Global cities as centers of cultural influence: a focus on Istanbul, Turkey

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Global cities as centers of cultural influence
a focus on Istanbul, Turkey

• Michael A. McAdamsGeography Department
• Fatih University
• Istanbul, Turkey

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Introduction

• Cities have been highly influential in the
  development of world culture
• Fordist and Post-Fordist periods, primary global
  culture transmitters have been centered in New
  York, Los Angeles, Paris, Tokyo and London
• It is inevitable that new global cultural centers
  will surface to challenge, replace or augment
  these existing centers

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• The driving forces behind the predominance of
  these global cultural centers are vibrant
  cultural economy well connected to
  communications network level/quality of
  capital accumulation

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Istanbul A New Cultural Center?

• Candidate for one of these new cultural centers
  could be Istanbul due to 1) the recent regional
  changes in the economic and geo-political
  climate and 2) its unique geographical location,
  being at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle
  East and Central Asia.

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Cities and Cultural Influence

• Foci where the human and material resources of
  civilizations have been concentrated.
• Artists, musicians, architects, philosophers,
  scientists and writers have gravitated toward
  certain cities due to numerous forces such as
  patrons, community of artists, universities,
  clients, and a skilled workforce
• Elusive environment of certain cites also seem to
  play a significant factor in drawing creative
  individuals to them
• Urban centers of culture have changed throughout
  the centuries mostly based on their
  economic/political strength with the outside
  world.

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Cites as the transmitters of culture

• In the past, cultures may have been contained
  within regions or national borders
• World as cultural supermarket where
  individuals pick and choose
• Culture is innately geographical
• Cities remain to be where culture is repackaged
  or created

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Financial Centers and Cultural Centers

• First Tier Alpha Cities London, Paris, New York
  and Tokyo
• Second Tier Alpha cities Chicago, Frankfurt,
  Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Milan, Singapore
• Primary Cultural CentersNew York, Los Angeles,
  London, Paris, Milan, Tokyo

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Cultural Economy of Cities

• A cultural urban center is somewhat based on the
  number of people, but is also based on the
  composition of the city.
• Cultural products are only writing, art, music,
  theater, but als other industries such as
  furniture, automobiles, multi-media, computer
  graphics, book publishing, music recording etc.
• Creative Cites are those where there is
  interaction in the physical space of the city

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Technology Transforming Cultural Centers Role

• Global communications network places most places
  within the reach of global cultural centers
• Rapidity of exchange of ideas facilitated more
  than any other time

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Geographical basis for Cultural Centers

• Culture emanates from one place or another.
• Culture may be based in a peripheral area, but is
  packaged or reformulated by cultural centers for
  distribution into the global cultural network.
• Cities have always been the place where those who
  are creative gravitate
• Not all cities are cultural transmitters

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Cities as global financial centers and as
cultural centers

• The connection between capital accumulation in
  certain key cites can be linked with the
  dissemination of cultural goods such music,
  clothes, film and food

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Global City Ranking(Beaverstock et al)

• First Tier Alpha cities are London, Paris, New
  York and Tokyo
• Second Tier Alpha cities are Chicago,
  Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Milan,
  Singapore
• Cultural Centers areLondon, New York, Paris,
  Los Angeles, Milan

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Istanbul Potential Cultural Center?
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Istanbul some brief facts

• Over 10 million population
• Key position between Europe, Middle East and
  Central Asia
• Lies at one of the most important transportation
  links in the world

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A history of decline and rebirth

• Capital of three major empires Roman, Byzantine,
  Ottoman
• All elements of these civilizations are seen in
  Istanbul
• First time in almost 2,000 years that Istanbul
  has not been a capital

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Contributions to status of modern Istanbul

• After the Republic of Turkey established, capital
  moved to Ankara
• Istanbul pushed to the backdrop of world culture
• Loss of diversity due to migration of Greeks,
  Armenians, Bulgarians after the establishment of
  Republic
• The Cold War closed many of the former links
  established during Ottoman times (i.e., Balkans,
  Central Asia)

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• In 1980s, Turkey opened up to foreign investment
  
• Population grew very rapidly drawing people from
  rural areas of Turkey
• Istanbul became the primate city of Turkey
• All creative arts and media concentrated in
  Istanbul, but for a Turkish market and not
  internationally oriented

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New Opportunities

• Opening up of markets in Balkan and Central Asian
  and Russia
• Vibrant and developed cultural arts in music,
  art, writing and publishing
• European membership talks started in 2005
• Nomination of Istanbul as the Cultural Capital of
  Europe in 2010

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A Bright Future?

• Istanbul aspires to the title of world city. It
  wants to be classed with New York, London, Paris,
  Rome. With its 9 million inhabitants at the
  beginning of the millennium, it has size on its
  side. It also has history and the monuments to
  prove it. Its Byzantine walls and churches,
  Ottoman mosques and palaces, and modern
  skyscrapers bear witness to its importance since
  330 AD, when Constantine the Great chose it as
  the capital of the Roman empire. Its setting at
  the junction of Europe and Asia is incomparable.
  For Turks, the pearl of the Bosphorus is a
  symbol of their glorious past and the embodiment
  of their present vigor (Mango)

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Trapped in the Past Hüzün?

• ..in Istanbul the remains of a glorious past and
  civilization are everywhere visible. No matter
  how ill-kept they are, no matter how neglected or
  hemmed in they are by concrete monstrosities, the
  great mosques and other monuments of the city, as
  well as the lesser detritus of empire in every
  side street and corner-the little arches,
  fountains and neighborhood mosques inflict
  heartache on all who live amongst them....But for
  the citys more sensitive and attuned residents,
  these ruins are reminders that the present city
  is so poor and confused that it can never again
  dream of rising to the same heights of wealth,
  power and culture. (Pamuk)

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Is Istanbul a world cultural center?

• At present, Istanbul is a receptor of culture
• Tied to its economic status of Istanbul which is
  connected to Turkish market, but not very well to
  International market
• Cultural economy is likewise oriented toward
  Turkish market and not international

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Cultural Economy of Istanbul

• Very robust and sophisticated media
• Venues for original performances (clubs, theaters
  etc.)
• Numerous international festivals (music, theater,
  film)
• World status symphony and opera
• New Museum of Modern Art an indication of
  developing awarenessLondon
• Numerous firms involved in design
• Influences upon Turkish, Middle Eastern and
  European culture
• Location of several major Turkish universities
• Vibrant artistic area (e.g., Taksim) which are
  similar to those in Paris, New York,

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Can Istanbul transform itself to a leading world
cultural center

• Revitalization of the central city
• Encouragement of cultural entrepreneurship
• Development of an outward vision seeing Istanbul
  as a city-state connected to global cultural
  network
• Increased state sponsorship of cultural arts in
  universities and schools of the arts
• Improvements to telecommunication networks and
• Sponsorship (private or public) of artists having
  exhibitions, galleries concerts in key
  international locations (i.e., New York, Paris,
  London, Milan etc.)

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Conclusion

• The catalysts that make a city a cultural center
  are elusive and complex
• Cultural centers are at the crossroads and where
  different cultures interact
• Istanbul has the necessary conditions for entry
  into this global cultural network as a
  transmitter of culture
• The question is what elements will project it
  into this status?
• Need for further study