Cultural Overview Of Turkey

Ottoman literature and court music were mostly religious. They are very different to the western concept of music so they may sound melancholic to the uninitiated. Folk music is very lively but television and cassettes have replaced the bards who were very skilled and popular.

Kemal Ataturk changed Turkey’s cultural image as well. Painting, sculpture, western music, dance and drama were all encouraged to develop and grow. Ottoman arts like paper marbling and Karagoz shadow puppet plays have recently been revived. Carpet weaving is and will be the main Turkish interest. These carpets some times tell a story, are woven in bright colours and are collected by connoisseurs from all over the world.