Koçu’s Istanbul Encyclopedia: Rediscovering Multisensorial Atmospheres Amidst Urban Transformation

Title: Koçu's Istanbul Encyclopedia: Rediscovering Multisensorial Atmospheres Amidst Urban Transformation

Abstract:

Koçu's Istanbul Encyclopedia, along with his other works, constitutes a monumental archive that meticulously documents the profound transformation of Istanbul. This transformation reverberated across numerous dimensions, encompassing the social, cultural, economic, geographical, and ethnic facets that compose the very essence of this vibrant city. As Istanbul underwent a relentless metamorphosis, its residents found themselves dispossessed of their beloved metropolis, prompting them to embark on a journey of documenting this gradual loss, tinged with nostalgia.

Koçu's oeuvre transcends mere documentation; it serves as a vivid canvas depicting not only the city's renowned figures, architectural marvels, social and physical landscapes, musics, significant historical events, and the rich tapestry of its folklore but also unveils the obscure, eccentric, bizarre, and enigmatic aspects of Istanbul. By curating these captivating narratives and employing illustrative drawings that breathe life into the past, the encyclopedia conjures the lost sonic, musical, and general musicatmospheres of the city.

While acknowledging the inexorable forces of change and the accompanying sense of mourning, Koçu's work emerges as a remarkable fusion of diverse genres. It reanimates the bygone city of Istanbul through a pastiche that incorporates elements from various genres such as vekayiname, kanunname (legal code), fetva (religious decree), poem, türkü (folk song), şarkı (urban song), destan (epic), gazel, tezkire (biographical account), divan (collection of poems), mecmua, Ottoman archival documents, travel notes, personal interviews, field notes and Ottoman and Western travelogues, and the Western encyclopedia among others.

In the context of current literature on atmospheres, this presentation endeavors to dissect how Koçu masterfully reconstructed the multisensorial and immersive atmospheres of the ever-evolving city. It explores the ways in which his work transcends the boundaries of conventional genres to breathe new life into Istanbul's bygone eras, inviting the audience to journey through time and experience the city's lost atmospheres once more.