JAST 5: Spring 1997

Published in Spring 1997, the fifth issue of the Journal of American Studies of Turkey investigates historical diplomacy, cultural identity, and literary representation. It highlights how power structures shape political reality and marginalized artistic expression. Contributors approach these themes through diverse lenses: Stuart Knee examines Anglo-American realpolitik in Palestine, while Catherine Baldit explores identity among Native American artists. Literarily, Susana Vega discusses cultural trauma in Alice Walker’s Possessing the Secret of Joy, and Lâle Demirtürk analyzes narratives controlling Black womanhood. Expanding on literary innovations, María Antonia Alvarez explores Henry James’s autobiographical boundaries, and Barış Gümüşbaş interrogates Charles Olson’s poetics. Finally, Gönül Pultar interviews Talât Sait Halman, grounding theoretical discussions in cross-cultural exchange.