Poetic limits of AI: a study on the visual representation of Mevlana’s works

Abstract

This study examines how concepts and themes in the works of Mevlana are visually expressed using Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms. Born in 1207 in Balkh, one of the most important centers of Sufi thought, Mevlana left a rich literary legacy in both poetry and prose. His works, with their profound spiritual messages, have remained influential until today. In today's digital age, artificial intelligence offers new possibilities to interpret and visualize these timeless themes. Artificial intelligence, which simulates cognitive processes such as perception and decision-making, increases efficiency and provides new insights in various sectors. In this study, prompts created with artificial intelligence based on Mevlana's poems were used and how these spiritual themes were expressed visually was analyzed. By adopting the qualitative research method of textual analysis, the study investigates how artificial intelligence transforms Mevlana's poetic language into modern visual forms. By adopting qualitative methods that emphasize the constructed and open-ended nature of reality, this study reveals the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in the field of art and Sufi philosophy. Analyzing the visual outputs produced by artificial intelligence, the article aims to offer an original perspective on how Mevlana 's works can be re-imagined in the digital space. This analysis, by focusing on the synergy between artificial intelligence and mystical philosophy, fosters fresh discussions about how technology, art, and spirituality intersect.

Keywords

• AI
• Mevlana
• Textual analysis
• Visualization

References

1. Arpagus, S. (2007). Mevlâna Celâleddin Rûmî (Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi). İstem, 5(10), 91-111.
2. Balaban Salı, J. (2018). Nitel araştırmalarda veri toplama araçları (Data collection tools in qualitative research). In A. Şimşek (Ed.), Sosyal Bilimlerde Araştırma Yöntemleri (pp. 134-161). Eskişehir: Anadolu Üniversitesi Yayınları.
3. Bastaban, Ü., & Sarıhan, S. (2024). Comparative Analysis of AIs: a Stylistic Experiment with Paintings of Ai Weiwei, Nuri Iyem and Jacob Lawrence. Journal for the Interdisciplinary Art and Education, 5(3), 161-173.
4. Beytur, M. (2005). Mesnevi Gözüyle Mevlâna (Mevlana through the perspective of Mesnevi). İstanbul: Tuba Kitabevi.
5. Bishop, C., & Bishop, H. (2024). Deep Learning: Foundations and Concepts. Cambridge: Springer. Creswell, J. (1998). The Essential Peirce: Selected Philosophical Writings. Indiana: Indiana University Press.
6. Dündar, M. (2021). Fîhi Mâ Fîh Kitabında Kur’anî Motifler (Quranic motifs in the book of Fîhi Mâ Fîh). Ankara: İksad Yayınevi.
7. Gölpınarlı, A. (1974). Mevlâna Celaleddin Dîvân (The Divan of Mevlana Celaleddin). İstanbul: İnkılap ve Aka Yayınevi.
8. Gölpınarlı, A. (1985). Mesnevi ve Şerhi (Cilt I) (Mesnevi and its commentary, Vol. I). İstanbul: M.E.G.S.B. Yayınları.

9. Gölpınarlı, A. (1985). Mesnevi ve Şerhi (Cilt II) (Mesnevi and its commentary, Vol. II). İstanbul: M.E.G.S.B. Yayınları.
10. Gölpınarlı, A. (1985). Mesnevi ve Şerhi (Cilt III) (Mesnevi and its commentary, Vol. III). İstanbul: M.E.G.S.B. Yayınları.
11. Gölpınarlı, A. (2000). Mevlana Celaleddin Mektuplar (The letters of Mevlana Celaleddin). İstanbul: İnkılap Yayınevi.
12. Gölpınarlı, A. (2014). İbtida-Name (The book of beginnings). İstanbul: Inkılap Yayınevi.
13. Hidayetoğlu, A. S. (2016). Hazreti Mevlâna Muhammed Celaleddin Rumi Hayatı ve Şahsiyeti (The life and personality of Mevlana Muhammad Celaleddin Rumi). Konya: Konya Valiliği.
14. Johnston, D., & Vanderstoep, S. (2009). Research Methods for Everyday Life: Blending Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
15. Kocaman, Ş. (2021). Grafik tasarım endüstrisinde yapay zeka (Artificial intelligence in the graphic design industry). Journal of Social and Humanities Sciences Research, 8(77), 3000-3016.
16. Nacaroğlu, D., & Savcı, S. (2023). Yapay zekânın medyada sunumu ve yükselişi: Olanaklar, sınırlar ve tehlikeler (Presentation and rise of artificial intelligence in the media: Opportunities, limits, and dangers). Yeni Medya Dergisi, 15, 130-152.
17. Önder, M. (1992). Hamdım, Piştim, Yandım! Ankara: Ajans Türk.
18. Peirce, C. S. (1998). The Essential Peirce: Selected Philosophical Writings. Indiana: Indiana University Press.
19. Qureshi, K., & Newe, T. (2024). Artificial internet of things: A new paradigm of connected networks. In K. Qureshi & T. Newe (Eds.), Artificial Internet of Things: New Standards, Technologies and Communication Systems (pp. 3- 20). New York and London: CRC Press.
20. Romele, A. (2024). Digital Habitus: A Critique of the Imaginaries of Artificial Intelligence. New York and London: Routledge.
21. Safi, H. (2021). Yatırım gurusu: Yapay zeka (Investment guru: Artificial intelligence). Retrieved from https://thinktech.stm.com.tr/uploads/docs/1616227459_stm-yatirim-gurusu-yapay-zeka.pdf
22. Selçuk, H. (1998). Mevlâna’nın hayatı ve eserleri (The life and works of Mevlana). Kur’an Mesajı İlmi Araştırmalar Dergisi, 1(3), 68-79.
23. Sutekin, A. (2019). Hz. Mevlâna ve Mevlevîlik felsefesinin Batılı sanatçıların eserlerinde konu olarak yer alması (The inclusion of Mevlana and Mevlevi philosophy in Western artists' works) (Master's thesis). Necmettin Erbakan University, Institute of Social Sciences.
24. Şafak, Y. (2004). Hazret-i Mevlâna’nın Eserleri (The works of Hazrat Mevlana). Konya: Konya Valiliği İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü.
25. Şahinoğlu, M. (2017). Makaleler ve Hatıralar (Articles and memories). İstanbul: Beyan Yayınları.
26. Yaran, C. S. (2007). Mevlâna’nın Yedi Öğüdü: Evrensel erdemler, kozmik temellendirmeler ve aidiyet meselesi (The seven advices of Mevlana: Universal virtues, cosmic foundations, and the issue of belonging). İstanbul Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, 16, 21-48
27. URL’s URL1. (n.d.). Hz. Mevlânâ eserleri (The works of Hz. Mevlana). Retrieved from https://www.dunyamevlana.org.tr/hz-mevlana-eserleri/