TURCIC INTERPRETATIONS OF TRADITIONBy Bryant Sutton

How creating tradition works:

• Pierre Bourdieu and the concept of habitus:

• “The foundations of identity are in the daily behaviors of those that ascribe to that identity…practices are reproduced in a competitive economy of cultural reproductions”.

Why you would want to create tradition:

• E.J. Hobsbawm & T.O. Ranger “During times of turmoil elites will invent traditions to act as cement for societies by means of social cohesion”.

Kurd Newroz and Qorban Hayit

Iranian or Persian New Year Muslim observation of Qorban Hayit

And Now we “Punt to Culture”

• Punting to Culture is where the culturally elite of a given population follow the prescribed rules of global society to create new entities.

• Wikipedia is the pinnacle of this concept.

Christopher Kelty and the creative commons.

Turk Nevruz and Soviet MuslimsErgenekon: Melting the mountains

of ironUyguhrs celebrating Qorban Hayit

Why invent a Turcic Nevruz• Neutralize rising Kurdish nationalism.

• Polish the image of Turkey easing entrance to the European Union.

• Foster ties with former Soviet Turcic states where Nevruz had deep folkloric roots.

How do you?• Maximize your symbolic capital.• Show the village elders the next generation (you) is ready

to care for the community.• Ease the suspicions of your neighbors you are a bad

muslim. •

• Build and bless a soccer pitch

Why the fight to begin withKurdish National movement stages

attacks

• Kawa, blacksmith leads an uprising against Dehhak an oppressive ruler.

Turks use it to erase hatred and animosity

• Turkic tribes escape entrapment in legendary Ergenekon.

Culture is a resource that attempts to instil the idea of sharedness among groups that are separated from each other.