The Art History Club, one of the student clubs of our university, organized an event titled “Others in 19th Century Istanbul” on December 20, 2022. The event took place at a private bookstore, and the speaker was the club advisor, Res. Asst. Yasin SAYGILI.
In this event, which addressed the different lives and diverse aspects of these lives in the 19th century Ottoman Empire, the lives, societal positions, and distinctive characteristics of marginalized groups such as “madmen” and “dervishes” were discussed.
In his speech, SAYGILI explained how the madmen were perceived in society, how they lived, and the roles they assumed. He then shared information with the audience about the prejudices, exclusion, and societal acceptance that the madmen faced in Ottoman Istanbul. As a result, the participants had the opportunity to better understand the difficulties the madmen faced during the Ottoman period and their place within society.
Furthermore, the dervishes, who were known for their religious affiliations and belonging to various Sufi orders in Ottoman Istanbul, were also discussed as an important group. SAYGILI shared information about the religious lives, worship practices, roles, and functions of the dervishes. He conveyed to the participants how the dervishes were accepted and perceived by society, and how their religious lives were shaped. The seminar not only helped students understand past processes of marginalization but also encouraged them to develop a more sensitive attitude towards contemporary social injustices.
The event concluded with a question and answer session following the presentation.