The Turks Are Fine; We Are Jealous!

Is Turkey on the verge of a new revolution in politics, arts, culture, and sports? Has the Turkish mentality changed with the desire to retrieve a European-influenced "Ottoman" empire?

Has the flourishing Turkish drama sounded the death knell of its Arab counterpart? Has Turkish art won the hearts of Arab spectators? Why does the Arab drama still market political ideas and dig up feeble ideas from its heritage under the pretext of preserving authenticity?

Will Arab TV stations be invaded by Turkish drama in light of Arab drama's incapacity to revive itself? Has competition ended between Egyptian and Syrian drama, only to be kicked off between Arab and Turkish drama?

Arab drama in all its forms did not stand the test of the "professional" Turkish drama with "fantasy" effects and personal and social dimensions that relieve the burdens saddling women in the first place.

Depicting life and its social worries with an "unsophisticated" camera has become a successful means for promoting tourism, as is shown by the dubbed Turkish TV drama exclusively shown on MBC (The Last Years, Nour). MBC CEO Sheikh Waleed al-Ibrahim says these two Turkish soaps have attracted an unprecedented number of viewers, even more than Bab al Hara.

When these series debuted on the channel, Arab tourism in Turkish cities has considerably increased, particularly from the Gulf countries. This confirms what a Kurdish writer has previously said to Al Hayat: Turkish drama does not only convey an image of Turkish society to Arabs, but also introduces them to the beautiful tourist and natural sites in Turkey. This has piqued the Arab viewer's interest and made him keen to spend summer in the same place where his favorite series were shot. To the Kurdish writer, the Turkish drama has offered a great step forward to Turkey - which marries between the authenticity of the Orient and the elegance of the West - thus saving it millions of dollars in tourist advertising and marketing costs.

Many elements have helped the Turkish drama win the hearts and minds of Arab viewers, despite religious drawbacks, such as Lamis's pregnancy from her lover. Arab and Turkish societies share similar values and traditions. When the Arab viewer sees a woman wear a veil, and a family sitting at a table overflowing with falafel, hommos, kebab, rice, and bread, he is prompted to follow the episodes through - particularly in light of the breathtaking Turkish scenery, romantic women, and elegant men.

The soundtrack of "The Last Years" melodrama has been lately spreading through mobile phones. You can hear the sad tune everywhere, in restaurants, hospital waiting rooms, or even at your workplace.

Moreover, jealousy is behind many divorces and family feuds among spouses, fans of Turkish heroes.

Women want Mohannad's romantic side and handsomeness, and men search for Lamis's beauty. There are even jokes glorifying Turkish beauty and mocking the spirit of Arab men and women.

Many think that the success of dubbing into colloquial Syrian dialects has increased viewership - with the series handled as an Arab melodrama acted by Turks. With no doubt, Turkish producers will instigate their Arab counterparts.

I do not know how accurate is the news that the civil status register in Riyadh has registered in recent months around 700 newborns with the name Lamis, and 200 women who changed their names to Lamis. It also registered around 500 newborns with the names Yehya and Mohannad, 300 with the name Noor, and 200 with the name Rafif.

If this information and the one related to divorce cases are true, I think that the impact of the Turks is fine, and that we are jealous peoples filled with superficiality and internal fragility.