyrgyzstan

Increasing its influence in our age, the media can penetrate many areas of life without limitation of time and space. Particularly visual media, which increases its appeal by bringing together verbal and written elements, takes up a serious place in people's lives with the contents it generates, concepts, people, heroes and life styles it exposes. We can say that television still occupies an important place in the concept of visual media. The most important feature that distinguishes television from conventional means of communication is that it has visual and auditory features. The fictional realities it creates with the contents it produces such as news programs, Tv series, commercials and entertainment programs occupy a large place in the daily life of viewers. In particular, the perception, attitude and, accordingly, attitude change in viewers resulting from television series is a phenomenon that gives rise to curiosity in researchers. Therefore, this thesis study aims to measure the level of perception about Turkey and Turkish people in viewers created by Turkish Tv series broadcast abroad. The main claim of our research is that Turkish Tv series can lead to a country and nation perception in viewers, while the viewers' might develop an interest in and affinity with Turkey and Turkish people. Within the framework of these arguments, a fieldwork was conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jordan and Kyrgyzstan, which was the research universe of the present study. In the light of the data obtained, the perceptions of the viewers about the personality traits of Turkish people, their perceptions of Turkey's image of power, Turkey's perception of life, Turkey's active role, the perception of interest in and affinity with Turkey were examined. It was observed in the study that perceptions of characteristics of Turkish people, image of Turkey as a power, perceptions of life in Turkey and active role of Turkey, all of which were created by the Turkish TV series, have an effect on the interest in Turkey and on the desire of affinity with Turkey and the Turks. It was also realised in the study that the increase in the interest in Turkey also increased the desire of affinity with Turkey and the Turks.