ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGH MYTHOLOGY AND TRADITIONAL VALUES GAINING ECO-AWARENESS IN BUKET UZUNER’S NOVEL SERIES OF THE ADVENTURES OF MISFIT DEFNE KAMAN

Abstract

As ecological awareness gains momentum in these times of climate emergency and uncertainty
about future, one cannot expect fiction to turn a blind eye to vital issues such as ozone depletion,
biodiversity loss, deforestation, global human population growth, violation of animal walfare, and
lack of freshwater resources. Buket Uzuner, a leading contemporary Turkish novelist, prioritises
ecological and social problems through the agency of Shamanism (ancient Turkish beliefs) and
some traditional values in her book series of The Adventures of Misfit Defne Kaman in Water
(2012), Earth (2015), and Air (2018). This article’s main focus will be on how Uzuner’s novels help
readers to explore environmental consciousness through ancient Turkish value-system such as
Shamanism or Kutadgu Bilig (The Wisdom which brings Happiness), an 11th century work.
Whether or not making use of mythological/traditional values in the face of ecological awareness in
a culture where its modernising efforts still continue will also be investigated as a final discussion.