Secular Turks mock government’s appropriation of care-free lifestyles in Istanbul promo video
The negative responses highlight what secular members of Turkish society perceive as the government’s interference in their lifestyle choices.
ISTANBUL — A slick promotional video for Istanbul from the Turkish government has provoked a wave of scorn and mockery for presenting an image of the city at odds with the ruling party’s vision for the country.
The one-minute film, titled “Istanbul Is the New Cool,” features chicly dressed twenty-somethings strutting and dancing around the city’s near-empty streets to an upbeat soundtrack.
Taking in sights such as Hagia Sophia, Galata Tower and the Grand Bazaar, the video’s actors snack on fish sandwiches, take a ride on a Bosporus ferry and sit down for dinner overlooking one of Istanbul’s iconic bridges.
There is even an unexplained shot of ballet dancers performing in a public square.
