Visual Narratives of Islamic Funeral Practices in the Late Ottoman Empire and Early Turkish Republic

Abstract

This article explores Islamic death rituals and the visual culture surrounding them from the late Ottoman era to the early Turkish Republic. By analyzing vernacular photographs ephemera and personal narratives we highlight the interplay between conventional Turkish and foreign elements revealing a blend of continuity and adaptation forming an eclectic aesthetic in funerary customs. Using a qualitative archival approach we delve into the incorporation of modern elements following the Tanzimat reforms and secularization efforts of the early Republic showing how these shifts were reflected in funerary practices and the visual documentation of mourning. An insight is offered into Turkey's distinctive death culture one shaped by its complex history diverse social structures and evolving attitudes and expressions toward mourning and remembrance.