Turkish Soap Operas: The Unstoppable Boom
By Yeliz Candemir
Turkey’s economy may have slowed sharply last year but one export remains red hot: Turkish soap operas.
Often slushy, kitsch and highly addictive, Turkish soaps have since 2008 become a staple in living rooms across the Middle East, North Africa and the Balkans; enjoying wild popularity in ostensibly traditional societies for their portrayal of modern life styles and relationships. The popularity of the shows – from the Ottoman-inspired “Magnificient Century” to the slick “Ask-i Memnu” starring heartthrob Kivanc Tatlitug – has spawned a sizeable secondary stimulus for Turkey, boosting the country’s tourism and fashion trades as soap-addicts flock to Turkey to tour the sites of their favorite shows.
More:Turkish Soap Operas: The Unstoppable Boom - Middle East Real Time - WSJ