A Discussion on Questioning Gender Stereotypes in New Turkish Cinema: Experiences of Woman(ism) in the Innovative Language of the Film Mustang
Cinema Studies: Cultural and Social Practices, Digitization, and Theory, NOVA Publications , ss.335-351, 2026
- Yayın Türü: Kitapta Bölüm / Araştırma Kitabı
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Yayınevi: NOVA Publications
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.335-351
- Anahtar Kelimeler: feminist film criticism, gender stereotypes, new Turkish cinema, women’s emancipation
- Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This chapter critically examines the innovative narrative language and feminist perspective in Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s film Mustang (2015), positioning it within the framework of New Turkish Cinema and its evolving gender dynamics. Focusing on the transformative role of women directors, the study traces the sociohistorical roots of gender stereotypes in Turkish society and cinema, linking them to the broader women's movement in Turkey. Employing narrative and visual analysis, the chapter dissects Mustang’s subversion of patriarchal norms through its depiction of five sisters resisting traditional gender roles and struggling for liberation within the oppressive confines of rural life. The film's visual and thematic elements, such as the portrayal of feminine tragedies, rebellion, solidarity, and the critical use of space, are analyzed as tools for disrupting the male gaze and proposing an alternative feminist discourse. Moreover, the study highlights Mustang's crucial engagement with conservative social norms and its symbolic references to larger political struggles, such as the Gezi Park protests. Through its innovative cinematographic language and emphasis on everyday life, the chapter argues that Mustang represents a pivotal example of feminist cinema in Turkey, challenging the hegemonic masculine narrative and advancing the cause of women's emancipation. The study situates Ergüven's work within a lineage of women directors, reflecting on the broader potential of feminine cinema to critique and transform societal norms.