World Affairs Council Global Classroom: Turkey - Searching for a Cultural Center

Location

World Affairs Council is organizing a Global Classroom session on Turkey. Teachers who attend this program will have an opportunity to apply for an almost-all-expense paid summer study tour to Turkey.

Following the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the Turkish Republic was established with a strong emphasis being placed on the importance of
artistic expression. With the help of government resources, Turkish culture flourished into a unique hybrid of Eastern and Western traditions. Because of different historical factors that play an important role in defining the modern Turkish identity, Turkey is a product of efforts to be "modern" and Western, while maintaining traditional religious and historical values. Today, much of Turkish culture embodies these traditional values through modern dance, music, literature, art, architecture, theater, and other forms of artistic expression.

Walter G. Andrews, UW Professor of Ottoman and Turkish Literature, will discuss modern Turkey's conflicted relationship to its cultural past, some consequences of the resulting ambivalence, what is happening now, and what that might mean for Turkey in the future.

Next, participants will journey into this fascinating world, where West meets East, through the eyes of several of your colleagues. Former study tour participants will discuss the knowledge that they gleaned from their travels and how to teach this amazing and complex culture. Modern Turkey with all of its richness and complexities - as well as Turkey's centuries old history and cultural traditions - are often unknown to Americans. What is it like to travel to Turkey today? Join us as we journey to "transcontinental Turkey," a Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian peninsula to the Balkans in southeastern Europe. It is bordered by eight countries (Iran, Iraq, Syria, Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan). The Aegean, Black and Mediterranean Seas surround it on three sides.

Finally, Global Classroom will share new teaching resources. All teachers will receive three clock hours.

Teachers who attend this program will have an opportunity to apply for a summer study tour to Turkey. Six teachers will be chosen to participate in this almost-all-expenses paid trip!

Download application here
http://www.world-affairs.org/globalclassroom/awards/educator/tour_app.pdf

Details and Registration at:
http://www.world-affairs.org/calendar.cfm?eventID=1099&action=eventDetails