1.  Speech | 12/06/2007

Neighbourhoods

For Orhan Pamuk, the idea of "neighbourliness" is double-edged: in international relations, it signals peace and cultural engagement, but in society, particularly in the Turkish tradition, it implies provincialism and suspicion. » more

Orhan Pamuk against poltical agendas in literature

In an article posted on Global Viewpoint, the director of the prestigious New York Public Library, Paul Holdengraber, interviews Orhan Pamuk, winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize for literature who says that "serving a cause destroys the beauty of literature. Most of the time I saw that well-meaning authors had destroyed their talent through politics ... . The very strength of the art of the novel is that the writer identifies with the character he creates with such great intensity that no moral judgment should be passed on a character. The art of the novel is based on the unique capacity of human beings to identify with the Other with whom we have no common interests. ... A novel works if the writer manages to identify with the characters. That means putting oneself in the shoes of others, not judging them."

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More from the press review on the subject » Literature, » Turkey

Orhan Pamuk considers that Turkey can join Europe

Asked by François Busnel about Turkey's capacity to be integrated in Europe, Orhan Pamuk, the Turkish writer and 2006 Nobel Prize winner for literature, answers by using his native city as an example. "Istanbul is indeed part of Europe, since my football club, Galatasaray, is playing in the European Cup championship... If you ask me if Istanbul is in Europe, my answer is that you need only look at a map of the world to see so. However, more seriously, we are not up to standard for the time being. This said, I think that Turkey should, culturally, be capable of joining European democracies in the Union. But without denying what it actually is. Turkey's desire to become part of Europe poses the following questions: what is European culture ? Is it history ? Is it geography ? Or is it something else ?"

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Enlargement / Neighbourhood Policy, » Europe, » Turkey
All available articles from » François Busnel

Orhan Pamuk on fair distribution of simpleness and stupidity

In his acceptance speech for the Nobel Prize, Turkish author Orhan Pamuk stressed his love for his father and his home city of Istanbul. At one point, however, he also explained the differences between Orient and Occident: "We have often witnessed peoples, societies and nations outside the Western world – and I can identify with them easily – succumbing to fears that sometimes lead them to commit stupidities, all because of their fears of humiliation and their sensitivities. I also know that in the West – a world with which I can identify with the same ease – nations and peoples taking an excessive pride in their wealth, and in their having brought us the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and Modernism, have from time to time succumbed to a self-satisfaction that is almost as stupid."

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More from the press review on the subject » Literature, » Turkey

Orhan Pamuk on the East's need for freedom

The Turkish writer, Orhan Pamuk, examines the rift between western and eastern societies in an interview with the journalist and writer Rosa Montero. "My idea of the West is freedom, democracy, women's rights, three things that the East does not have. We have other things. Fraternity, for example! We are absolutely formidable in terms of fraternity! This pillar of the French Revolution suits us perfectly. As far as equality is concerned, that too is passable and there are notably some Islamic philosophers who speak of equality. But what we do not have is freedom, democracy and women's rights. I don't care about the rest. You can dress in eastern or western clothes, live in traditional houses or not. ... What really counts is that people may do what they want".

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More from the press review on the subject » Middle East
All available articles from » Rosa Montero

Orhan Pamuk on the Turkish paradox

Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk, cleared of charges of insulting the Turkish nation earlier this year, talks to journalist Aida Edemariam. He attempts to describe the conflicting nature of the Turkish soul, of which he became aware following the publication of his book 'The White Castle'. "That was the first book that had some international success. Then, when I was doing interviews, thinking about the book in an international context, I realised that doubles are Turkey's subject: 95% of Turks carry two spirits in themselves. International observers think there are the good guys - seculars, democrats, liberals - and the bad guys - nationalists, political Islamists, conservatives, pro-statists. No. In the average Turk, these two tendencies live together all the time. Every person is fighting within himself or herself, in a way."

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More from the press review on the subject » Society, » Turkey