Emine Şentürk | Akdeniz University (original) (raw)

Papers by Emine Şentürk

DergiPark (Istanbul University), Oct 24, 2023

object to be seen to being a subject to see, to be, and to be seen. This transition is presented ... more object to be seen to being a subject to see, to be, and to be seen. This transition is presented as the choice of the woman herself. The transference of the lived experiences of pain and passion onto paper through the medium of words, in addition to brush strokes on canvas, intertwines art history with life writing. The article focuses on Susan Vreeland's novel which can be classified as a fictionalised biography, or bio-fiction, The Passion of Artemisia, wherein she transforms a part of Artemisia's life, both as a woman and a female artist, into a journey through her paintings. Art's utilization as an expression or articulation of emotions, and formation of identity, compellingly transmutes the fictional reality narrated from Artemisia's perspective. At this point, the author's history writing collates with the artist's history writing. With reference to Linda Nochlin's inquiry, the novel will also be used to analyse Artemisia's status as a "great artist." As the main point, this article examines the reappearance of Artemisia, who shines like a barocca in the Baroque period and paved the way for the sparkle of women who came before her, through the lens of a female writer centuries later.

Fe dergi, May 30, 2024

This essay critically examines the transformation of the protagonist, Ruth Patchett, in Fay Weldo... more This essay critically examines the transformation of the protagonist, Ruth Patchett, in Fay Weldon's novel The Life and Loves of a She Devil (1983). The transformation that Ruth undergoes can be viewed in two ways: both in terms of her role in society and her physical appearance. Initially a submissive housewife, Ruth evolves into an independent businesswoman who undergoes extensive cosmetic procedures to conform to prevailing beauty standards. This article reveals, through an analysis of Ruth's liberation from traditional domestic obligations and her response to societal constructs of beauty, the marginalization she experiences as a result of her deviation from societal norms. Ruth's rebellion against the idealized attributes of a housewife reflects her pursuit of qualities associated with appealing femininity. Hence, this article highlights how Ruth transforms herself into a seductive object of the male gaze to remake herself into a powerful subject. Through this transformative journey, the article elucidates the interplay between societal ideals of beauty, female liberation, and implications on personal fulfilment. Although Ruth's transformation into the 'ideal' woman endorses the patriarchal codes of ideal and standardised beauty, this essay argues that the same transformation reverses the process to reveal how female empowerment can be achieved through the manipulation of standards.

Fe Dergi: Feminist Eleştiri, 2024

This essay critically examines the transformation of the protagonist, Ruth Patchett, in Fay Weldo... more This essay critically examines the transformation of the protagonist, Ruth Patchett, in Fay Weldon’s novel The Life and Loves of a She Devil (1983). The transformation that Ruth undergoes can be viewed in two ways: both in terms of her role in society and her physical appearance. Initially a submissive housewife, Ruth evolves into an independent businesswoman who undergoes extensive cosmetic procedures to conform to prevailing beauty standards. This article reveals, through an analysis of Ruth’s liberation from traditional domestic obligations and her response to societal constructs of beauty, the marginalization she experiences as a result of her deviation from societal norms. Ruth’s rebellion against the idealized attributes of a housewife reflects her pursuit of qualities associated with appealing femininity. Hence, this article highlights how Ruth transforms herself into a seductive object of the male gaze to remake herself into a powerful subject. Through this transformative journey, the article elucidates the interplay between societal ideals of beauty, female liberation, and implications on personal fulfilment. Although Ruth’s transformation into the ‘ideal’ woman endorses the patriarchal codes of ideal and standardised beauty, this essay argues that the same transformation reverses the process to reveal how female empowerment can be achieved through the manipulation of standards.

Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, 2024

This study examines the integration of a fictional narrative with the life story and art of the s... more This study examines the integration of a fictional narrative with the life story and art of the seventeenth-century Baroque female painter Artemisia Gentileschi, whose impact has endured for centuries. It addresses the shift of a woman from being an object to be seen to being a subject to see, to be, and to be seen. This transition is presented as the choice of the woman herself. The transference of the lived experiences of pain and passion onto paper through the medium of words, in addition to brush strokes on canvas, intertwines art history with life writing. The article focuses on Susan Vreeland’s novel which can be classified as a fictionalised biography, or bio-fiction, The Passion of Artemisia, wherein she transforms a part of Artemisia’s life, both as a woman and a female artist, into a journey through her paintings. Art’s utilization as an expression or articulation of emotions, and formation of identity, compellingly transmutes the fictional reality narrated from Artemisia’s perspective. At this point, the author’s history writing collates with the artist’s history writing. With reference to Linda Nochlin’s inquiry, the novel will also be used to analyse Artemisia’s status as a “great artist.” As the main point, this article examines the reappearance of Artemisia, who shines like a barocca in the Baroque period and paved the way for the sparkle of women who came before her, through the lens of a female writer centuries later.

Sevgi Soysal’ın Tante Rosa (1968) ve Jeanette Winterson’ın Vişnenin Cinsiyeti (1989) isimli eserl... more Sevgi Soysal’ın Tante Rosa (1968) ve Jeanette Winterson’ın Vişnenin Cinsiyeti (1989) isimli eserlerinde toplumsal ve bedensel bağlamda kadının abartılı bir hicivle tasviri yapılır. Bu çalışma, her iki eserde verilen bu beden imgesinin betimlenmesini Kristeva’nın iğrenç (abject) ve Bahtin’in grotesk kavramı ile tartışmaktadır. Rosa ve Köpekli Kadın ana karakterleri, yaşadıkları ve/veya terk ettikleri toplumları karnavalesk bir mekân olarak tanımlayarak kendilerini grotesk unsurlarla bezeli bir tasvirin içine konumlandırırlar. Bu tasvirler, uyumsuzlaşan ve ucubeleşen kadının iğrenç (abject) kavramı aracılığıyla nasıl var olduğunu örneklendirerek açıklar. İki eserin de ortak noktası, masalı gerçeklikle girift şekilde sunması ve betimlemelerde grotesk unsurlara yer vermesidir. İki yazar da, bu kadın karakterlerin bireysel kimliklerini ve benliklerini deneyimlemek amacıyla toplumsal ve fiziksel düzeyde canavarca dişilliğe ve isyankar tavırlarına atıfta bulunarak toplumsal cinsiyeti ve cinselliği hem keşfeder hem de eleştirir. Bu çalışma çerçevesinde, Soysal ve Winterson’ın eserlerinde abartılı biçimde tasvir edilen kadın yaşamı ve bedeni, gülünçleştirmeden ancak trajikleştirmeden de kadının varlığı ile ilgili kendi seçimini yapması, kendini tanımlaması, ifadesi ve var olma süreci karşılaştırmalı edebiyat yöntemiyle ele alınmaktadır.

English Studies at NBU

This study examines the topic of the human being stuck in a transitional period between being hum... more This study examines the topic of the human being stuck in a transitional period between being human, transhuman, and posthuman. The focus of this article revolves around the analysis of Mike Lancaster's sequel novels "0.4" and "1.4" which depict events in a fictitious world, with the former focusing on the transformation of a conventional community into a digitally enhanced one and the latter depicting the presence of several versions of the upgraded humanity. This research employs transhuman and posthuman perspectives on selected novel excerpts that indicate the author's preoccupation with ambiguity and disobedience. Digital memory record of a diary is viewed as an instance of self-awareness that provides documentation for memory and archive which would be the only sign of the existence of a human version in this real world in contrast to the digital world.

Litera: Dil, Edebiyat ve Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi, 2023

Edward Morgan Forster, 1909 yılında yazdığı “Makine Duruyor” öyküsünde ütopyadan distopyaya geçiş... more Edward Morgan Forster, 1909 yılında yazdığı “Makine Duruyor” öyküsünde ütopyadan distopyaya geçiş yapan bir anlatı ve aynı zamanda da sosyal bilimkurgu özelliklerini taşıyan bir kurmaca dünya yaratır. Kendi döneminin teknoloji hayranlığına uyarı niteliğinde bir öykü sunan Forster, hem gelinebilecek noktaya bir pencere açar hem de olası tehlikeler karşısında insanın var oluşunu sergiler. Öngörülen distopik toplumda, arı kovanı analojisi çerçevesinde insanlar amaca hizmet eden işçiler konumuna yerleştirilirken mağara alegorisi benzeri bir yer altı karanlığına hapsolurlar. Her birey bir petek içinde konumlanır ve burada hayatlarını yalıtılmış ve yalnız yaşamak durumundadırlar ve bu toplumda işleyiş sistemi ve düzenini sağlayan, sürekli uğuldayan ve Vernor Vinge’in “teknolojik tekillik” kavramını örnekleyen Makine isimli araçtır. Bu teknolojik gelişmişlik içinde bağımlı kalmış teknosoyal bireylere eleştirel bakış, Kuno karakteri aracılığıyla gerçekleşir. Bu nedenle, bu çalışma Kuno’nun kendi içinde bulunduğu topluma bakışını, insanın kendini kendi eliyle bağımlı hale getirdiği Makine’yi sorgulayışını, yaşadığı huzursuzluğu ve mutsuzluğu Günther Anders’in “Prometheusçu utanç” bağlamında ele alacaktır. Bunun sonucunda yaratıcı olarak yaratılana bağımlılık utancı, değişime olan inancın ve umudun temeli olarak tartışılacaktır.

Distopik roman, kontrol ve baski altinda tutulan toplumlari ve bu toplumlarda genellikle gorulen ... more Distopik roman, kontrol ve baski altinda tutulan toplumlari ve bu toplumlarda genellikle gorulen totaliter devlet modelini yansitan ve elestiren bir yazim turudur. Bu calismada Rupert Thomson'in Divided Kingdom (2005), Kazuo Ishiguro'nun Never Let Me Go (2005) ve Jasper Fforde'un Shades of Grey (2010) adli romanlari gunumuz Ingiliz distopik romaninin ornekleri olarak incelenmektedir. Bu baglamda, calismanin konusunu olusturan bu uc cagdas romanin onculeriyle hem ayni hem de onlardan farkli bir tabloyu nasil ortaya koyduklari incelenmekte ve tartisilmaktadir. Bu tez, utopya calismalari ve kultur kuramlari isiginda bu uc romanin bireyin gormezligi ve farkindaligi arasindaki celiskiye nasil dikkat cektigini ortaya koymayi amaclamaktadir. Bu romanlar, bireyin farkindaliginin onu sorular sormaya yonlendirdigi onermesinde bulunmaktadir. Her ne kadar itaatkar veya tepkisel olma tercihi bireye kalsa da bu romanlarda bir kacis veya farkli bir hayat icin ne olanak ne de olasilik s...

Mediterranean Journal of Humanities, 2021

The concept of intentional community as a distanced geography or land which is estranged from the... more The concept of intentional community as a distanced geography or land which is estranged from the conventional and traditional social placement would be a convenient term to identify Ira Levin's Stepford suburb. The neighbourhood in The Stepford Wives is depicted as an imaginary ideal place where the life is idealized by the husbands, and from the patriarchal perspective, it is regarded as a good place to live. The men are satisfied and pleased with their domestic, obedient, always incredibly beautiful, and overjoyed wives. The husband-oriented wives who show no sign of exhaustion, who have no interest or hobby apart from staying at home and doing the housework, who are doll-like figures, and additionally the unrealistic and euphoric atmosphere at homes in Stepford create the factor of estrangement here. Thus, in this paper, the intentional community of Stepford in Ira Levin's literary work The Stepford Wives will be analysed by referring to Lucy Sargisson's work on "intentional communities" to shed a light on the estrangement concept and its social and literary role to raise awareness of woman liberation in a sarcastic way in the times the work is published.

The Grace of Mary Traverse, a play written by Timberlake Wertenbaker, presents a multi-dimensiona... more The Grace of Mary Traverse, a play written by Timberlake Wertenbaker, presents a multi-dimensional portrayal of the role of women by focusing on social, political, psychological, and also physical aspects. The imposed inferiority upon women compared to the supposed superiority of men in a patriarchal society is challenged by the female characters in the play. However, the main character, Mary is taken in her own quest. While trying to break her chains and learn the life and search for knowledge, she has fallen to the trap of mimicking the patriarchal attitude rather than subverting them and creating her own way. Thus, this article will analyse to what extent the main character of the play succeeded in the discovery of the world, knowledge, her identity, and herself while struggling to see beyond the glass only through which she was allowed to see the world for years. Moreover, the pursuit of finding her identity as a subject will be questioned as an act of turning the other people into objects.

Stockwell emphasises that ‘human individuals no longer create societies; they are created by soci... more Stockwell emphasises that ‘human individuals no longer create societies; they are created by societies’. Within this context, individuals are made submissive by the
illusion of freedom of choice, whereas they are already shaped with the roles allotted to them in accordance with the systematic structure of society. In this sense, ‘[t]he arresting feature of society in speculative dystopias is standardisation and lack of individualism,’ and this standardisation makes individual resistance tototalitarian and authoritarian systems almost impossible. The literary reflections of these are seen on the contemporary British dystopian novels, and one of these recent ones is Breathe by Sarah Crossan. In Breathe, Crossan pictures a world
where there is no tree left in the world, and therefore, without any tree, oxygen becomes crucial and limited whose amount decides the social stratification and also the life standards of the people. In Breathe, there is a corporation called Breathe which is able and capable to produce the oxygen-rich air, and also to manipulate the public by deciding on the amount of oxygen they can have, and directly by deciding whether these people can survive or not. By forcing or encouraging individuals to conform to social norms and obey the rules without questioning, the function of individuals is reduced only to entities that correspond to the needs of authorities, or to maintain social conformity. With an in-depth analysis of this novel, in the light of theories on ideology, hegemony, and
individual, this chapter will try to indicate that in the strictly formed and practised social and governmental systems, there is no place for individual autonomy.

DergiPark (Istanbul University), Oct 24, 2023

object to be seen to being a subject to see, to be, and to be seen. This transition is presented ... more object to be seen to being a subject to see, to be, and to be seen. This transition is presented as the choice of the woman herself. The transference of the lived experiences of pain and passion onto paper through the medium of words, in addition to brush strokes on canvas, intertwines art history with life writing. The article focuses on Susan Vreeland's novel which can be classified as a fictionalised biography, or bio-fiction, The Passion of Artemisia, wherein she transforms a part of Artemisia's life, both as a woman and a female artist, into a journey through her paintings. Art's utilization as an expression or articulation of emotions, and formation of identity, compellingly transmutes the fictional reality narrated from Artemisia's perspective. At this point, the author's history writing collates with the artist's history writing. With reference to Linda Nochlin's inquiry, the novel will also be used to analyse Artemisia's status as a "great artist." As the main point, this article examines the reappearance of Artemisia, who shines like a barocca in the Baroque period and paved the way for the sparkle of women who came before her, through the lens of a female writer centuries later.

Fe dergi, May 30, 2024

This essay critically examines the transformation of the protagonist, Ruth Patchett, in Fay Weldo... more This essay critically examines the transformation of the protagonist, Ruth Patchett, in Fay Weldon's novel The Life and Loves of a She Devil (1983). The transformation that Ruth undergoes can be viewed in two ways: both in terms of her role in society and her physical appearance. Initially a submissive housewife, Ruth evolves into an independent businesswoman who undergoes extensive cosmetic procedures to conform to prevailing beauty standards. This article reveals, through an analysis of Ruth's liberation from traditional domestic obligations and her response to societal constructs of beauty, the marginalization she experiences as a result of her deviation from societal norms. Ruth's rebellion against the idealized attributes of a housewife reflects her pursuit of qualities associated with appealing femininity. Hence, this article highlights how Ruth transforms herself into a seductive object of the male gaze to remake herself into a powerful subject. Through this transformative journey, the article elucidates the interplay between societal ideals of beauty, female liberation, and implications on personal fulfilment. Although Ruth's transformation into the 'ideal' woman endorses the patriarchal codes of ideal and standardised beauty, this essay argues that the same transformation reverses the process to reveal how female empowerment can be achieved through the manipulation of standards.

Fe Dergi: Feminist Eleştiri, 2024

This essay critically examines the transformation of the protagonist, Ruth Patchett, in Fay Weldo... more This essay critically examines the transformation of the protagonist, Ruth Patchett, in Fay Weldon’s novel The Life and Loves of a She Devil (1983). The transformation that Ruth undergoes can be viewed in two ways: both in terms of her role in society and her physical appearance. Initially a submissive housewife, Ruth evolves into an independent businesswoman who undergoes extensive cosmetic procedures to conform to prevailing beauty standards. This article reveals, through an analysis of Ruth’s liberation from traditional domestic obligations and her response to societal constructs of beauty, the marginalization she experiences as a result of her deviation from societal norms. Ruth’s rebellion against the idealized attributes of a housewife reflects her pursuit of qualities associated with appealing femininity. Hence, this article highlights how Ruth transforms herself into a seductive object of the male gaze to remake herself into a powerful subject. Through this transformative journey, the article elucidates the interplay between societal ideals of beauty, female liberation, and implications on personal fulfilment. Although Ruth’s transformation into the ‘ideal’ woman endorses the patriarchal codes of ideal and standardised beauty, this essay argues that the same transformation reverses the process to reveal how female empowerment can be achieved through the manipulation of standards.

Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, 2024

This study examines the integration of a fictional narrative with the life story and art of the s... more This study examines the integration of a fictional narrative with the life story and art of the seventeenth-century Baroque female painter Artemisia Gentileschi, whose impact has endured for centuries. It addresses the shift of a woman from being an object to be seen to being a subject to see, to be, and to be seen. This transition is presented as the choice of the woman herself. The transference of the lived experiences of pain and passion onto paper through the medium of words, in addition to brush strokes on canvas, intertwines art history with life writing. The article focuses on Susan Vreeland’s novel which can be classified as a fictionalised biography, or bio-fiction, The Passion of Artemisia, wherein she transforms a part of Artemisia’s life, both as a woman and a female artist, into a journey through her paintings. Art’s utilization as an expression or articulation of emotions, and formation of identity, compellingly transmutes the fictional reality narrated from Artemisia’s perspective. At this point, the author’s history writing collates with the artist’s history writing. With reference to Linda Nochlin’s inquiry, the novel will also be used to analyse Artemisia’s status as a “great artist.” As the main point, this article examines the reappearance of Artemisia, who shines like a barocca in the Baroque period and paved the way for the sparkle of women who came before her, through the lens of a female writer centuries later.

Sevgi Soysal’ın Tante Rosa (1968) ve Jeanette Winterson’ın Vişnenin Cinsiyeti (1989) isimli eserl... more Sevgi Soysal’ın Tante Rosa (1968) ve Jeanette Winterson’ın Vişnenin Cinsiyeti (1989) isimli eserlerinde toplumsal ve bedensel bağlamda kadının abartılı bir hicivle tasviri yapılır. Bu çalışma, her iki eserde verilen bu beden imgesinin betimlenmesini Kristeva’nın iğrenç (abject) ve Bahtin’in grotesk kavramı ile tartışmaktadır. Rosa ve Köpekli Kadın ana karakterleri, yaşadıkları ve/veya terk ettikleri toplumları karnavalesk bir mekân olarak tanımlayarak kendilerini grotesk unsurlarla bezeli bir tasvirin içine konumlandırırlar. Bu tasvirler, uyumsuzlaşan ve ucubeleşen kadının iğrenç (abject) kavramı aracılığıyla nasıl var olduğunu örneklendirerek açıklar. İki eserin de ortak noktası, masalı gerçeklikle girift şekilde sunması ve betimlemelerde grotesk unsurlara yer vermesidir. İki yazar da, bu kadın karakterlerin bireysel kimliklerini ve benliklerini deneyimlemek amacıyla toplumsal ve fiziksel düzeyde canavarca dişilliğe ve isyankar tavırlarına atıfta bulunarak toplumsal cinsiyeti ve cinselliği hem keşfeder hem de eleştirir. Bu çalışma çerçevesinde, Soysal ve Winterson’ın eserlerinde abartılı biçimde tasvir edilen kadın yaşamı ve bedeni, gülünçleştirmeden ancak trajikleştirmeden de kadının varlığı ile ilgili kendi seçimini yapması, kendini tanımlaması, ifadesi ve var olma süreci karşılaştırmalı edebiyat yöntemiyle ele alınmaktadır.

English Studies at NBU

This study examines the topic of the human being stuck in a transitional period between being hum... more This study examines the topic of the human being stuck in a transitional period between being human, transhuman, and posthuman. The focus of this article revolves around the analysis of Mike Lancaster's sequel novels "0.4" and "1.4" which depict events in a fictitious world, with the former focusing on the transformation of a conventional community into a digitally enhanced one and the latter depicting the presence of several versions of the upgraded humanity. This research employs transhuman and posthuman perspectives on selected novel excerpts that indicate the author's preoccupation with ambiguity and disobedience. Digital memory record of a diary is viewed as an instance of self-awareness that provides documentation for memory and archive which would be the only sign of the existence of a human version in this real world in contrast to the digital world.

Litera: Dil, Edebiyat ve Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi, 2023

Edward Morgan Forster, 1909 yılında yazdığı “Makine Duruyor” öyküsünde ütopyadan distopyaya geçiş... more Edward Morgan Forster, 1909 yılında yazdığı “Makine Duruyor” öyküsünde ütopyadan distopyaya geçiş yapan bir anlatı ve aynı zamanda da sosyal bilimkurgu özelliklerini taşıyan bir kurmaca dünya yaratır. Kendi döneminin teknoloji hayranlığına uyarı niteliğinde bir öykü sunan Forster, hem gelinebilecek noktaya bir pencere açar hem de olası tehlikeler karşısında insanın var oluşunu sergiler. Öngörülen distopik toplumda, arı kovanı analojisi çerçevesinde insanlar amaca hizmet eden işçiler konumuna yerleştirilirken mağara alegorisi benzeri bir yer altı karanlığına hapsolurlar. Her birey bir petek içinde konumlanır ve burada hayatlarını yalıtılmış ve yalnız yaşamak durumundadırlar ve bu toplumda işleyiş sistemi ve düzenini sağlayan, sürekli uğuldayan ve Vernor Vinge’in “teknolojik tekillik” kavramını örnekleyen Makine isimli araçtır. Bu teknolojik gelişmişlik içinde bağımlı kalmış teknosoyal bireylere eleştirel bakış, Kuno karakteri aracılığıyla gerçekleşir. Bu nedenle, bu çalışma Kuno’nun kendi içinde bulunduğu topluma bakışını, insanın kendini kendi eliyle bağımlı hale getirdiği Makine’yi sorgulayışını, yaşadığı huzursuzluğu ve mutsuzluğu Günther Anders’in “Prometheusçu utanç” bağlamında ele alacaktır. Bunun sonucunda yaratıcı olarak yaratılana bağımlılık utancı, değişime olan inancın ve umudun temeli olarak tartışılacaktır.

Distopik roman, kontrol ve baski altinda tutulan toplumlari ve bu toplumlarda genellikle gorulen ... more Distopik roman, kontrol ve baski altinda tutulan toplumlari ve bu toplumlarda genellikle gorulen totaliter devlet modelini yansitan ve elestiren bir yazim turudur. Bu calismada Rupert Thomson'in Divided Kingdom (2005), Kazuo Ishiguro'nun Never Let Me Go (2005) ve Jasper Fforde'un Shades of Grey (2010) adli romanlari gunumuz Ingiliz distopik romaninin ornekleri olarak incelenmektedir. Bu baglamda, calismanin konusunu olusturan bu uc cagdas romanin onculeriyle hem ayni hem de onlardan farkli bir tabloyu nasil ortaya koyduklari incelenmekte ve tartisilmaktadir. Bu tez, utopya calismalari ve kultur kuramlari isiginda bu uc romanin bireyin gormezligi ve farkindaligi arasindaki celiskiye nasil dikkat cektigini ortaya koymayi amaclamaktadir. Bu romanlar, bireyin farkindaliginin onu sorular sormaya yonlendirdigi onermesinde bulunmaktadir. Her ne kadar itaatkar veya tepkisel olma tercihi bireye kalsa da bu romanlarda bir kacis veya farkli bir hayat icin ne olanak ne de olasilik s...

Mediterranean Journal of Humanities, 2021

The concept of intentional community as a distanced geography or land which is estranged from the... more The concept of intentional community as a distanced geography or land which is estranged from the conventional and traditional social placement would be a convenient term to identify Ira Levin's Stepford suburb. The neighbourhood in The Stepford Wives is depicted as an imaginary ideal place where the life is idealized by the husbands, and from the patriarchal perspective, it is regarded as a good place to live. The men are satisfied and pleased with their domestic, obedient, always incredibly beautiful, and overjoyed wives. The husband-oriented wives who show no sign of exhaustion, who have no interest or hobby apart from staying at home and doing the housework, who are doll-like figures, and additionally the unrealistic and euphoric atmosphere at homes in Stepford create the factor of estrangement here. Thus, in this paper, the intentional community of Stepford in Ira Levin's literary work The Stepford Wives will be analysed by referring to Lucy Sargisson's work on "intentional communities" to shed a light on the estrangement concept and its social and literary role to raise awareness of woman liberation in a sarcastic way in the times the work is published.

The Grace of Mary Traverse, a play written by Timberlake Wertenbaker, presents a multi-dimensiona... more The Grace of Mary Traverse, a play written by Timberlake Wertenbaker, presents a multi-dimensional portrayal of the role of women by focusing on social, political, psychological, and also physical aspects. The imposed inferiority upon women compared to the supposed superiority of men in a patriarchal society is challenged by the female characters in the play. However, the main character, Mary is taken in her own quest. While trying to break her chains and learn the life and search for knowledge, she has fallen to the trap of mimicking the patriarchal attitude rather than subverting them and creating her own way. Thus, this article will analyse to what extent the main character of the play succeeded in the discovery of the world, knowledge, her identity, and herself while struggling to see beyond the glass only through which she was allowed to see the world for years. Moreover, the pursuit of finding her identity as a subject will be questioned as an act of turning the other people into objects.

Stockwell emphasises that ‘human individuals no longer create societies; they are created by soci... more Stockwell emphasises that ‘human individuals no longer create societies; they are created by societies’. Within this context, individuals are made submissive by the
illusion of freedom of choice, whereas they are already shaped with the roles allotted to them in accordance with the systematic structure of society. In this sense, ‘[t]he arresting feature of society in speculative dystopias is standardisation and lack of individualism,’ and this standardisation makes individual resistance tototalitarian and authoritarian systems almost impossible. The literary reflections of these are seen on the contemporary British dystopian novels, and one of these recent ones is Breathe by Sarah Crossan. In Breathe, Crossan pictures a world
where there is no tree left in the world, and therefore, without any tree, oxygen becomes crucial and limited whose amount decides the social stratification and also the life standards of the people. In Breathe, there is a corporation called Breathe which is able and capable to produce the oxygen-rich air, and also to manipulate the public by deciding on the amount of oxygen they can have, and directly by deciding whether these people can survive or not. By forcing or encouraging individuals to conform to social norms and obey the rules without questioning, the function of individuals is reduced only to entities that correspond to the needs of authorities, or to maintain social conformity. With an in-depth analysis of this novel, in the light of theories on ideology, hegemony, and
individual, this chapter will try to indicate that in the strictly formed and practised social and governmental systems, there is no place for individual autonomy.