GLOBALISATION DISSOLVING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ALTERNATIVE FILM MAKING IN BRITAIN AND TURKEY

Year 2008, Issue: 3, 283 - 300, 02.03.2008

Ayça Tunç

Abstract

It can be seen that
globalisation, which has contradictory dynamics and so, on the one hand helps
local cultures to be visible on the other hand, causes cultural homogenisation
by using transnationalisation as a discourse, results in Hollywood domination over
all other national cinemas. However, globalisation facilitate the development o
f an alternative cinema culture against mainstream commercial cinema by virtue
o f communication technologies. And the alternative film making and consumption
o f such films seem to have a similar structure all around the World when it
comes to the point o f being rebellious and anti-system. Although they are all
determined by the same motivation, the emerging conditions, the historical and
cultural developments o f alternative cinemas vary depending on the country.
However, it is possible to say that they have many common points such as being
low-budget, having contradictory issues, giving marginalized cultures the
chance o f being represented, using the financial resources and distribution
channels out o f studios...etc. And all these common aspects exist due to the
fact that alternative filmmakers in different countries communicate by virtue o
f developed and expanded communication technologies. In this respect, this
study aims to analyse the alternative cinema tradition in two countries chosen,
Turkey and Britain, which are quite different from each other on the basis o f
economical development level, cultural and historical features, in order to
expose the similarities and differences. Because the former is representative o
f developing countries and the latter o f developed ones Turkey and Britain are
two important countries for such a comparative study. Besides, it is believed
that they have many shared points by means o f globalised alternative cinema
culture. İn accordance with this, this study focuses on production,
distribution, exhibition and consumption practices o f alternative fılmmaking
in the two countries from a comparative point o f view by analysing the most representative
samples of alternative films in both countries.

Keywords

Globalisation, Filmmaking, Alternative Cinema, British Cinema, Turkish Cinema

References

• ATAM, Z. (Bahar / Yaz 2004). Türkiye Sinema Tarihini Yeniden Yazmak. Yeni İnsan Yeni Sinema. Ankara: Dünya Yayıncılık