10:00 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014
Phelps Theater in Beimdiek Recreation Center
Admission: Free
Folk literature, the oldest genre associated with the Turkic people, is thought to have first appeared about a dozen centuries ago. Steeped in the oral tradition, folk literature provides a fascinating glimpse into the distant past of Anatolia, an area to which early Turkic peoples migrated and settled. Much of the literature was crafted during the Middle Ages, in some cases even before the Ottoman Empire came into being as the 13th century moved to a close. Folk literature was created in various genres, which sometimes overlap, such as epics, short fables, humorous tales, and poetry in both secular and religious forms. This session will provide readings, given by faculty from Missouri Southern’s English department, representing a range of early folk literature in both poetry and prose.
11:00 a.m., Monday, Oct. 20, 2014
Phelps Theater in Beimdiek Recreation Center
Admission: Free
Appearing in the early 14th century and extending about 500 years, classical Ottoman literature has been an especially valued body of work. Although many learned individuals wrote prose about travel, history, religion, and other important topics, prose fiction did not hold a significant place in Turkish culture during the period. Instead, poetry was venerated and dominated literary production. Ottoman poetry tended to follow various conventions, thus offering similar images, forms, and themes, for example. During the multiple centuries of Ottoman rule, many poets were especially noteworthy, and this session will feature a handful of representative work. Readings will be presented by faculty from Missouri Southern’s English department.
9:00 a.m., Friday, Nov. 14, 2014
Phelps Theater in Beimdiek Recreation Center
Admission: Free
With the end of the Ottoman Empire and creation of the Republic of Turkey in the early 20th century, Turkish literature moved into new avenues of creativity. Ottoman forms considered stale were set aside in favor of the language and themes related to ordinary individuals. Folklore enjoyed renewed popularity, and new genres flourished as short stories and novels began making an impact. Various literary movements affecting both poetry and prose emerged during the 20th century, with some writers influenced by Western texts and others promoting a national identity. This session will feature readings from the modern era, which will be presented by faculty from Missouri Southern’s English department.
