Harput’ta Bir Amerikali [An American in Harput]

Abstract

This review examines Harput'ta Bir Amerikalı (An American in Harput), a satirical three-act play written by Cevat Fehmi Başkut in 1955 and published in 1972. The work critiques the pervasive admiration for Western, particularly American, culture that emerged during Turkey's rapid westernization following the Rescript of Gülhane (1856) and the establishment of the Republic of Turkey (1923). The play centers on Abraham Moderus, an American businessman who returns to Istanbul seeking his long-lost brother. His true motive, however, is financial gain rather than familial reunion. As news of his arrival spreads, four individuals claim to be related to him: three men and a woman, each displaying exaggerated reverence for all things American. The characters' obsession with materialism and superficial cultural emulation satirizes the broader societal anxieties about losing local traditions in favor of an Americanized identity. 

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)