Abstract:

The humour journals which were not permitted during the authoritarian rule of Abdul Hamid II filled the Ottoman media after the abolishment of the ban following the proclamation of the Second Constitutional Period. This period in which numerous papers were printed in succession also influenced Izmir. Many humour journals were started to be printed in Izmir in a very short period of time. Kukuruk and Neşter to be mentioned in this study were also among those journals. We will assess the political and social climate of the period as a result of the developments experienced by with reference to the contents of Kukuruk and Neşter journals. We will particularly draw attention how the 31 March Incident was interpreted and how the perception of Abdul Hamid II was formed. The caricatures which are the most important weapon of the humour papers were generously included in Kukuruk and Neşter, so they will enrich our work visually and reinforce the commentary analysis. Thus, this study will figure out both the reaction of Izmir press against the developments during the Second Constitutional Period through the humour papers and how the image of Abdul Hamid II was formed in Izmir press.

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