Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 5(9), pp. 745 - 750
DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.050906
Reprint (PDF) (257Kb)

Humor and Peace in Kars

Arzu Durukan ^*
Faculty of Health Sciences, Yeditepe University, Ataşehir, İstanbul, Turkey

ABSTRACT

This anthropological research performed with different groups living in Kars, Turkey which are known as Yerli, Azeri, Kurds, Terekeme, Molokan and Alevi. Turkey is a very sensitive region between the Middle East and Europe. The presence of ethnic groups not only provides cultural wealth but also causes tension from time to time. Kars is a city with a lot of ethnic diversity, but nevertheless it is a city where tensions are least experienced. In Kars, unlike other places, they seem to live in peace. Therefore this city was chosen for the study. The goal was to understand this silence. The research method used for the study was in-depth interview and in-depth interviews were done with 13 people between the ages of 50-80 from each group. However, sometimes during negotiations someone else like a friend or a relative became a better source. At the end of the study, it was observed that humor was a means to emphasize the differences of different groups. It was noticed that the mutual dislike and/or superior properties of the groups were highlighted through jokes and funny stories. Funny stories had been told during dinners at the houses, at the large dining tables, even at formal dining tables of local and administrative managers. Food is a part of the culture, and important in developing social bonds. It is thought that, the parser effects of humor are destroyed by taking the unifying power of food. It is thought that, the power of food soften the situation without creating conflict.

KEYWORDS
Humor, Culture, Kars, Ethnic Humor

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Arzu Durukan , "Humor and Peace in Kars," Sociology and Anthropology, Vol. 5, No. 9, pp. 745 - 750, 2017. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.050906.

(b). APA Format:
Arzu Durukan (2017). Humor and Peace in Kars. Sociology and Anthropology, 5(9), 745 - 750. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.050906.