FF Uzunyala Rural Research

MA Forschungsfeld

20.00003_Kurs_FF_AT (Uzunyayla Rural Research) (1,5 SWS / 6 CP), 15 Students

Language:    English

Time:            14. April, 26. April, 12. May, 26. May, 09. June 23, 13:00 -15:00 (Course sessions)

                       1. -11. September 2023 (Travelworkshop)

Room:           Online + Raum: SFo 2 (1821|002), Germanistisches Institut, Eilfschornsteinstr. 15

Lecturer:       AA Dipl. Medine Altiok

Uzunyayla (translated from Turkish: long plateau, large winter pasture) is a rural region near Kayseri in Turkey, consisting of a wide river plain and a flat mountain plain. Along two river courses are 42 small Circassian villages that live mainly from agriculture and cattle breeding. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Circassians came from the Caucasus and were settled here by the Ottomans. Today, the population is declining and the inhabitants are getting older. This demographic change is significantly altering the villages. In a series of workshops, we will use ethnographic methods (travel books, observations, interviews, mapping) to explore the history and the transformation of Uzunyayla. We will study exemplarily the two villages of Örensehir and Sacayagi, and their typical building and living culture. In collaboration with the inhabitants we are going to find out what could improve the future of the village and together we will convert an empty and mostly already dilapidated house into a special common space for the community. We will cooperate with Abdullah Gül University in Kayseri. The course consists of 5 preparation dates during the semester and a 8-day travel workshop to Uzunyala and Kayseri in Turkey, where we will build and test prototypical construction elements on site.

Binding registration by 17.03.23 by email to: altiok@theorie.arch.rwth-aachen.de

Preparation dates: Fridays 14 April, 26 April, 12 May, 26 May, 09 June 23 at 13-15 hrs.

Date Travel Workshop: Beginning of September, travel costs: approx. 600€ (with funding approx. 300€)