East versus West in the Food Court

Yesterday our group paid a visit to our first shopping mall since arriving in Turkey. It was our first visit to a new and non-traditional shopping location in Istanbul as well. The shopping mall seems like such an inherently western concept that it they don't seem to vary too drastically from country to country. Like everything in Turkey that's been imported from abroad, it's been given a Turkish flavor, but even that seemed muted among the chic Italian, French, and British designer stores, as well as the food courts dotted with familiar fast food franchises.

I'm still not sure how I feel about the new western style shopping malls popping up around Istanbul. Personally, I don't really care for shopping malls in the United States for various reason, most of them directly related to the fact that I'm an American male. But I will admit that the shopping mall environment offered a break from the overwhelming environment of the Grand Bazaar, where you're surrounded by mobs of other shoppers and aggressive merchants trying to squeeze as much Lira out of your pockets as possible. Even I caved in and purchased a trendy designer t-shirt. So it wasn't entirely bad, it wasn't entirely Turkish either, but I could appreciate it for what it was.

But another part of me wants the Turkish people to resist the adoption of things that are so non-traditional and non-Turkish. The conflict between modern and traditional, between East and West is a common theme that you see everywhere in Turkey. Looking back through its history, this confrontation occurs again and again. Even the Ottoman Empire's eventual demise is an example of what can happen when an empire and society fall behind the rest of the world in terms of industry, technology, and new ideas. And the Ottoman Empire did try to catch up to the rest of the world, but it was too late, even for an empire that has ruled for six centuries. It seems that the modern nation of Turkey is trying to prevent a similar fate from repeating itself. By blending Eastern and Western traditions and ideas Turkey won't repeat the mistakes of history.

However, the tensions aren't far from the surface. The police check points one must pass through before entering the mall parking lot are clear examples of potential backlash against western culture. Even so, in a place as old as Turkey, with such a rich history, it seems that these problems are never new or original. Turkey has been the bridge between East and West since humans first inhabited the Anatolian peninsula. And that's what makes Turkey such a fascinating place to those looking at it from the outside. Even shopping malls, which seem to represent the most materialistic and capitalistic aspects of western culture showcase this mixing of worlds. You don't normally find women wearing headscarves picking through racks of designer clothing imported from Europe in the United States or in many other places in the world.