THE NEW EU? ARRANGING MARRIAGES ON TURKISH

UNCLAS ISTANBUL 001868 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SOCI TU SUBJECT: THE NEW EU? ARRANGING MARRIAGES ON TURKISH TELEVISION ¶1. (u) Summary: With Turkey on the verge of receiving a historic invitation on December 17 to begin membership negotiations, Europe is seized with the question of whether Turkey is sufficiently "European." Religion and economic disparities aside, Turkish television provides a window into some key cultural differences. Television fare here largely tracks with the offerings available in the U.S. and Europe -- romantic and dramatic serials, popstar competitions, melodramatic soap operas. Over the past few years Turkey has also adopted the latest western television craze, reality television, but has given it a uniquely Turkish twist. End Summary. ¶2. (u) According to Sinevizyon, the leading local producer of reality television programs, the trend started here with the wholesale adoption of the "Big Brother" format. With only a few minor changes (installing private dressing rooms, single-sex bedrooms, and a few behavior rules),Sinevizyon has had five seasons of highly-rated programs. The dating and marriage shows, however, have not translated into Turkish culture as easily. Sinevizyon's Pelin Akat admitted that they bombed with a show based on supermodels and with another which tried to help couples resolve their interpersonal problems. This season, however, Sinevizyon has scored their biggest hit, "Will You Be My Bride?," by creating a radically different format. ¶3. (u) In "Bride," 5 mothers and 10 would-be daughters-in-law live in the same house (Big Brother-style -- very little privacy, on-screen 24 hours a day). Each week the most-popular contestant (as determined by call-in votes) earns the right to vote off another. Effectively, the mothers screen the daughters as potential brides for their sons, who live in a separate house and occasionally interact with the women, but have no real input in choosing their partners. Instead of a prize check, contestants compete for 100,000 euros in gold coins sitting on the coffee table of the studio house (Note: Such coins are traditional, ubiquitous wedding gifts in Turkey. End Note). This is reality television Turkish-style. ¶4. (u) The format has broad appeal in a society where a large percentage of couples are still matched by some form of arranged marriages or, at the very least, must seek parental approval for their fiances. Turkish audiences particularly relate to the empowered, even domineering, mothers. "Mom, why did you vote off Aysegul? I love her!," asked one son. His mother responded, "Love?! You don't know what love is! I'll tell you when you're in love." Traditional Turkish society continues to put its sons on pedestals, leading audiences to sympathize with the girls who have trouble "measuring up." One of the mothers offered her more modest underwear to a girl wearing a g-string; the same girl later saw her reputation in the house plummet briefly when she was falsely accused of having previously worked as a belly dancer. ¶5. (u) One of the most popular and successful television programs in Turkey's history, "Bride" will air its season finale on December 18. Having racked up 30 percent daily ratings and as high as 50 percent on the weekend call-in vote episodes, "Bride" is the most widely-watched and discussed reality television show in Turkey to date. It is also showing on Turkish affiliates in Europe. Although Sinevizyon has no details on viewership in Europe, they claim that a previous (and less successful) program which also allowed viewers in Europe to call in their votes recorded more votes from the European audience than it did from the audience in Turkey. ¶6. (u) Comment: "Bride's" depiction of the Turkish family, the dominant role that mothers play, and the influence they wield over their children seems at odds with the more modern values common in Europe today. Akat told us, however, that two major European reality television producers may soon purchase the rights to market similar formats in Europe. Perhaps American and European mothers are just as influential (albeit more subtle) in family life as Turkish mothers. In any case, the EU may not have to wait for Turkey's accession to begin absorbing some of its values. ARNETT