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| (HD, 22 min, Turkey/ USA, 2015) |
A tragicomedy filmed at different Turkish historical sites: Scheherazade as The General explores unconvincing identities formed within diverse ‘general’ populations. Film history & theory, lovers' poetry, YouTube stereotypes, cinematography & scene reenactments navigate constructed political ideologies in evolving times with site-specific stories.
"The
underlying assumption behind political conflicts that did not lead to
repression and oppression of those disputing orthodoxy has always been
the belief that people could be convinced to join a side with ideas and
arguments. The representational politics of the past was about
convincing people that certain political ideas and policies supported
their interests. Identity politics is now claiming that our identities,
not our reason, determine our opinions, interests and the political
platforms we should be supporting. If our identities determine our
interests and our identities are based mainly on the demographics we
belong to, or specific identity related experiences, the possibilities
for compromise and for convincing others belonging to different identity
groups, through ideas and reason, will become extremely limited. (“Universalism and the Courage to Change Society', By Christine Louis Dit Sully, 2018)
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| Trotsky's home in exile on Buyakada Island, Istanbul, formerly home to the Ottoman Chief of Secret Police |