NARRATING THE IN-BETWEEN: CULTURAL STEREOTYPES AND GEOGRAPHICAL DETERMINISM IN THE NOVELS OF ELIF SHAFAK
NARRATING THE IN-BETWEEN: CULTURAL STEREOTYPES AND GEOGRAPHICAL DETERMINISM IN THE NOVELS OF ELIF SHAFAK

Summary/Abstract: Elif Shafak’s fiction enjoys a unique cultural and literary position at the convergence of Eastern and Western traditions, blending personal experience, political thought, and imaginative storytelling. Her fiction is distinct by the way she consistently challenges binary cultural framings, rigid nationalism, and identity singularity, promoting instead “multiple attachments” and inclusive perspectives. Previous research on Shafak’s fiction has examined the thematic engagement with gender, politics, and mysticism, as defining features of her novels. This article aims to advance a more integrated analysis of how her novels and public discourse jointly deconstruct long-standing cultural stereotypes and build identity beyond geographical determinism. The purpose of this study is to explore the ways in which Shafak’s fiction and public discourse function as interconnected spaces for negotiating cultural intersections, fostering empathy, and disrupting East–West dichotomies. This research attempts to contribute to broader discussions on transnational literature and the narrative strategies used to bridge diverse cultural frameworks.

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