Abstract:
This study offers a critical analysis of a literary journal, A, of the 1950s in Turkey, in order to show how discussions with this journal reflect a transformation from social oriented literary understanding to an abstract one. The 1950s constituted an important phase in the Turkish modernization process. This period witnessed a number of politicaL economic, social, cultural and artistic changes with regard to modernization. Autonorninization and institutionalization were the bases of this change. Literature was one of the areas that underwent a remarkable change< In particular, poetry and short stories produced by the new generation of writers during this period effectively reflected the impact of social and cultural transtormation on individuals. InSisting on the importance of the subjectivity of the author in a \~ork of literature, the writers of this generation in general rejected social function and the role of literature. They did not possess a perception or a concept of a whole \vorld. These authors believed in a single reality, but put forward the idea that individuals could not understand this reality. During this period, there was a generation war between the representatives of social realists and the authors of this new generation. Generally speaking, social realist writers possessed a total perception of the world, favoring a concrete expression of reality. In sharp contrast, the authors of the new generation were subjective realists. In expressing reality, these authors deviated from the everyday usage of language. Both sides attempted to be more int1uential in the field of literature. However, they failed to be at the center of the literary establishment. The literary joumal Varhk being at the center, the aforementioned sides surrounded this literary establishment. For this reason, these rivals occasionally came together against the center. As the journal of the sUbjective realist generation, the literary journal A reflects not only the characteristics of this new generation but also of general aspect of the literary scene of the 1950s. For this reason, A has a significant role ill understanding the literary transformation that took place in the 1950s.
