The representation of value in detective films in Turkish cinema

Value is composed of behaviours and ideologies which are approved by the value of a society. It has been proved by many studies that the concept of value is a crucial reference point in determining a society's behaviour and manners. In the contemporary world, mass media and value are intermingled in terms of affecting individuals and the society as a whole. Mass media is one of the most important devices that transmit the basic dynamics of value and help society to internalize them. Furthermore, mass media is a highly effective tool in shaping individuals' beliefs, manners and behaviours. The level of this interaction between individuals and mass media can vary according to the frequency of usage and prejudices of each individual. Within this frame, studying cinema in terms of the concept of value is of vital importance since it has the ability to reach masses and is one of the most important tools of mass media. This study aims to analyze the genre of dedective film, which is received with great acclaim by the cinema audience, in terms of value. The genre of the dedective film has a typical narration style that is formed around the dedective, murderer and victim triangle. Moreover, it represents the social values of the society in expressing the murder and murderer profile of societies. This study aims to analyze representations of the Turkish dedective films in terms of the transforming concept of value in parallel with the social conditions of the era. Four films have been chosen to carry out the study; Kanun Namına (In the Name of the Law) (Ömer Lütfi Akad, 1952), Cemil (Melih Gülgen, 1975), Beyaz Ölüm (White Death) (Halit Refiğ, 1983) ve Av Mevsimi (Hunting Season) (Yavuz Turgul, 2010). The frame of the Turkish dedective films will be drawn through determining which moral values are represented, omitted or held back and trivialized.