URBAN REFLECTIONS: AN ECOCRITICAL PERSPECTIVE on MAGICAL ISTANBUL THROUGH ORHAN PAMUK'S 'A STRANGENESS in MY MIND' NOVEL

Abstract

The initial signs of environmental approaches to literary studies began to emerge in the United States during the 1970s. Natural elements were incorporated into literary texts for pastoral purposes. As ecocriticism evolved theoretically, these elements started to be integrated into methodological frameworks. Prominent literary figures contributed to the global expansion of ecocritical approaches. The extensive use of nature-related themes and motifs in traditional Turkish literature laid the groundwork for late modern and post-modern works. In modern Turkish literature, themes and motifs rooted in rural narratives transitioned into urban-focused forms in the 21st century. Literary works often address issues arising from rapid urbanization, distorted urban settlements, and the rapid exploitation of natural resources, occasionally taking the form of criticism and even rebellion. Orhan Pamuk, a Nobel Prize-winning author deeply appreciative of Istanbul's natural and historical richness, incorporates an ecocritical approach into his novels set in Istanbul. This paper explores the dimensions of Pamuk's ecocritical approach in "A Strangeness in My Mind" and discusses the influence and implications of this theory on the author's narrative.