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Karagöz



Karagöz is a type of shadow theatre performed in Turkey using tasvir figures, which are shaped into people or animals and held up against a light source to cast their shadows onto a cotton screen.

Turkish legend has it that the first karagöz performance occurred when a commoner visited the sultan. Rather than simply complaining, as most commoners do, he put on a short puppet performance to tell a tale about the sultan's corrupt officials. According to the myth, the sultan was delighted with the performance so much that he appointed the puppeteer as Grand Vizier and punished the corrupt officials who were the inspiration for the puppeteer’s tale.

Other stories say that Karagöz and Hacivat were based on real people. In Bursa, during the mid-14th century, Karagöz and Hacivat were working on a mosque as construction workers. Their silly antics distracted other workers and slowed down the construction work, so the ruler at the time ordered their execution. The two were sorely missed at the time that they were immortalized as the two silly puppets that entertained the Ottoman Empire for centuries.

To set the scene, a projection of an introductory figure is displayed to suggest the themes of the drama before it vanishes to the sound of a shrill whistle, leading up to the main performance, which can include singing, tongue twisters, tambourine music, myth, poetry, and riddles.

Most of the stories are comical and feature the main characters Karagöz and Hacivat, along with a host of other characters, including a cabaret singer and an illusionist-acrobat named Hokkabaz. In addition, these stories often contain puns and imitations of regional accents. The puppets are manipulated by Hayali, a master puppeteer, who has one or more apprentice assistants working with him to make the tasvirs and provide accompaniment with music.

Karagöz used to be mainly played at gardens, coffeehouses, and public squares, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan, and during circumcision feasts, but is now mostly found in schools, performance halls, and malls in larger cities, where it still attracts audiences. Through entertainment, the traditional theatre strengthens the sense of cultural identity and brings people closer together.

Today, Karagöz is still appreciated by many Turks and by people all over the world who enjoy this traditional Turkish art form. Many museums house Karagöz collections including the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, the British Museum, and the Harvard Museum. It is crucial to preserve this traditional Turkish art form for future generations to enjoy.


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