Emek Cinema: Contesting Istanbul's Urban Development

Episode 342

with Selcen Coşkun

Lorans Tanatar Baruh

and Seda Kula Say

hosted by Nilay Özlü, Susanna Ferguson and Matthew Ghazarian

In this episode, we discuss the history of Beyoğlu's Emek Cinema from its construction in 1884 to its 2013 destruction, which sparked major opposition among Turkish intellectuals, writers, researchers, members of the film industry, and lovers of cinema and of Beyoğlu, many of whom fought to keep this piece of Istanbul's cultural and architectural heritage. Through a wide-ranging discussion with architects and historians, this episode shows how the history of one building can speak to trajectories of urban development, violence, and transformation in Istanbul from Ottoman times until today.