Turkish Traditional Art Today

This book presents the living arts and artists of Turkey. It is simultaneously an ethnographic inquiry into the nature of art, an introduction to modern Turkey, and a model study of folk art, combining the current theories of folklore, anthropology, cultural geography, and art history. It is also the most comprehensive analysis yet written of a single artistic tradition and the most complete presentation available of the current practice of the great arts of the Middle East, such as the weaving of carpets and shaping of stately ceramics. Glassie ranges widely across media, but concentrates on calligraphy, woodworking, pottery, and carpet weaving. Throughout his focus is on the artists and their theories and practices as well as the art they produce.

Henry Glassie is College Professor of Folklore and Co-director of Turkish Studies at Indiana University.