Othering the self in my screenwriting practice within the contemporary European arthouse cinema marketplace

Uyanik, Ozgur 2025. Othering the self in my screenwriting practice within the contemporary European arthouse cinema marketplace. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

This thesis investigates self-othering in my screenwriting practice as a Turkish filmmaker within the European arthouse cinema marketplace. Anchored in practice-as-research, it interrogates the influence of Eurocentric market dynamics on Turkish arthouse cinema, emphasizing the inherent power imbalances shaped by funding dependencies and cultural gatekeeping. Through the lens of Orientalism and the Western gaze, the thesis critiques how Turkish contemporary filmmakers are compelled to conform to hegemonic expectations to secure financial and distribution support for their work. The study delineates the unique challenges Turkish filmmakers face, including limited domestic funding and reliance on European public financial institutions and film festival networks. These factors compel filmmakers to adapt their creative expression to meet the cultural and thematic preferences of European stakeholders, often at the expense of their authentic artistic voices. Central to the thesis are two screenplays—This Is Not a True Story and The Unveiler—developed as artefacts to explore imposed self-othering and to challenge established norms of cultural representation. Structured around four chapters, the thesis first contextualizes the Turkish arthouse space within global cinema, followed by an examination of othering dynamics and the impact of the Western gaze on creative autonomy. It culminates in a praxis chapter, which documents the iterative development of the screenplays, reflecting on the interventions and negotiations required to align creative aspirations with market realities. The thesis argues for a nuanced understanding of self-othering as both a product of and a response to structural inequities. By juxtaposing theoretical critique with practical screenwriting insights, it contributes to the discourse on transnational cinema and the ethical dilemmas of representation. Ultimately, it seeks to empower Turkish and other non-Western filmmakers to navigate hegemonic structures while preserving their cultural authenticity and creative agency.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Schools > English, Communication and Philosophy
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > PI Oriental languages and literatures P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN1993 Motion Pictures P Language and Literature > PR English literature
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	22 August 2025
Last Modified:	28 Aug 2025 08:33
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/179596

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