Midnight Express and the Impact on Turkey’s Global Perception
The 1978 film Midnight Express, while often criticized for its portrayal of Turkey, has paradoxically contributed to the country's international prominence. This movie, which tells the story of an American drug smuggler's prison experience in Turkey, has played a significant role in shaping the global perception of Turkey and its prisons.
Impact on Turkey’s Tourism Industry
Despite its negative portrayal, the film had an unintended consequence; it attracted more tourists to Turkey, thereby enhancing its global reputation as a destination. According to various reports, Turkey has become one of the top 10 most visited countries in the world. The film’s promotion of tourism by advertising its peculiar view of Turkish prisons, which are compared to a “youth camp” to the American counterparts, has made it a popular tourist attraction.
Modernization and Reforms
Over the years, Turkey has made concerted efforts to improve its global image and overcome the negative portrayal created by the film. One of the most significant ways it has done so is through the promotion of tourism. According to a book on the topic, Turkey has made considerable strides in modernizing its infrastructure and improving its human rights record. These efforts have helped to balance out the negative impression left by the movie.
Challenging the Movie’s portrayal
Despite the film’s impact, there are differing views on its effectiveness in shaping Turkey’s image. Some argue that while the movie did receive widespread criticism at the time, particularly for its racist undertones, it inadvertently boosted tourism and global awareness of Turkey. For instance, Greeks and Armenians, who starred in the film, could not speak Turkish, which added to the film’s controversial nature.
Historical Context and Modern Reactions
Midnight Express was released in the early 1970s, a period marked by significant political and social upheavals. It is understandable that the movie included certain elements that might be considered outdated or offensive today. For example, the portrayal of Turkish prisons as primitive or violent is a product of the time it was made. Furthermore, the main character, played by Brad Davis, portrays a different part of the prison life starkly, though according to Billy Hayes, a 70s movie couldn’t be expected to leave out all the negative aspects.
Billy Hayes himself acknowledged in interviews that many elements of the movie are fictional. However, the movie’s depiction of a minor character attempting to sexually assault the protagonist may still contribute to a negative perception.
Conclusion
While the movie Midnight Express may have given Turkey a bad reputation, it also inadvertently helped to bring more tourist interest. Over the years, Turkey has worked to improve its image by modernizing infrastructure and advancing human rights. It is essential to understand that the movie should be viewed through the lens of its time period and its impact on both tourism and the country's international reputation.
Key Points
The film Midnight Express had a complex impact on Turkey’s global image, attracting more tourists to the country. Turkey has made significant efforts to improve its infrastructure and human rights record. The portrayal of Turkish prisons in the film may be seen as a misrepresentation, given their modern reality.Sources:
Turkey’s Accession to the European Union: The Politics of Exclusion Turkey: A Modern History