THE RECONSTRUCTION OF NATIONAL IDENTITY IN POPULAR HISTORICAL MOVIES IN TURKISH CINEMA

National identity is not formed once; it is constantly reconstructed. Mass media, which covers all areas of life in daily life, are essential in this production. Cinema is also active in the production of national identity. Historical films, which are popular cultural products in which history is reconstructed, are essential in reproducing national identity. This study reveals how national identity is reconstructed in popular historical films in Turkish cinema. Qualitative content analysis was used as a method in the research, and a situation determination study was carried out. The study population consists of popular historical films made in Turkish cinema. The sample was determined by purposive sampling method, 120 (Eren & Saraçoğlu, 2008), Conquest 1453 (Aksoy, 2012), Çanakkale 1915 (Sezgin, 2012), Taş Mektep (Dönmez, 2013) and Gallipoli: End of The Road (Uzun, 2013) makes up a movie. "We/they definitions and features", "us/them symbols and symbols that make them clear", "us/them a foundation with heroism and victories", "us/them foundation with values" and "symbols and symbols used in the construction of national identity" of the films determined as samples. Analysis was carried out in five categories. According to the results obtained, it has been determined that in the films included in the sample, the national identity is formed by "we" positioning itself against an "other." At the same time, heavy and humiliating expressions are used for those positioned as the "other," and praiseful words are used for "we." Another important finding is that Turks are presented by emphasizing their Muslimness in these films.