Renowned Turkish author Buket Uzuner fascinated a Bilkent audience with her thought-provoking lecture, “Edebiyat ve Tarihle Mitoloji ve İklim Krizi İlişkisi” (The Relationship Between Literature, History, Mythology and the Climate Crisis), at the C-Block Auditorium on November 6. The event was organized by the Department of Turkish Literature and Oğuz Tansel Turkish Literature Research Center.
In her talk, Uzuner discussed the interconnectedness of literature, history and changes in the climate and nature. Drawing on her background in biology and environmental science, and referring to her tetralogy books “Earth,” “Water,” “Air” and “Fire,” Uzuner shared her insights into the role of literature and mythology in shaping our understanding of nature. She emphasized that true understanding, rather than mere knowledge, is key to breaking free from the societal structures that divide us.
Uzuner critiqued the tendency of human societies to dominate and exploit both people and the environment. A key message of her talk was the need for humanity to reconnect with nature and respect all forms of life, stressing that our shared humanity is inextricably linked to the natural world.
