I am Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Media Studies at American University of Beirut, where I do research on popular media in Turkey. I received my PhD in Communication and Culture and an MA in Central Eurasian Studies (Turkish Studies) from Indiana University in 2015. My dissertation, A dizi-ying past: Magnificent Century and the motivated uses of history in contemporary Turkey, examines the circulation of and controversies surrounding the Ottoman costume drama Muhteşem Yüzyıl through an ethnographic investigation of the producers, distributors, cultural intermediaries, and publics for the popular TV show. Other recent projects address censorship at film festivals in Turkey between 2014 and 2016, and the role of media screens in public demonstrations. My areas of specialization include visual culture, nationalism, history and culture of modern Turkey, media ethnography, reception studies, and media production.
Josh L. Carney, PhD 