Jules Dassin Topkapı Review

Jules Dassin Topkapı

The Topkapı trailer, which is produced and directed by the American director Jules Dassin carries some of the properties of orientalism. The orientalism movement can basically be defined by using the peaces of cultural studies, art, literature and etc. which are about the eastern and so-called oriental cultures and which are produced by western artists. This Article is a review of Jules Dassin Topkapı.

As stated above, the Jules Dassin Topkapı is an example for orientalism as it is produced by a Western artist and it aims the culture of İstanbul which can be considered as a western culture. This essay analyzes and contextualizes the Topkapı Trailer in terms of orientalism.

Jules Dassin Topkapı Review

The most important point that the director refers to in the beginning of the trailer about Topkapı is the ancient bazaars and the rooftops. The scenes of the bazaars and the rooftops reflect İstanbul in a mythical, exotic and mysterious way as they are very old and they do not seem like today’s constructions. In this sense, the Topkapı trailer can be related to the orientalism movement as these rooftops and the bazaars are constructed in a way of construction which is related with the eastern way. In addition to the bazaars and the rooftops, the scenes of Topkapı gives a sense of being mythical as they are old and they have a great history.

Film Review

On the other hand, İstanbul is also reflected as dangerous, primitive, savage and wild. These characteristics of İstanbul are reflected in the police scenes and the scenes where the woman hits the man and the men hitting each other. As police officers are working with dangerous people and punching and hitting people is engaged with violence, wildness and savagery as this is an action which cannot be related with civilization. In addition to these, the adjective sensual is used in a scene through the end of the trailer and it is directly transposed to the audience and Topkapı is defined as a sensual place. Additionaly, the use of erogenous scenes gives the sensual feeling to the audience about Topkapı. Lastly, we can relate the trailer with the movement of orientalism by looking at the wrestlers which are associated with the eastern culture.