The Afrodit Case: The Popular Perception of Literature and Obscenity in Turkey at the Beginning of the Second World War

Authors : Sinan Yıldırmaz

Pages : 133-145

Doi:10.26650/siyasal.2023.32.1358367

View : 45 | Download : 41

Publication Date : 2023-12-31

Article Type : Research

Abstract :In 1939, Nasuhi Baydar, a Turkish Grand National Assembly member, translated Pierre Louys’ Afrodit. The novel was banned for obscenity, sparking widespread protests as well as public interest. The trials resulting from the novel’s banning were sometimes held in the presence of as many as 5,000 protestors. As the debates over the value of an obscene novel continued to rage, the scope for discussions widened, with the case becoming part of the ongoing struggle between “revolutionary modernists” and opposing “reactionaries.” Ultimately, the debate over the novel’s alleged obscenity transformed into “nothing but fuel for constructing communities.” Even amidst significant events like the 1939 Erzincan earthquake and the Soviet annexation of Finland, the Afrodit case dominated media headlines and completely captured public attention. After the acquittal of the book’s publisher, more than four different translations of the novel appeared on the market, significantly increasing its sales volume. Even before the acquittal, some pirated editions or other books using the same title were sold by street peddlers until midnight. This paper aims to demonstrate how Turkey’s intellectuals engaged in their political and ideological struggle during the Second World War by mobilizing the public over a trial regarding a piece of supposedly obscene literature.
Keywords : Düşünce Tarihi, Kamusal alan, Müstehcenlik, Pierre Louys, Türkiye, Yasak kitaplar