Military and Art Museums

We have spent a lot of time discussing narratives in our institute.  How does an empire, like the Byzantine or Ottoman, construct their narrative?  How does modern day turkey explain transitions in power?  Do Turkish citizens agree with the narrative?  Great questions for us to discuss and bring back to the classroom.

The Military Museum is definitely the government/armed forces narrative.  How many pictures of cannons, muskets, and helmets can I take?  Large impressive murals of Ottoman and Turkic victories without a lot of mention of defeats.  Makes me wonder how various groups view the US historical narratives...how do Native American populations feel when they visit Fort Snelling?  Do we have our own examples of nationalism within our museums?

Sultan Mehmet II, Conqueror of Byzantium.  High Five, Mehmet!

Constantinople becomes Istanbul 1453

One small room was particularly interesting to the NEH group.  I have several ideas in mind for how to present the issue of narratives to my students based on this exhibit.

The Armenian "Issue" from a military perspective

The Janissary Military Band

Next we went to the Art Museum, Sakip Sabanci Museum.  They had a beautiful exhibit on Orientalism.  The idea, developed by Edward Said, argues that Europeans constructed a narrative describing the Orient as exotic and mysterious and used it to justify colonialism, at times.  Then as these incorrect attitudes towards the east spread, Ottomans adopted it and reconstructed it back into their culture.  I hope I'm giving the idea justice here, anyway, a very different narrative than the military history and beautiful artwork.  My friend, Darcie Caswell, would have loved it! 

No pictures allowed inside the museum (see the museum site under related links) but here is the garden outside and a lovely view of the Bosphorus.