Seminar in Ottoman and Turkish Studies - February 29 - Didem Havlioglu

Performance, Gender-bending and Subversion in Ottoman Poetry

What does it mean to be a woman in the early modern Ottoman intellectual realm? The fragmentary insights we possess about women during this period invariably originate from male perspectives, entwined in gendered narratives, and only a handful of women managed to secure their place in history. Within this select group, Mihri Hatun (circa d. 1512) stands as the foremost example, being the first woman to have her poetry preserved during her lifetime, still surviving within four manuscript copies. Her portrayal within the annals of intellectual history not only unveils her narrative within the male-dominated intellectual circles but also sheds light on the performative essence that characterized the intellectual milieu of her time. In this discussion, Didem Havlioglu will delve into her quest to uncover Mihri's unabashedly marginal voice, providing insight into both the tangible and narrative aspects of the intellectual world of that era.