Enis Dinç is a film scholar and expert in Turkish film history. Previously, he was Assistant Professor of Media and Cultural Studies at the Turkish-German University, Istanbul. After his stay as a visiting researcher at Princeton University, he completed his PhD at the Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis (ASCA), University of Amsterdam. Among his publications are the monograph "Atatürk on Screen: Documentary Film and the Making of a Leader" and his co-edited volume on German-Turkish cinema, "Der deutsch-türkische Film: Neue kulturwissenschaftliche Perspektiven" (with Deniz Bayrak, Yüksel Ekinci, and Sarah Reininghaus). He works on Turkish-German cinema and transnational cinema, both in their contemporary and historical aspects. His current research project focuses on the cultural history of cinema in the Ottoman Empire. 

Three Quick Questions:

In a few words, can you tell us about your current research interest?

In my post-doctoral research project, A Cultural History of Cinema in the Ottoman Empire (1895-1922), I will rewrite the history of cinema in the Ottoman Empire by focusing on the role of different cultures and foreign influences on the development of this medium. Moreover, I will not only explore how cinema as a technological innovation changed social, cultural, and political life but also how society's engagement with cinema shaped its specific development within the Ottoman context. My research project aims to deconstruct the dominant nationalist historiography within Turkish cinema studies and endeavors to show that cinematic culture in Turkey developed not as a unique and sudden national phenomenon, but as a result of cultural encounters, contacts, interactions, and exchanges assisted by modernization and economic globalization.

How do you relate the term poiesis to your work?

The term poiesis derives from the Greek word 'poieîn', which means to 'make', and in my work I am not only trying to understand how cinematic images influenced the Ottoman audience but also how the Ottomans viewed films and produced meanings.

Which film or other audiovisual format has resonated with you lately and why?

American television series BREAKING BAD resonated with me the most. The story, acting, characters, music, and cinematography of the series were incredible. I think Vince Gilligan created a TV series that is in many ways comparable to the greatest works of literature.