“Footprints of Generations: Levantine Community in Izmir and Their Intergenerational Memory Narratives”
10th Annual Meeting of the Memory Studies Association 'Memory and Democracy', Buenos Aires, Arjantin, 28 Temmuz - 01 Ağustos 2026, (Yayınlanmadı)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Yayınlanmadı
- Basıldığı Şehir: Buenos Aires
- Basıldığı Ülke: Arjantin
- Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
The ways in which memory is transferred at the individual, family and community levels have a significant impact on historical continuity and social memory. This study focuses on the descendants of Levantines who lived in Izmir, a Turkish city that has recently been striving to highlight its multicultural heritage. The term 'Levantines' refers to Latins from Europe who settled in Ottoman lands, particularly between the 15th and 19th centuries. They were involved in commercial, diplomatic and religious activities. As the population of the community continues to decline, the sense of belonging established by those who are still alive is quite significant, as it indicates what has been and will be passed down from the past to the present and future. This research presents an analysis of data collected through oral history and semi-structured in-depth interviews with twenty individuals of different ages, genders and backgrounds, including those of Italian, German, French and English origin. Due to variability in shared experiences over time and in the context of social history, generation is defined by shared urban spaces and experiences mentioned in the narratives rather than by family ties. Therefore, the coping strategies developed in relation to living as a minority group have varied across different generations. The narratives reveal the simultaneous emergence of the effects of the city's spatial and social changes, highlighting the transformation of cultural repertoire between generations, and reveal the rise of nostalgia and efforts to preserve cultural heritage.