A Clash of Cultures: Secularism and Islamism in Orhan Pamuk's Snow

Abstract

This present research article depicts the complex cultural and ideological conflicts in Turkey.  It is qualitative research; that uses textual criticism as a mode of interpretation. By examining key characters, themes, and symbols, such as the headscarf and the setting of Kars, the paper investigates how Pamuk portrays the tension between secularism and Islamism. The major finding of the study reveals that Snow reflects the cultural divide in modern Turkey. Secular and Islamic values conflict. It analyzes how the protagonist, Ka, navigates political and religious divides in the Turkish town of Kars, reflecting broader societal conflicts. The article examines Pamuk’s nuanced portrayal of these conflicting ideologies, highlighting the complexities of identity, belief, and societal transformation amidst a backdrop of political upheaval. These conflicts have affected not just politics but also the lives of common people in Turkey. Personal and collective identities have been shaped by this duality that has been a fundamental trait of Turkish culture and nationalism. As this research uses an interdisciplinary approach combining cultural, political, and theoretical readings, it is significant because it contributes to a deeper understanding of how secularism and Islamism intersect with cultural identity and modernity, not only in Turkey but across the Muslim world.